New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-27

TuH SENATE COMMITTEE.


90 TAX SENATE COMMlTTEE.
Sevesfh Nay. !.
The cbsirmsn designated Senators Wso
,aieh. Mcmillan and Mcdonald - the euo
committee to visit and take the testimony
Of Eliza Pinkston.
.. In the matter of the additional copies Of
xuperv,sors' statements aaked for by Sene
tor Mcdonald, in order that the committee
mjrht know what polls had been rejected
and on what grounde, the chairman steeee
that it seemed to him that the board nao
already furnished every materiaa fact asked
for. but, before the Investigation WAS over,
every fact asked for would be before tne
Senator Mcdonald desired to call Colonel
1. w. Patton tirst, if convenient.
Colonel Patton-Resides in New Orleans,
and has been in Louisiana since 1857; has
"plsyed many parte," etc. merohsnt'
sheriff, etc; was chairman of the Demo-
cratic stste Central Committee since jan
Iusry, 1876; the executive officer OF the
committee; had the general charge OF the
canvass in connection with the suo-com
.mittee: was iu New Orleans during the en-
tire canvass, except ON visit to baton
Roupe: the convention was at Ba ION Rouge
july "a; the canvass opened August 81; The
committee was reOrgsnIzed at Baton
Roupe; the candidates we're +. I. Nichols
for Governor. Witness named the let
the Republican State ticket was put IN
the field afterward think; Mr.. Pinchoack
tee; understood that he resigned; don't
know the fact; never had any correspond
ence with that committee; the active mana
ger was Mr.. Pitkin. secretary; had some
Corresponds noe with him; was never
brought in contact with them; Mr.. Dibble
was . manager; at Baton Rouge there was
. part of the platform announcing the
policy Of the party; have not . copy; Gen
eral Nichols spoke accepting the nomina-
. ton ON condition that he was to DO Cover
NOR of the whole State, Of al the people of
every race and condition; can furnish Q
COPY of the proceedings; - chairman, con-
Quoted the canvsss entirely on the princi-
=. pies announced in the Baton Rouge conyen.
Zoo; there wAs never 9 word ueeeeed or
the interest Of pescs and . fair election.
[Examining "circular."] Issued this cir
culsr; take it for granteu the putlication In
the REPUBLICAN g . copy; the itali6s ara
mot Of the original except one word which
il not italicized; TINT wss horseback: road
the portions italicized The circular Vas
issusd in latter past Of Jnne or early part
Of July; it was called "conident!al.. On the
suggestion of one member that in tho con-
dlti0n of tho Northern mind it was
liable to be m,sconstrued; thst tho
committee was not the campaign COM
mittee, but only IN ad interim COM
mittee, and suggested the word "cOn-
lidential" should be written on it; had no.
objection; there was no necessity OF secrecy
sb0ut it; they were scattered broadcast at
Baton Rouge and cent 70 all prominent
Dsmocrats; not secretly; know of secret
circulars issued by the Republican party;
the active agents Of that party were Mr..
Jewett, Mr.. Blanchard and Mr.. Catlin; lex
smining circular]; this came into my pos
session; q gentleman ealled at headquer-
ters stating Captain - ON his down trip
had found wallet containing documents,
describing thesd; tried to get one; Mr..
was in the hands Of Mr.. B0udreaux, super
visor of Assumption; subsequently heard
that it was placed in the hands OF Mr.. Kat
life, who said he would send it when the
returns we're filed; afterward received it bv
messenger; it had been transmitted BY mail
to Mr.. B BJudreaux; have seen another in
the hands of Mr.. V. A. Ward: have seen.
other circulars; August 81 plan of organ
izatiOn was devised and adopted, and on
motion of Major Austin ths report was
adopted and referred to the committee on
correspondence. [Copy of report filed as
part Of the testimony During the can.
vsss had frequent interviews with promi-
nent parties conducting the canvass. and
instructed and advised them.
The chair asked if Senator McD onald
wished to ask for the verbal instructions
given.
Senator Mcdonald said yes; Mr.. Patton
had been charged by Senator Sherman with
having conducted the campaign in an i'm
proper m amer.
The chairman said the committee was
not to try Mr.. Patton, and that he might
have charged 10 900 people to act peacefully
and that would not aftect the act OF one
who did not.
Senator Mod Donald said the object was to
show that the conduct ON tho part of the
committee was not a. charged.
Senator Wadleigh said he thought the
examination might 60 so far - to contra
dict the evidence of the other side. They
had shown that Captain TheObalds and
others had organized riAe clubs and mur.
it was due to Colonel Patton, - . gentle
man, to allow him to cay whether he had
authorised spy such thing.
Senator s sulsbuYy said the evidence Of
Colonel Patton should 60 to the Senate,
where the charge had been m sde.
Senator Mcdonald said Colonel Patton
was the representative of the Democratic
party which was charged. -
Colonel Patton, continuing, said when
parties came to headquarters the instruc
tions and advice given was uniformly the
absolute Importance and paramount neces-
sity of fair and peaceable election; that
leaving out our adherence of any outrage
on the cOlored people, it was necessary for
policy; that our redemption depended on
it, that We were living under laws which
would be enforced by the Returning Board,
and that any advantage gained that way
would be lost; was satisfied of our ability
to carry the State in fair and peaceable
election: have no knowledge of Ouachita
except from letters and by means of news
papers; the registration, l tho lght. was
conducted in q very unfair and unjust man
ner; it was conducted by the chief regis
trsr, Hon. Michael Hahn, Republican,; the
supervisors we're appointed by Governor
Kellogg or Acting Governor Antoine; in
many cases they were residents of other
places than the parishes they we're appoint.
ed to; many Of New Orleans requested
Governor Antoine to give Us Q fair repre-
sents,ion; Governor Kellogg was ct the
North; was not successful ct all; Governor
Antoine stated in some places he had ap-
pointed ID smocrste, but the time to accede
to the request had passed: handed the let
ter to Governor Antoine personally; he sd-
mitted the justice of the demand; (copies
of correspondence fled.
To the ChAirman-Ths convention gave
the character to the canvass by the adop-
ton of Q resolution; it is usual by adopting
Q platform and selecting q committee; the
principles furnish . guide; there were no
specific directions other than those; prOmi-
nent Democrats from the parishes were
frequently in the city; the committee is
composed of fifteen elected at large, one.
from each ward Of Orleans parish, and one
from each parish; some parishes did not
send delegates; had Visits from nearly
every parish-frOm North Louisiana, the