The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-01-27
mo-. IS.

elected from that Parish. .
When the papers Of the Returning
Board were produced before your
committee, there was found among
them an affidavit by Mr.. Wells, the
President Of the Board, declaring
that intimidation had existed at GER
tain polls in that Parish, and that
the returns from these polls should
therefore be rejected. The counsel
for the Democratic Committee testi-
fed that they had no opportunity to
contradict the statements Of this pa
per; that they had never seen or
known Of it before, and that upon an
examination of the papers before the
Board when the proofs closed, it was
not among them. 5at'a" her- .-n
The counsel for the Republican
committee reserved the right to make
an explanation upon this point, but
offered none. The affidavit was da-
ted the blank day of December, 1874;
1t appeared that Governor Wells was
not himself in the Parish on the day
of the election, and though at the
opening of their first session your
committee declared their intention to
examine into the action of the Re.
turning Board, Governor Wells never
came forward as witness. At the
close Of our proceedings, leave was
asked that his deposition might be-
given in. This was declined and Mr.
Wells was invited to appear before
the committee, but he never came.-
Leave was also given for taking
his testimony by commissioner if he
declined, but was not availed Of
Your committee are, therefore. con-
strained to declare that the action Of
the Returning Board in rejecting
these returns in the. Parish Of Rap
ides and giving the seats for that
Parish to the Republican candidates
was arbitrary, unfair and without
warrant of law. If the committee
we're to go behind the papers before
the board and consider the alleged
charge of intimidation upon the;
proofs before the committee their
finding would necessarily be the
same. ....--.. mon .....
It was asserted in Gov. Wells aft
davit that the McEnery officials had
usurped the offices of the Parish, and
thereby intimidated voters. Imme-
diately after the. 14th of September,
when the Kellogg authorities in, New
Orleans were put out BY, the Penn
authorities, certain changes took
place in some of the Parishes
When the news, from New Orleans
! reached these parishes the McEnery
officials demanded their places of the
kellogg officials, and they were at
once given up. .a4a
When the Federal Government in.
tervened and unseated the McEnery
authorities, the Kellogg officials de
manded and received back their pla-
ces, but in Rapides some time seems
to have elapsed before the Kellogg
officials took their places back. In.
deed, the McEnery register of deeds
was still acting as such when your
committee was in New Orleans, the
Kellogg register never having come
to reclaim the place, which was said
to be worth nothing now in Rapides
The Kellogg clerk was Mr.. Wells
son. Having yielded his place t.
the McEnery competitor in Septem,
ber,, he does not appear to have re
claimed it, and he wrs accordingly
sent for after the election to come
from his residence, some miles dis
, tant, to sign the returns of the cleo
, ton, which he did. Your committe,
!, are at loss to see in their actor
any intimidation Of Mr.. Wells; still
less Of the electors OF the Parish.
= 1t so happened that the Parish va
E taken as sample Parish of intimi
, dalton; many witnesses from whicl
of both parties were examined wit
G reference to it. they show beyon'
8 question that there was d full, free
). fair and peaceable election and regis
: tration there. There was no evi
f dence Of any intimidation of voter
practiced on the day Of the election
although it was asserted that intimi
dation Of colored men before til
election had been effected by threat
= of refusal to employ them, or to dill
charge them il they voted the Reput
, lican ticket; no evidence either c
discharge'or Of refusal to employ wa