Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-12-28
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

The committee heard considerable evil
dence on the 18th two or three colored men tes-
trying as to being threasened and assaulted for
voting the Democrats tickets Chairman Nor
rison telegraphed 10 the speakers of the House
Of getting evidence, and that witnesaee were be-
ing threatened and dare not testify. He also
transmitted q COPY q a selegraIn from WaliaIa
Company, refusing to permit the employers of
Committee. AZ isast until aftsf Tongrsss shali
have approved the subpesnas OF the Committees
and directed their demands 70 be enforced.N
On the 18th, several negro witnesseswh
had testified to having been threatened and as
saulted for voting and working for the Demo
cratic ticket, were cross examined. one ward,
who canyassed the State for the Democrats,
said that before making the arrangement he
ommitte to canvass the state Tor
the Republicans, but they did not want him
the canvass. M. S. Peller, a United States Su-
~pervisor in New Orleans, testified that Deputy
Marshal Casey wanted to take the poll box in
his district and fix it up, and offered him $5U0t to
deliver it over to them. Witness refused. He
was afterward assaulted and knocked down by
Casey. On cross examination. witness said he
did not make any complaint against casey, as
he intended to settle 1t as a personal matter; said
he was still a Republican, and had called upon
stoats. Marshal Taylor, e. II. Flowers and
Henry Smith, all colored, who had voted the
4 Democratic ticket, teStlfteO tnaG tney naU Deen
assaulted and beaten therefor.
Before the committee, on the 18th,
George johnson. celored, who testified a few
days age, was recalled. He stated that he had
been assaulted by colored Republicans since he
testified before the committee. Knows other wit
nesses who fear violence if they testify. E. w.
Barnes manager Western Union Telegraph
Company: w San, had had been 1ees;y sgd'P Pc ReGId to pr Pacse
ard, Dibble, Yarmouth, Carter and General
Anger, from and after the 18th of Au-
s gas'' but us'o ref %as G to produce denals any yne messages ee :
under instructions of his superior officers.
The committee resolved (the Democrats voting
Barnes's refusal as a contempt of the House.
John Young, an attorney OF De soto, and a Dem
ocrat, testified that he heard State Senator Dave
Young, Republican, say before election that
Nichols would be counted out even il he was
elected; knew of intimidation by Republicans of
negroes who intended to vote the Democratic
ticket: thew were threatened. and in some cases
had to have protection from the Conservatives.
Colored people were afraid to vote the Demo
Democratic ticket at the last election at
Vidalia; about 100. voted for Til
den. and 100 for the State ticket. On cross
cOlOred Democrats-only threats. j. Floyd
King, of Concordia Parish, testified to many
col0red men voting the Democratic ticket, and
threats of the colored Republicans. Thomas
Dawson. colored, testified that he was President
1 ~ d COlUItu bcIIOCEdElC IN Vi NO " AZ ulSn~
bers on the plantation managed by Floyd, the
preceding witness; no violence was done to col
ored Democrats, but some threats made. EX-
Governor Wickliffe, of West Feliciana Parish,
testified that over ! 900 negroes voluntarily voted
the Democratic ticket; an effort was made to kill
him and his partner, Mr.. Fisher; they were shot
at one night; the candidate for Sheriff of West
Feliciana was killed a few nights before the cleo
ton. Judge kennard testified that he was one of
the Democratic campaign committee; every eff
fort was made from the start to have a fair and
free election. Cross examined, said there were
clubs in the parish called Regulators, who were
thieves by thrasIhlRng;' didn,t know wan any member
of such clubs; thinks their organization ceased
after the organisation Of the political clubs;
assassination of West, the Democratic candidate
for Sheriff, seven or eight miles from Bayou
Sara, on his way to a political meeting.
On the 10Th, ex-Gov. Wiekliffe was cross
examined by Gen. Hurlbut. In regard to the
organization in his parish known as Regulators,
| said they were organized while he was ont of the
State, and that he knew nothing about their con-
stitution or mode of procedure; knew nothing of
bodies of armed men moving over the parish at
parish was due solely to the arguments used by
the whites towards the blacks; knew of no
threats OF discharge or any thing of that sort be-
ing used to inf dence voters; had received a cir
eular from the Democratic State Committee. In
| which it WA stated-'tYo can not convince q
negro by reason. but may by positive statements
ever, as he had often found negroes readily con-
WINGED by m William MAXWELL Jerry
Hall, and Antoine E.sOlasco, all eolored, of Or
leans, each testified tosbaving voluntarily voted
the Democratic ticket. q, Maxwell said he had
been knocked down by two colored men, who
Threatened to kill him for voting the Democratic
ticket Hall, a former rnemher OF the Legisla-
ture, canvassed the State for the democrats, and
testified that he changed his politics be-
CAUSE he wanted "a better Government; be-
1ieved the present State Government incapable of
preteetlpg the colorea people because 1T
had n8 the confidence of the people, and
Thought that the Government winked at outrages
commitced on oSlDred men because it would ben
eft the party. Olasee also -canvassed for the
FDemocrats,s and testified to a fair and peaceable
Election. Gen. Thomas G. Anderson Of the Re-
turning Board appeared before the committee
and submitted aa his reasons for not producing
tue documents called for by the. snbpsns, that
the Board had not yet com plefed their 1abors and
that they WERE compelled BIZ law to hand over 70
the original statements regarding the canvass i'm
their possession, In order that the General AS
sembly might canvass the retarns for Governor.
etc. The Committee declined to receive the an
s"er as sufncaent. ,8s.saas sA8@ba8A a.
"s 50 4ua q rs gaas t1a A.