Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-27
Testimony OF Chairman Patton, of the
Louisiana Democratic Executive
Committee, rs to his Famous
Circular-0utrage on
Democrats.
Progress of the Congressional Investi-
CATION.

Townsend, Joyce and BeeDe, a quorum. WI
liam 0rton was called. Not appearing, Chan
man Morrison read a communication fro1
Mr.. 0rton, as published in the morning pa
| pers. The committee adopted the tollowin
| without division:
ReSOlred That the chairman commumcat
| to the house the failure of VIM. Orton, pres
ident of the Western Union telegraph com
pany,to appear and testify, and to bring wit
hun all kilograms in his possession or control
sent or received by persons named III th
subpoena served upon him, the sMd OrtOn
Also, as part of said communication the let
ter of said 0rton to the chairman, dated De
cember -, 1876, and such testimony of I
w. Barnes before the committee as relates
instructions given him, the said Barnes, b
the said Orton, in relation to the production
before the committee of kilograms require,
to be produced before the committee y sai
Barnes; said default and refusal, and instruc
tions to said Barnes, in the opinion of tn
committee being IN contempt Of the proces
of the house.
The committee then adjourned, and tn
subcommittee then met and proceeded will
the investigation. After two or three wit
nesses were examined, o. B. Morgan was re
called, and detailed a conversation with j. E
the election, and q conversation between
Kellogg and Herwig, showing that Anderson
had filed his returns without protest, but th,
Democrats refusing to pay anything, Ander
son entered into treaty with Nash and 9th
ers, by which, il Nash was elected, he woult
secure Anderson the appointment of naval of
ficer at New Orleans; witness was Repubi
can up to the last election, and had a position
in the customhouse to Novmber 10th his pay
was at the rate of one thousand dollars pc
annum, and he was assessed seven dollars anC
fifty cents per month for party purposes; ht
stated that the atfidavitS made out In the Gus
tomhouse were different from the statements
of the witnesses; the way Anderson was Il
serve Nash, he was to make an affidavit anC
have the Democratic vote of East FelicianG
thrown out; a man named Harris seemed t.
be the head of the affidavit
making business in the custom.
house knew of an instance
where answers to cross-inteTogatories wer(
struck out by Mr. Harris's orders and Other
answers put In; this was in the case of Mr.
Simmons, of Livingston parish; Mr.. Harris
said the first answer wouldn't do, the altera.
tons gave it different character; heard Mr.
Kellogg ask Mr.. Drury, in Assumption par
ish, as to the prospects there; Mr.. Drury said
the Democrats would probably carry it; Mr.
Kellogg told him he had better have the affi-
davits ready then; saw six or seven hundred
negroes at Baton Rouge when Governor
Nichols spoke; some of them told me they
were going TO vote the Democratic icket
was a candidate for parish Judge, in Assump-
ton, IN 1874; L. c.. Anderson told me could
have my commission If ! would take it; be,
lieved was beaten fairly, and would not ac-
cept it.
Cross-examined-Saw Mr.. Aiken writing
IN the customhouse every day; saw hin
change the answers of the affidavits made by
Mr.. Simmons; | gave the interrogatories and
answers to Mr.. Harris myself; he said that
wouldn't do; he gave 1t to somebody else
and told them to see if they couldn't do bet.
ter than /; told Mr.. Harris it was a good
Democratic document.
Mr.. Harris, above alluded to, was present
as counsel for the Republicans, and arose anC
asked if they would be allowed to introduce
rebuttng testimony.
The chairman replied that any witness sug
gested by Mr.. Townsend would be summoned
SENATE COMMITTEE.
The senate committee were all present and
called to order at ten o'clock and thirty-fvt
minutes Chairman Howe named Senator,
Wadleigh, M'Millan and MDonald as {
subcommittee to take the testimony of Ella
Pinkston. Senator NJ Donald submitted al
order that the returning board be directed tC
furnish certified copies of the consolidated
statements OF the votes, statements OF the su'
pervisors of registration and statements O
the polls not returned by the supervisors o.
registl alton of the various parishes, and the
polls as contained no information whatever
in regard to the polls and votes rejected by
the supervisors. Chairman Howe said while
he was opposed to embarrassing the board al
the present time, ne would assure the minor
ity that everything essential to getting at the
true facts In the investigation would be cheer
fully granted. The question, therefore, was
again postponed. Senator NJ Donald wanted
Colonel J. w. Patton, chairman of the Dem.
ocratic State executive committee, to rebut
the evidence in reference to his famous circu.
lar. He was called and testified: Had re,
sided in the city Of New Orleans since 1857;
had been merchant and soldier, but fol
the past two years had not been engaged III
any business; been since last January president
of the Democratic State central committee and
had the general charge of the canvass in con-
nection with the executive committee; his
testimony was not taken before the returning
board; was in New Orleans during the entire
canvass, which opened about the thlrtieth Of
last August; the Democratic State conven-
ton, which nominated State ticket and
Presidential electors, met at Baton Rouge
July oath; Mr.. Pinchback was chairman OF
the Republican State committee, buttendered
his resignation after the Republican conven
ton had made nominations; only knew this,
and never was familiar with the organization
of the Republican State committee; thinks
Messrs. Pitkin and Dibble we're active mem
bers of the campaign committee; the Baton
Rouge Democratic convention adopted reso-
lutions fayoring and counseling peace; will
furnish a copy hereafter; General Nichols
made speeches accepting the nomination, II
which he said he accepted only on condition
that he should be the governor OF the whole
people, without regard to color or race. Wit
ness promised to furnish report of the pro-
ceedings of the convention. The State can
vass was conducted by the Democrats on the
principles enunciated there, and for full
fair and free election IA circular published
by the witness during the campaign, and
incorporated in Sherman's report, was
shown witness, and he was asked
it was true copy, and he replied
that it was; the italics, however, In
Sherman's report were his, not witness s.
only one word in the original was so marked
namely, horseback The circular was
marked confidential, because one member oi
the committee said he was opposed to any cir.
cular, for no matter what was written would
be misconstrued by the people of the north
another said that marking it confidential
would attract the attention of those to whom
they were sent; circulars were scattered
broadcast, and there was no intention o.
keeping its contents secret; it was intended
for general circulation and so used; it was
issued the latter part of June, and sent to al
the prominent Democrats in various portions
of the State, and sent through the mails; haC
seen several circulars issued by the Republi
cans during the campaign; among them one
was shown signed by A. NJ. a Jewett, super
visor of Assumption parish; another one wa
found On the steamboat Blue Wing in {
pocket book among other papers, and aftel
hearing of it, and after some trouble, secured
one from Supervisor Baudreaux, of Assump
ton parish; have since seen another in th'
hands of gentleman from Grant parish
The envelope in which it was mailed anC
the documents were put in evidence.
Witness, resuming, SAID he had seen sev
eral other circulars issued by the Republi