Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-29
TUE SENATE COMMITTEE

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 26.-rne Senate com
mittee met this morning, all the members
present and the chairman named Senators
Wsdleigh. Mcmillan and Mcdonald a. 4
subcommittee TO take the testimony OF
Eliza Pinkston.
Col. Patton, chairman of the democratic
stat. executive committee, testified He had
the general charge of canvass in connection
With the executive committee his testlmO-
ny was not taken before the returning
board; was in New Orleans during tue
entire canvass. which opened about the 30.h
of August; tho democratic state cOnven-
ton which nominateda state ticket and the
presidential electors met at Baton Rouge,
July "a {; Pinchbaek was chairman of the
republican state committee but rendered
his resignation after the republican com
mittee had made nominations, only knew
this as a ruuor was not familiar with the
organization Of the epublican state com
mittee; think Pitt and DIbble were &C
tive members of the campaign COMMITTEES
the Baton Rouge democratic convention
adopted resolutions tayOrIng and counsel
ling peace; Zen Nichols made speech ac-
eepting the nomination in which he SAID he
accepted only on condition that he should
be governor of the whole people
without regard to color or race. Witness
promised to furnish report of the
entire proceedings of the convention The
state convention was conducted by the demo-
Gratis on the principles enunc.ated therein
for full, ialr and free election. \ CIR
cular Published by witness during the cam-
paign and Incorporated in Senator Sher-
mans report was shown witness. lie WAS
asked ii 1t was a true copy and answered It
was. The italics. however, IN slermtn's
report were his own. not witnesses. Only
one word IN the original was 50 marked.
namely, "hOrse back.' Inc circular was
marked confidential because one member OF
the committee said he was opposed to any
circular, as no matter what was written 1t
would be misconstrued by the people Of the
North. Another said that making 1t con-
fdential would attract the attention OF
those to whom it was sent. The circular
was scattered broadcast. There was no IL
tsntion of keeping its contents secret Ii
was intended Tor general circulation and %
used. The circular was Issued in the latter
part of June and sent to all the prominent
democrats IN various portions of the state.
and sent through the mails. lie had seen
several circulars issued by the republicans
during the campaign.
Among them one was shown signed BY
W A. Jewett, supervisor Of Assumption
parish Another one was found in tho
steamboat Blue Wing, in pocket book
among papers; and alter hearing and with
trouble witness secured one from supervisor
Boundreaux, oil Assumption. Had since
seen another In the hands Ut a gentleman
from Grant parish. The envelope in which
IL was mailed aud documents we're put in
evidence.
Witness resuming said he had seen sew
eral other circulars issued by the republi-
cans during the Campaign but had no
copies Of them. On the 3lst of August
last the entire plan Of the campaign Wa
adopted unanimously. A copy Of the min
utes OF the Committee Was introduced and
filed as part OF the testimony. A circular to
supervisor Boundreaux had been heretofore
published. Ii il the one that orders su-
pervisors to see that full republican vote Is
pollsd and that his recogniziDes by the party
would be dependent on his observance
of thai duty. The question OF permitting
witness to testify in regard to the genera
conduct of the campaign was discussed az
length. The chairman thought
the testimony at present should simply be
confined to tho rebuttsl OF the circular
issued BY him.