The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-12-21
TEIE INvEzrren
to'ihpiied rom Associated Press Reports, unless
otherwise Designated.

| :
| otherwise Designated.l
LOUISIANA.
Ihe Congressional House Committee
met at New Orleans on the 18th, Mr., Morri-
son presiding. A communication was re-.
ceifed nom the Louisiap Returning Board
s.alIng IN substance thr four members of
the Returning Board Genied the authority
OF me House of Representatives to review
me decision of the Returning Board until
tney had delivered their documents to the
ooea;nt neneral assembly. They also protested
against the attempts of the House
OF Reprc sentatives of the Tnitsd
stats to obtain and review doru-
ments IN their possession, and claimed
mat as individuals they could not under
the constitution and laws of the State sur.
| render them. They stated that they would
nave copies of all documents made for the
Committee if the Committee would nrov,de
the necessary means. The Chairman in
| struc ed the Sergeant alarms TO notify the
members of the Returning Board that their
presence would be expected at eleven a m.
on the 18th, in obedience to orders of the
speaker of the House of Representa-
u.es Oh the United States. Another com
munlcation from Charles S. Abel Sec.
retary of the Returning Board, was
read, IN answer to subpoena duces tecpDa
served On him, declining to furnish the doe
| uments, as he had been Instructed not to do
So. These re 'usals created considerable ey
cltcment The room was crowded with spec
tators and witnesses
Mr.. Wells, of the Returning Board,
was before the House Committee on the 18th,
but declined answering questions, DENYING
the authority of the Committee to interro-
gate him as to Returning Board matters, He
said II the Committee would employ eight
clerks in addition to the clerical force OF the
Board, all the papers could soon be copied.
O'her witnesses were examined as to the late
election, but nothing new or startling was
developed Subcommittee were appointed
10 he located in different parishes of the
State, who would leave when copies of the
Returning Board had been obtained.
On the evening of the 18th, the Re-
publican counsel sent a protest to the House
Committee, demanding that facilities be
offered them to attend the sessions of the
committee, and insisting that they should
be protected against insults and threats On
the l4th, Mr.. Glover, Supervisor of East
Baton Rouge, testified before the committee
and submitted copy of the affidavit ac-
companying his returns, showing that riot
tumult and terror prevailed throughout the
Parish. He did not witness any violence,
but was Informed of it by others. He said
on cross-eXaminatiOn, that the affidavit ac-
compauying the returns was prepared at the
Custom-Housc iu New Orleans.
Two colored witnesses (Henry Car
roll and John Petty testified before the
House Committee, on the 18th, to the effect
that they had voted and acted with the Dem
ocrats at the late election, and that for so
doing they had been subject to threats and
abuse, Carroll stating that attempts had
been made on his life, and that man was
shot and killed on the 10th of No
vember in mistake for him. Petty tes-
titled that he was shot and beaten by colored
men for having voted the Democratic ticket
William Ward (colored) testified that he was
a Republican in 1874, and took seat in the
Legislature, although fairly beaten at the
polls. He stated that the History of the
Ourages on Red River" written by him, be
believed at the time to be true, but now he
knew better. 0. B. Morgan, discharged from
a clerkship in the CustDm-H House, on the 10th
of November, testified that Supervisor An
derson had told him, after the election, that
the Democrats had carried the Parish of
East Fcl;ciana, only one Republican vote
being polled. On meet ny day some
men came to Anderson'S office, and said
he ought to be hung, but they did not other
wise molcSt him. Witness lad frequentod
the Custom House since his discharge, and
had seen a number of persons there making
where they were not in accordance with the
testimony given in regard to intimidation.
Supervisor Glover, of East Baton Rouge. lad
said to witness that it was peaceable there
on the day of elect on, but Glover did not con-
slider it safe to return there after the election;
that he had thrown out some boxes and
elected three Republicans to the Le9isla-
ture. The witness cOnversed with Super
visor Leday, of Lafourche, before and after
the election. Leday told him that the par
ish was Democratic, but it would go all
right; that he was not there for any foolish
ness; he would throw out enough polls to
elect the Republicans. He said nothing
about intimidation Witness said he had
been advised not to 90 before the Congress
siOnal Committee, he would not get his
place back in the Custom House if he teo-
titled.
NJ. S..Peeler, of New Orleans, was be
fore the House Committee, on the 10Th, and
testified that he was United States Super
visor in Poll 2 of the Second Ward; that
an attempt was made by the Republican
Commissioner to prevent Democrats from
voting; that Mr. Hare, Republican Commits
siOner, had told him, after the election, that
there was some trouble about that poll; that
the Democratic Commissioner would be ar
rested, and they would ia Ike the box and hX
it to suit themselves; witness was ohercd
$500 by Mr.. Casey, a Republican Marshal, If
he would let him and another Marshal have
the box; he declined the offer and Notified
the Democratic Committee, who sent force
for protection; the Republicans subsequ mt
ly made an attempt to seize the box and
fake it to the Custom House; witness was
subsequently assaulted by Hare, Republican
Commissioner, because he would lot certify
the returns as correct and refused to allow the
box to be taken by tho Republicans. GA the
cross-eXaminatIon, witness said the election
was peaceable, quiet and fair; had been told
that if he did not keep iii he would be Killed
for going back on his party; was still Re
publjcan, Pompcy Steele, Marshall Taylor,
+. H. Flowers and Henry Smith (all colored)
testified that they voted the Democratic
ticket at the last election, and had been as
saulted and maltreated T so doing. Flow
ers said he canyassed the State for the DEM
ocrats and had heard a large number OF
colored men say they would vote the Demo-
cratic ticket, and others said they were
afraid to vote such ticket owing to threats
which had been made against colured Dem
ocrats, S. j. n. Smith, lawyer, of New Or
leans, testified that he canvassed The state
for the Democrats; saw no intimidation OF
colored people except by Republicans, VINO
said if the Democrats got in office the col
ored peop,e would be again ensiaVcai
saw number Of negroes VINO prom
ised to vote the Democratic ticket;
Parish of East Feliciana; supervisor Ander-
son had told witness that Parish would 90
Democratic, but would be counted RepubH-
can: that he (Anderson) had said the Gus
tom House officials wanted him to swear
that fraud violence and intimidation were
practiced by the Democrats, but that he re-
fused to do so.