, 1876-12-28
Informal Metting Of tile Senate Branch
Of The Conference Committee.
The Louisiana stigating Commit
tees Still in Full Blast.
Various Degrees and Kinds Of
Bu1ldozing Testified To.
An Open Letter BY Ben Hill Defining Hi
Position.


Special pttp.-sch u ina Tribune.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Dec. 27.-Tho House
Ind thrce-hour session, which Was devoted to
general debate upon tho Louisiana question.
1t aroso upon the request OF Gen. Banning TINT
the proceedings Of the Cincinnati Tildcn meet
ing, forwarded in the shape Of a memorial, be
printed in the Record. This Democrats carried
their point, and there seemed to bo no good
reason why tho Republicans should have made
any opposition. Tho debate was instructive, as
showing how utterly Impossible 1t Will be to
bring the opposing parties tn the House to any
agreement, either az to the facts, the law, or
tho conclusions Of the Louisiana caae.
THE CHARACTER or GOV. WELLS,
OF the Returning Board, was the leading topic
Of discussion. Gen. Banning nuccccded in hay
ing read shertdau's report upoa4Wells conduct
Ia 1867. It was Incorporated Ia thu Record, al
though the House recently refused to call upon
the War Department for II. But the Democrats
Immediately began to fmpeacb their own Wit
ness. Gen. Shesilan's testimony as to Gov.
Wells was deemed by them conclusive, but when
Mr.. Frya called their attention 10 sherldAn's
terrtic 1enunciatton Of tho Louisiana people for
their Intimidation, brutality md ostracism, In
which hi declared TINT tho Wl,ttc-Liners were
"banditti," the Democrats refused to accept
his testimony.
hlr. Frye Justified mud explained
BHERipAN's DEHuNoIArIoN or GOV. WELLS.
Hc said that 1t arose from tho fact that Wclfa,
In Ills desire for peace in Louisiana, WIS rceog-
ntzinR for placo men whose hands were still
red.handel with treason. It was about the
time when Jolln8on had Just entered upon his
Presidency, md there was real danger to the
country. Mr.. Fryo said that he would rather
sec men III power who were in arms for
tho Confcdcracy than those who In Ohio
ond r,scwhcrr urre1 fin south m to
a"u a'a,,se' sseo"n 49,. .,,a a,..u, @ .a". ~ .hsv
we're willing to accept sheesdau's testimony
against Wells, why would they not tukc llis
testimony % to other ulutters In Louisiana and
s1sa.v,,crc, - Mr nv. said tint. Whom lc VIVA air, in
9lsewhere MF aa .',a'' % mmen ~ ~as . u,
Lol'lsiana on Congressional COMMITTEE Tue
testimony oil vent 10 show that Wells was
BRAVE AND HONEST MAN.
Nv r,.o .oi5 tl,o Nortb wantcd mara IN Aha
@ snnth ~ 1 much "a TIM Smith did' hit II would
not como until Tic f1ghl OF INC eolofed man 10
vote Wus freely and fully rccognizcd--untlt
bloodshed and VIOLENCE wcro no more exercised
toward tic eolots.l raeo tor voting. several
members safd; we aoht peho7c TUG statement
that 1t eycr WIS donc." Mr. Frye asked II they
would acccut tho testimony af Shcrlan on that
subject. III, Douglas, Of Virginia, and others
saf,f tl1ny would not, Mr, Fry1 lid not know.
lien wi'at would convince tbo Democrats OF
Yhnrs re- was '>''0 - Wv ~S'''''S. - 'o'''so''
coss1DrRAn1E wAn.rALK.
Gen. Banning flrst made suggestions OF poss,ble
vinirnre nv tar1nrjn. that Tia Rcnl,hlcn111 were
attnnnttni, tn ursnri, Hberty. lHit thnt Lbs neo-
1,is' rfsint1 n ti,"tr ,nirht wnmld nut ilnwn
fi' fin' ar,nT of ofjIcnj,5i1era and tie army
anll nnyy. a.tlIourh tbs iatter wrrv ordered hero
with ni9hty rn,1ntle of nnmunltion to nrcycnt
II. This ssnttment tie Dcnwrats in lie gallery
and unon thU floor appiau(lcd, Glen. tInrtici;i