The Portland daily press., 1876-12-22
LOUISIANA.
The Senate Observation-Disclosures Proof of
Democratic Outrages.

Democratic Outrages.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec N.-When the Senate
investigating committee met today, an effort
was made by Senator Mcdonald to have the
members of the returning board subpan aed.
Action was postponed until tomorrow.
James Ealhagher testified: Lived in Ouachi-
ia during last election; first disturbance known
was on 4th of July last at Methodist Sunday
School. When the report was received of the
uprising of the negroes on the island, some of
the rifle companies left and went to the island
and Bastrap that night After that learned
that three rifle companies were organized I'M
der Capts. Mcleod, huntington and Theobold.
Squads of them visited Mr.. Whted, on whose
plantation l worked, to induce him to join the
Democratic club. A few days afterwards nine
armed bull-dozers followed Whited and wife
from Gordon's station and made numerous in
quiries about him, and next day portion of
McLeod's company visited the plantation and
stampeded the hands and frightened all of us;
two weeks before the election attended DEM
ocratic barbecue; Capt Farmer and COL Rich
ardson made speeches; after they finished they
commenced to organize colored clubs; they said
62 colored men joined them; some were will
ing, but others were reluctant and were drag
ged up. Went to the polls of ward about ii
o'clock election day; remained there about
three hours. Everything was peaceable as it
was all one sided and the Republican tickets
were not allowed to be distributed. Bill Slower
stood at the door and made the negroes show
their tickets; they were of different color and
were easily distinguished; when the officers adj
journed at noon the Republican vote was an
nounced as 81. but when the polls closed it was
announced as %. Only three other whites vot-
ed the Republican ticket there.
James r. Hall testified to the formation of
rifle clubs and that Capt. Theobold said to Mr..
Jones, planter, "Youought to have every
man join; the way is to make it too damned
hot for them to stay OUT After this they be-
gan to ride about at night, but seldom in the
day time. This company was known as the
coloIed guard. They visited my negro quarters
at all hours of the night; the negroes were all
Republicans and the rifle club would shoot into
their quarters. Witness also corroborated Gal
laghers testimony and continued; After the
barbecue some of my men told me they had
Joined the club; couldn't help 1t, but don't in
tend to vote the Democratic ticket; heard of
the murder of Henry Pinkston and child,
Bemus johnson, DR.. Dinkgrave and James j.
jackson, and the shootidg of Eaton Logwood.
Geo. Sheldon and other Republicans; no white
Democrats were killed during the campaign.
After election was asked to come to the school
house and take an affidavit, beng justice of
the peace; did so and number of colored
men signed afidavits setting forth that they
had voted the Democratic ticket without fear
or reward. One of the party. after 1 had read
1T to him, said it was hard to take it. I told
him not to take it then. The whites told me
that was nos part of my business. After looking
around as it for means of escape he signed it,
Afterwards one Of them told me he had voted
the Republican ticket. I asked him why he
had sworn thatlhe had voted the Democratic
ticket without fear or reward. He said he
could not help it. L do not expect to
return to Ouachita again. 1 have letter
advising me not to return as it wonld
not be safe; am interested in a plantation there
for which pay $500 rent DR.. Young and
two others brought me afidavits to sign after
the election, setting forth that the election was
a fair and peaceabe one. declined positively
to do so and was advised by friends to leave if
could not sign and so left for Monroe.
Geo. B. Hamlet, ex-sheriff of Ouachita, testi-
fed at some length to instances of personal vi
olence and systematic intimidation.
The House Investigation-Testimo of
Ex.Gov. Wells.
Before the House committee at the morning
session j. Madison Wells, President of tie re.
turning board. testified that in canvassing the
returns he compared the supervisors reports
with the tally sheets of the commissioners;
where they did not agree we deducted but con-
sidered principally the tally Sheets sent for
tally sheets when parties interested in the
election asked for them; sent for boxes of
Concotdia parish at the instance of ex-senator
Harris; did not know then, do not know now,
ne had an interest as candidate at the late
election; found on examining the tickets that
all the electors had been voted for, but the
votes were not properly counted; we counted
the tickets and included them in our compia-
ton; votes omitted were on the Republican
side; have not made an estimate of the aggre-
gate vote thrown out; will furnish committee
with such statement; can't tell the number of
votes thrown for such party without refer
ring to the book; did not consider what party
would be affected by votes thrown out; think
they threw out East or West Baton Rouge;
don't recolect which; declined to furnish the
original to the committee because they belong
to the state; the papers are still in the control
OF the board; the law requires supervisors to
seal up and forward the returns by mail; some
returns came by hand and were counted; the
returns from Grant parish were not sent by
supervisors; when the supervisors reports ale
sent they should be accompanied by tally
sheets; don't recollect that the law requires the
board to CANVASS from the statement of the
commissioners instead of the supervisors; re-
ceived the boxes from Concordia that did not
come through the supervisor; refused to con-
slider Grant parish because G did not come
through supervisors.
MIR. Jencks-If the supervisor was knaye
enough not to forward returns and you bad the
returns made by the commissioners of election,
did you canvass Such,vote?
Gov, Wells-No, sir: we canvassed no votes
not received through supervisors.
Note.-The attention of Gov. Wells was here
called to the fact that the boxes from Concor-
dia did not come through the supervisors.
Wells replied, excitedly-No, sir; how could
they.
In answer to questions. Wells said: Abel is
clerk of the returning board; Kenner is secre-
tary; l think he was some time ago; thing he
is yet; nothing but members of the board are
present. at its private sessions; minutes are
made after private session from a memoran-
dunn kept by members of the board
Trouble anticipated.
There is considerable apprehension of trouble
on the 9th OF January when the governor is to
be inaugurated. Both Packard and Nichols
will he inaugurated as the Republicans will
not oppose the Inauguration of Nichols but
should he attempt to exercise the functions of
the office he will in all probability be resisted
and call will be made for troops, HOO of
whom are now stationed here.
THE INDIANS.