Middletown transcript., 1876-12-16
The Louisiana Returning Board.
RepubIican Opinions Of its Present Mem.
bers ON either occasions.


Opinions OF its Present Mem.
bers ON other occasions.
SHERIDAN ON THE PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD.
From his report in 1867.
l say now unequivocally that Gov
ernor Wells is political trickster and
dishonest man. | have seen bim dur
ing the July riot of 1866 skulk away
where could not find him to give him
guard, instead of coming out as
manly representative of the State and
joining those who were preserving the
pea;e l have watched him since, and
his conduct has been as sinuous as the
mark left in the dust by the movement
Of snake. I cay again that be is dis
honest.
CARPENTER on THE BOARD.
From Speech in the Senate.
One pleasant little gentleman swears.
with a smiling face. that be himself
forged /, 200 afidavits in one day and
delivered them to Mr. Boyee, sitting
in the board. and Bovee said'he was "a
hell of fellow and asked if he could
not get more of the same kind. and he
said be could get 800 or 400 Of the
same kind by 9 o'clock the next morn.
ing. if necessary They, not satisfied
with the duplicate returns. not satisfied
with the newspaper accounts. not satis-
fed with forged afidavits. and after all
these valuable means of information
failed, the board themselves swear that
they made an estimate, based upon their
knowledge of the political complexion
of the country. as to what the vote
ought to have been if it had been fair.
and counted it accordingly. and SO esti-
mated it in one parish. giving Mr.. Kel-
logg so many votes. and SO on. They
went through in this way and reached
the end of their labors December 9th.
1872 The entire returns from the
State showed that McEnry had 65. .579
votes spd that Kellogg had 55, 973
votes, SO that McEnery's maj ,rity was
9,6O5 This Lynch board gave Kel-
logg 1880 and McEnery 54.O29,
making Kellogg's majority lS $751;
They were not going to do things BY
halves. If they were going to have
a Governor, they we're not going to
stop on the majority the Democrats
Governor in fact got they were going
better. and they doubled and gave Kel.
logg $4,000.
LOGAN ON THE KELLOGG BOARD.
Speech in the Senate, 1873.
The government. or pretended gov
ernment. now set up with Kellogg for
Governor) is one that has no existence
10 fact. except founded upon fraud,
without returns, without votes. without
anything except mere desire Oh the
part of a combination to establish a
government. They have done so by
calling to their aid force and power. and
by that force and power they have es-
tablished government there and reign
over the people contrary to their rights
and wishes, in face Of the law and in
violation of the Constitution.
REPUBLICAN COMMITTEES VIEW.
From report 10 the House.
The board took different view of its
power, and proceeded to throw out the
votes from many polls where they found
intimidation and violence to have ex-
listed The result was to defeat persons
whom on the returns they should have
declared elected, and to elect persons
who should not have been declared
elected. In regard to four parishes
they declared no result whatever. but
referred the matter to the Legislature.
The result of this action aoas to change
the political majority Of the persons acho
by the Constitution and laws Of Lou
is,ana, are entitled to organize the
House Of Representatives We have
no doubt that they believed that they
we're defending the people Of Louisiana
against fraud on their constitutional
rights. But there is no more dangerous
form Of self delusion than that ,ohich
induces men IN high places Of public
trust to violate laU to redress or prevent
what they deem public ,0romgs 1t is
further said that this is a question
which concerns the people of Louisiana
alone, and that they should be left to
fight out the question among them
selves. But this is an erroneous view.
both Of the rights and duties of the peo-
pie of the United States under the Con-
stitution. They have an interest in
the question whether Senators or Repre-
sentives for Louisiana, thrust into their
seats by illegal means, shall sit in Con-
gress to make laws for them, and
achether electors, gaining their office IN
like manner, shall turn the scale IN the
case of a President Of the United States
WILLIAM H. WHEELER,
GEORGE F. HoAR,
WILLIAM P. FRYE.
REPUBLICAN PROTEST.
From the N. Y. Tribune.
lln .c Il TT-s.l CA-x O.