New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-01
VOLUME X.-NO. 200.
the citizen of tho United States government

tho citizen of tho United States government
and the State Of Louisiana.
There is another thing, and it is - to th'
elections, of causing certain witnessed to
60 before tho courts and take out minol
papers testifying that tho party making
application for such papers came to THU
city before he was eighteen years of age
and therefore entitled to his certificate 0i
naturalization. These are taken out before
every election. and perhaps in az large q
dred papers issued. These are obtained
upon fraudulent representations made to
the courts. speak sdvisedly with regard
to an experience have had during an ex.
animation before Commissioner South
worth. In almost every instance where
the certificate was issued 1t was
found out that it was obtained
by fraudulent representations. 1t was
announced in the papers that two
| Court aud one from the First District
Court for the purpose of having juries i'm.
| paneled. and not more than forty -four per.
sons could be found. A few days ago,
when party was nominated for an Office,
| it was discovered that he was not natural
| lied until several days after he was nomi-
mated. 1t shows but very poor regard foI
what has in every country been looked
| upon as the most important right and privi
lege-I speak Of the elective franchise.
MIR. Walker closed his argument by citing
| n list of authorities in support OF his
points.
Judge Spofford and Colonel Zacharie
made arguments in behalf of the contestees.
Mr.. Walker replied, and in conclusion
said:
Now, it is not as disappointed csndi-
l.A ~ = G1<-n ~-Asn Ntn
| is something instructive in every generous
mind, in the shape Of indignation. that is
engendered by the contemplation of what
Is wrong and what is reprehensible; and
when We bring these things to the notice OF
your honorable body, and ask you to
correct, or apply the law to them, 80
| far as your discretion and power per
mits you to do. l don't think it is a
| subject of condemnation upon the part
sible at all, as to whether they have
or have not been defeated. l may say that
| the gentlemen who made the announce
| ment here are better informed than am.
l have not taken the paine to inquire. l
have NO wire-drswn arguments to make; l
have no strings to pull. But I have right
to condemn fraud wherever meet it; and
when l meet it stalking at midday in the
streets OF my native city oppose it With
all the power have in the world. chal.
lenge tho vote of no man who has the right
Under the law to vote, but / condemn, and
repeat it, fraud, and it shall meet with my
denunciati0n wherever see 1t. 1t is not the
honestly nsturalized citizens of New Orleans
that am talking about. They have right
to take their certificates and vote upon
them they are not the parties l am talking
hundred men who pretend to be honest and
upright citizens. am talking about twen-
ty hondred men who have exercised the
elective franchise at the recent election,
and it is in regard to them that ask you to
apply the law and thanking you for the
attention you have paid me, now leave
the matter with you.
On the conclusion of the arguments the
case was taken under consideration, and
would continue with it's labOrs.
President Wells-Hsve you comDleted
your evidence in the East Baton Rouge
case, Colonel Zscharie'
Colonel Zachar;e-The evidence has not
been filed, but the bailot-boxes are here in
charge of the clerk, and are sealed up.
President Wells-What do you desire
with reference to it9
Colonel z ZAcharie-We want you to open
them in the same manner as was done in
1874, and take the copies of the returns
wrongfully deposited in the boxes instead
of being forwarded to the Secretary of
State.
President Wells-Aud place them by the
returns of the eupervisor'
Colonel Zacharie-Yee, sir. And We also
ask the came thing in reference to the par
member, the returns from these parishes
were put INTO the ballot boxes. 1t seems
impossible to prevent some OF the commits
sioners from placing the returns in the
boxes and sealing them up. Under the old
law it was the custom to make returns to
the sheriff, and he would take the keys and
open the box and take out the returns and
have them compiled
President Wells-The board has doubted
it's authority, although We have sent for the
boxes, and We have been sustained in that
ruling BY Judge Spofford. He says we
ruled correctly in not going outside of what
is before Us.
Colonel Zscharie-You will eee that he
didn't take any position of that kind at all
President Wells-I think he agreed with
us. We will proceed to take action upon
the Baton Rouge case. We would be glad
to ascertain your object in having the
Governor Wickliffe-The returns and
tally sheets, ETC., from the parish OF East
Baton Rouge are locked up in the box, and
the supervisor has made no return at all
Polls Nos. and are omitted from the
consolidated statement.
Major Herron-Here are two boxes re-
turned by two commissioners. Instead ol
counting the papers and returning them to
the supervisor, they have locked them up
in the box, with the votes sealed up, ana
| sent them to the clerk OF the court. we
| have found that they committed an error
and we ask to supply the board with the
missing returns of those wards. We wish
to have the boxes opened. You place the
returns before you, but tie supervisor has
| gone away, and hence We request that the
boxes be brought and opened. The order
| that you gave the other day was that the
seven boxes (those that had been omitted
should be brought before the board. All
| seven have been placed in one large box
| and are in keeping of the United States su
pervisor.
President Wells-I am aware of that
What l wanted to get at was our authority
| for having these boxes opened and taking
out the papers and supplementing any
| omission in the returns. That is the ques'
| tion before the board. What we want tt
get at is, can We 90 behind what is already
| istratiop9 The board has decided repeat
| adv that the returns of the supervisor arr
,,v.i;nn fdcie evidence of what occurred
Now, if We take these boxes and examine
these papers a. You desire US to do. tha
| can be done but the question is whether II
| eives us the authority, even after seeing th'
returns, to take them from the supervisor!
| statements to supplement the omission Will
| them:
( Mr.. McGloin-The law requires you t.
canvass the statement from the commls
siOners.
| President Wells-I differ with the gen
| tleman. The commissioners send their re
port to the supervisor. He is the medium
between the commissioners and the bOar'
of canvassers, and all statements cOmin!