Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-11-18
VIEWS OF THE SITUATION.

a GERMAN JOURNALIST OK THE SITUATION.
On Monday, Mr. John Forester. the editor
Of the New Orleans Deuiscbe. Zeit,mg, sent a
dispatch to the publisher of the New York
Stats ZeiiuRg, in which, among other things,
he says;
1--WE comprehend that the recognition Of
Tlden' election in 10 small measure depends
on the course of the Louisiana democracy.
and, In order to all in the success of the good
cause aud to give the republicans 40 appor-
tuuity whatever to annual our majority for
Tillen and Nichols by the Returning Board
swiudle, we, the democrats Of Louisiana, have
come to the conclusion to undertake nothing
for the present except to keep a watch over
the doings Of the republican managers aud to
insist on our just rights.
"a number Of custom-house officers have
left for the upper river country. They car
ried with them bags full Of atlilavits, which
the blacks Of that district are to sign with
their y, swear Ing that by intimidation they
have been prevented to exercise their.rght 10
vote. These atiilAvits are 10 be handed over
70 the returning board and on the ground Of
these sworn statements, obtained by fraud
The vote Of the respective parishes is to be
thrown ont. With the aid OF these frsudu-
lent aifidavits the Packard. Kellogg clique
reckons on Transforming our democratic ma
j1rity from 5000 to 10000 into a republican
! majority
\ TELEGRAM FROM HENRY WATERS y.
Mr. Henry Wattersou, editor Of the Louis
vile C0wier-,5omnai, who is now in New
Orleans, sent the following telegram to the
New York Tribune on Monday
Nec Orleans, Nov. l3.-New Orleans is
as quiet as a nursery. The people cannot be
goaded into 40 outbreak The question pro-
scented you is this: Shall the American people
be cheated out of their free choice and their
free government by handful Of desperate adj
venturerS-Kelhgg, Warmoth and Packard
backed by the President and the military army
Of the nation These reckless persons, fol-
lowed by au army Of plantation hands, are
arrayed against the responsible elements Of
society in Louisiana. Nobody'S life is in
danger nor auybodys liberty Is il possible
that you can place the word Of worthless yaga-
bonds against that of every banker, business
man and bona file citizen in Louisiana?
Henry WATTERsoN. q"
THE PEOPLE TO BE CHEATED.
In a dispatch to the editor of the New York
San, Mr.. Henry Watterson says;
Upon careful estimate, official and uu-
official, the Democrats have carried the State
by majority Of 1851; but the scheme Of
the republicans is 10 throw out votes enough to
reverse this. Qlitc anumber Of distinguished
strangers are here, but it is believed they can
DO nothing against the returning board, which,
backed by the orders Of the President, ncrvei
by the presence Of the army, and directed by
Kellogg. Warmoth aud Packard, is packed
for the express p2rpose Of giving the vote for
Hayes, no matter what the popular majority
for Tilden may be"
PICTURE OF THE LOUISIANA RETURNING
BOARD.
Matt Carpenter, in his speech on the Louisi-
ana case, January 30, 1874 ave a pleasant
picture Of the working Of the returning board {:
One pleasant little gentleman swears with
a smiling face, that he himself forged 200
aililavits in one day, and delivered them 10
Mr. Bovee, sitting in the board, and Boyee
said that he was hell Of fellow, and asked
/ if he could not get more Of the same, aud he
said he could get 800 or 400 moro Of the same
kind by Q o'clock the next morning If ncceS-
sarry."
! THE RETURNING BOARD CRITICISED By IN.
WHEELER.
/ In report upon Louisiana affairs presented
| 10 Congress by William A. Wheeler, (repuh-
/ lean candidate for Vice Ircsidentl George T.
| Uoar and William ?. Frye February %, 1875,
/ the action Of the returning board of 1874,
which was the same as the present one IS Sc
verely criticised Matt Carpenters doctrine
that the functions of that body is a purely
ministerial one is pushed to the extreme limit.
! The report says:
1t never could have been meant that this
board of It's own motion, sitting in New Orleans.
at a distance from the place of voting and
without notice. could decide the right of per-
sons claiming to be elected. The board tool;
a different view Of its powers, and proceeded
To throw out the votes from many polls where
they found intimidation and violence to have
existed. The result was to defeat person,
whom on the returns they should have declared
elected and 70 elect persons who should not
have been declared elected
And now Mr.. Whceler's only chance OF an
election is the hope that this board will repeat
the action which he denounced in these terms
but little more than year ago. He was
then fearful lest an evil chance should bring
il to pass that ELECTORS gaining their Office in
Ike manner lby illegal mean,) shall turn the
scale in the case Of the President Of the United
States.
A REPUBLICAN, PAPER on TIE SITUATION.
The Philadelphia Enquirer, a republican
paper, after abiding 20 the present political
situation, which it declares to be "as unsatis-
factory as possible, says;
"If we should happily pass the present
crisis without disaster, Congress will be crimi-
nally neglected. should it fail, before another
general election. . provide a remedy against
q recurrence Of the existing condition Of az
fairs. Whoever shall De dccllrc3 elected Pres
ilent must sqftytie rlols nation &at he 'caS
taTty and honestly elected, for If he fail 20 Dc
that, aud attempt TO take bis seat strife worse
than that Of the Shareholders rebellion threat
ems That was but solid South opposed by
a solid North bnt the other would be n solid
South uniting with a divided North against a
divided North
THE UNDECIDED CONTEST.
Under The above caption the New York
ErenjHJ Post, republican, says:
of the republicans are Withholding re-
turns, the fact is not likely 10 quicken popu-
lar faith in their predictions Of what tic Of
/ fetal count will show. The omission is IN