The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-17
RESISTING INVESTIGATION.
THE HdYES CONSPIRATORS TRYING
10 SJPPRENS THE 7RUIH.
Cuiorcd Witnesses Assaulted and Threatened
with Violence The House Determined TO
Enforce Its Authority In New Orleans.


Cuiorcd Witnesses Assaulted and Threatened
with Violence The House Determined to
Intorce Its Authority In New Orleans
WAsuINaroN. Dec. 16-The dctermina-
ton OF the Il publican leaders to resist by every
means In their power The developments ~ the
rascaiiy ticks they pi aciised in Florida. Loui-
squa, and South Carolina, In order to enable
their Returning Boards TO count the electoral
votes of those States for Hiycs, Is becoming
more and more npplreut every day. In the
first place, Republican members OF the COM
mittees cent to those States hive placed
every pcssitle obstruction In the way OF fun
ana free investigation. They have consumed
the time of the committees with absurd pro-
tests md badGering cross-examiu ations Of wit
nesses. COlored wi nesses who testified against
the cirpet-baggors have been assaulted and
threatened In many instanoes, and Others
have been intmid ated, and thus kept from ap.
pearing and ties flying. Private advices from
New Orleans say that courlers have been sent
out In advance of the sur. committees to all tho
parishes proposed to be visited to frghten
any negroes who have voted the Dem
ocratc ticket. Every art and device known
to the INSCRIPTIONS carpet-baegers have been
employed to sir w the passions OF the Radical
negroes and set them upon those Of their color
VINO have indicated their intention OF telling the
truth about INTIMIDATION to Democratic COM
mttees.
II this sort OF interference with the Commit
tee Of the House continues, the Serreant-at.
Arms Will be despatched to New Orleans and
directed to swear In sufficient number Of
special sergeants-at arms to enforce the au-
tn rity Of the House OF Representatives ana
project witnesses. The House has de-
termined tnat Il will take no hold Y
recess, hu remain at work In order that
1t may be reldy to take prompt measures
To eniorcs iis hish privileges. The Democrats
are greatly incensed at the attempts ~ tho
q R.sfts ft...tr
allies to defy the power Of the House Of Reprs-
sentntives. aud while they will proceed eau
tiously and dehber,tely, they will be none the
e-s itm. Ihey VIII assuu no UNIV rrnntai le
power-, nor will thev attempt to 20 outside the
precedenls heretofore mace Uy Republican ma
their unquestioned euthorit, to he dened.
The refusal Of MIR. Orton President Of the
Western Onion telegraph Company, to produce
the dispatches called for by the House Com
mittee was brought to the attention of the
House BY speaker Rand ~ TO-DAY. vino present.
ed n report from MIR. Morrison, Chairman Of the
select committee TO inquire into the action OF
the Returning Board In LOUISIANA. The
whole subject was thereupOn referred to
the Judiciary Committee, and a meeting OF
that committee will be- held on Monday
morning to determine what action viii be
taken IN the premises. 1t II probable. also. that
the refusal of tie n embers OF the Louisiana Re
turning Board 10 answer questions propoundcd
to hem 10y the COMMITTEES. or to obey the sIb-
pom ducts tccun, will tie considered at the
same meeting The production OF t>e originrl
pAreis IN Ihe possession 0f the hetuluiug Board
viii uudnut tediy be cHuIe eilel II the Judiciary
committee reports thht the House mas the
power to do so. lnere his been one test case
mude by Republican House. II occurred sew
era Neirs ngo, when a suhlwna was issued to
cOmpt The ntteud iuNe ~ Witness who VS. held
by the ShtrH ui \tuhuEO county. Penn, on the
commit mcnt OF Judge Of thbt county. When
the serge ~ -at-Arm- demanded his witness,
the Sher4n refused To deliver MIN up. lni- w.s
renorted IN due form to the House, and the
Sergeant -. Arms was ins'fuc Ell to bring his
men. and to ear m epillcieni deputies o. rra.
hle him TO enforce the rights Of the House Oi
Representatives. The Sherir did not PERSIST.
and force wa- not rtsOfteu tui put would un-
douhtedly have been used II IL had been uvces-
sarv.
1he committee I'm New Orleans will first de.
mand tine privilege Of comparing the certified
copies with the original IN the hands OF the Re
tuIning Board. For this purpose the committee
VIII meet AZ the rooms Of the Returning Board
aud make the dem nd rmay. II this Is not
bring the matter TO the attention oi the House
aud obtain thereir IN an order OF that
houv, and then fhcieNt force Of deputy
rergeaut-at-Afms Will enforce n. N. GER
Tined COPIES whirh the X turning Board
has agreed to furui. h the committee. 4 must ne
undeStood ARE in no sense Of the word certi-
He'd papets. lbe clerks employed by the CONE
mttee are not allowed to copy them,
tut the Custom House EMPLOYEES cal N The
hgur-s TO the copy ists, ana VIII not allow
the originals tu be seen. The OuJect ~ tni- Is,
ot course, To conceal the alterations whicu they
have made IA the returns. II the originals are
not compared with the copies bY the clerks ~
the cOmmiftee, Of course the iuVc-tgattou will
he Ia &c. Inc whole country Is Interested, nd
honest men oi all parties demand that the do
se.rchlngy examined. aud the House If Krpre-
stntatiNeH means To- see fhat the Investigation II
has OF 4ered II not defeated 10y Wells aud kcl-
iosg, even II they are backed BY the President.