Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-12-23

declare Its purpose OF resisting force
with force, then, the South would not
be backward in joining with them
but then, the physical force would be no
longer necessary, for the moral force of
such movement would in itself be
sufficient to paralyse the action of the
traitors who are now threatening the
existence of constitutional government.
Meantime whatever the North is
willing to bear the South is compelled
to bear.
MORE BEAUTIES OF THE BOARD.
The House investigating committee
in Louisiana is gradually clearing
away the rubbish of mystifcation and
misrepresentation which have so far
prevented us from approaching the
beauties of the Returning Board In
all its fair proportions and we are ena-
bled every day to revel in new charms.
The process is something like the dis
interment of the Venus of Milo, we may
miss an arm or two but from what is
revealed we can imagine the beauties
which are lost to view.
Thus behold pair of supervisors
self-convicted of their dirty work and
one of them ready to sell himself to
do similar work on the other side.
In the House Committee it was
proved that the Feliciana supervisors
had at first returned their parishes
without protest, and then gave in to
kellogg and Packard. Anderson of
East Feliciana, wanted to sell out
to Democrats, and Waters, of West
Feliciana, said that Packard could not
get him to falsify the facts, neverthe-
less he did it. Kellogg threatened
Anderson with the halter if he did not
come to time.
The following is the testimony of
Ex-Governor Wickliffe in reference to
the same parish of West Feliciana.
TESTIMONY OF GOVERNOR wIcKLIFFE.
Governor Wicklife testified that in
West Feliciana more than thousand
colored men had joined the Democrat
ie clubs, and were more enthusiastic
than the whites. Governor Wicklitfe
emphatically gave the lie to l.. b.
jerks affidavit that he and other
Democrats had tried to prevent the or
ganization of the Republican party.
On the contrary, they had always ad-
vised the negroes that they had right
to vote as they pleased, but had tried
to convert them by showing the pecu-
lations, robberies and corruptions of
the Republican officials, especially in
regard to the school fund.
But the he is a Democrat aud of
course nobody is going to believe him.
Now listen then to the words of an
honest Republican, much too honest
for the party he is working with. Mr..
Long was a regularly nominated can
didate of the Republican party for the
office of State Legislator from De Soto
parish; he was defeated before the
people but counted IN by Wells and his
board. Upon which here is his letter
to Governor Wells.
de SoTo PARISH, LA, Dec. II,
1876.-Hon j. Madison Wells, Presi-
dent Louisiana Returning Board: |
have learned that your honorable body
has returned me to the lower house of
the Legislature from the parish of De
Soto. Permit me to return my thanks
for the honor conferred, but at the
same time permit me to say that | am
unwilling to accept the position. am
Republican from the firm conviction
that the principles of that party are
best for the whole country.
1T is also true that | was the regu-
lar nominee of the party in the parish
of De Soto for the Legislature, and did
more than any member Of the party in
that parish to organize 1t and advance
its interest; but, sir, knowing as do
that was fairly defeated at the polls
no intimidation or fraud having been
practiced by the opposite party at any
precinct in the parish, so far as l have
been able to ascertain-after a thor
ough investigation-my self-respect
will not permit me to accept the posi-
ton. 1 hope you will pardon me for
taking step that, at first glance may
be thought calculated to cast some dis
credit upon the party which have al
lied myself, but | am a planter, not
politician; all my interests are here;
and, sir, can not believe the good of
the State or of the national Republi-
can party can be promoted by return
ing, as elected, candidate so clearly
defeated as myself.
I'm fact, | am convinced that very
much of the disturbance that has pre-
vailed throughout the State for several
years past is justly attributable to the
fact that in many parishes men not
elected by the people have been re-
turned elected and maintained in Office
by the power Of the Government. |
must believe that you and your associ-
ates have been grossly deceived as to
the manner in which the late canvass
and election In De Soto was conduct
ed, as to the result.
Very respectfully,
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