New Orleans Republican., 1876-12-14

BER IA, 1875. ~, : - !
@- I Il.
stitutisn to 20 bahind fhis finding Of th,
board = examine into the reasons Of thei
dectsion, to revieW, remodel or reverse th>
Joogmea6 Of this body oeugtttute0 undel
tho laws OF Louisiana, or in any waV to i'm
pair, diminish or defeat rights which theJ
have declared 20 be established. It n
question OF vast import, and pregnant Witl
tine most serious consequences, not only Il
| relation to Louisiana but q to all thu
States Of this Union. SO .ll & -
If the decisions Of the CAnvassipg or Re.
turning Board OF Louisiana may be i'm
peachea BY the House Of Representative
in n alton 70 electors, % it may be done in
Ohio, Illinois, New York and Massachu
of degree in the powers of the oanvaasereiu
the several States, there is NO difference in
pIiucll lie, NOR can one doetfioe be held q
to ono State and the contrsry - to another
The conseqnences Of such IN assumption
ofpower are fAy reaching and inlinitely per
| ilious. If such' power exists It must be
| found in the constitution, either BY express
form Of words or by necessary implication.
No one can poat to tho express grant, and
ccnstitution from which on any known rule
| OF Interpretation it can fairly DO implied.
No one supp0ses that the House Of Repre-
sen taiiveo would order IN INQUIRY upon q
subject on which 1t did hot propose Is act.
or that this committee 10 hero % gather in
formstion merely for the use Of the press or
the public, with no object to be attained,
and NO legislation to be performed. To de.
bate without power to decide ia child's
MI In n "a tat
without constitutional warrant il usurpa-
ton.
If, then, the undersigned are correct in
their view, that the whole tenor and mean
ing of the constitution implies DE- l:berate
and purpofed surrender Of the electoral
question 20 far - relates to their appoint
lnent to the States; if they are further cor
rect in their view, that whore the mode of
appointment y by popular election the
election ia under the control1of tho States,
and that such scrutiny and final determine.
ton has in fact been had in pursuance of
the laws Of Louisisna, and that no fair In
tendment of the constitution Of tho United
States gives to the Houee of Representa-
tives the right to open that judgment or set
aside that verdict, 1t woul6 seem very
clear that there y no:hiag before this cqm-
mittee ON which it has right to act.
For these reasons tho undersigned pro.
test against the assumptions Of unauthor-
septatives or BY this committee - its
agent, and decline to be considseed q CON.
senting evm BY eilence to the dangerous
doctrine involved in tho terms of the reso-
luton constituting this committee.
Yet having been ordered BY the House to
take part in this investigation, tho under
signed propose 20 aseist in the development
moro fully tho objections and matters of
protest hereiubefore stated.
STEPHEN a. HURLBUT, Illinos;
w, TOWNSEND, Pennsylvania;
L. DANFORD, Ohio;
WILLIAM W. CRAPO. Massachusetts;
CHARLES II. JOYCE, Vermont.
New Orleans, December l3, 1876.
The subcommittee appointed on Tuesday
reported progress, stating that facilities had
been offered for them to obtain copies OF
such documents a. were desired. This sub.
committee will remain - at first appointed
until its mission shall have besu fulfilled.
MI: Morrison, chairman of the committee,
called Ex-Governor Wells to the witness
stand, and administered the oath.
Mr.. Wells-I wish to answer qusstions
onlv as Q private citizen.
Mr.. Morrison-That is something that will
develop itself.
Sergeant-at Arms Moore then read the
law which authorizes this committee to take
evidence, etc.
Mr.. Wells was questioned by Mr.. Nor
rison and other members, and his responses,
in subs tance, were - f0ll0we:
Mr.. Wells-I an . native of Louisiana,
am q planter, and Q member of the Return.
ing Board, and have been since tho year
1873; the board originally consisted Of five
members; latterly there have been but four
members: these four are Republicans in
poitios: dnripg the Last canvass the vacancy
ON the board was not filed.
Question-Can yoa tell M if the rumor
that the Tilden electors ware chosen BY
6OOO or 1000 majority is correct7
This intesregat0ry wes objected to by Mr.
Hurlbut, who oppressed . wish to have the
documents produced - the best proof.
The question was ordered to be put again,
and Mr.. Morrison asked If the report OF Ar.
Palmer that the papers in the hands OF the
Returning Board showed on their face that
the Tilden electors had majority.
Mr.. Wells-Am / to answer oil the ques'
tions that men see ftto have putt l deny
your power to make me answer auch ques'
lions, but will furnish you the documents.
Question-Then you decline to answer!
MIR. Wells-Yes.
Mr.. Morris ou-Well, let that pass.
Mr.. Wells-I refer this committee to the
boards letter a. published in the morning
papers. l...
Mr., Morrieon-The board acted on certain
information.
Mr.. Wells-I still adhere to my reference
to the boards letter. The papers will speak
for themselves. I refuse to answer any
questions in reference to my official acts.
MI. Morrison-Will your papers show the
recorded evidence?
Mr.. Wells-Yes, the papers will show, but