The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-20
I.oulsinna IiiveistIgation.

Epbout The Constitution of mode OF pro
cedure d the organizatioh; \ Ind 9
Conversation with Col. Powers who was
in command OF Il; don't know who sue
oeeded in command OF the organization;
don't know Of It's existence since this cam
paign was opened; have no knowl-
edge Of any armed bodies Of mer
moving about over the Sparishes Sat
night thinks that the change of thelyote
OF West Feliciana parish Il due 70 the
Iinterest taken by the whites, and Che
arguments used BY them 10 promising a
Just and economical administration, n
proper application Of the school fund in
the event Of democratic success; knows
OF no threats Of discharge or anything Of
that sort being used by any one; received
y circular from Col. Patton, ehairnian OF
the Democratic State Comhittee; ia which
he said, you cannot convince negro by
reason, but may by positive statements
often repeated; witness did, not agree
1 with The views Of Co. PAttbn,she found
the negroes readily convinced by the ar.
Igument thatheiemployed Sd66 6iHer means
to influence them 10 vote the Democratic
ticket TastakeleJ3 Saib6I
| The Counsel for. The Democrats sub
mitted The following stalsmentiof their
case 10 tkesenate Committee
lat. That they, received Int the cleo
ifon held id this STATE Noveaibcr7, maj.
orily Of the legal votes over their oppo.
nepts hyeragipgi Aboth SUopk0,es.
81. That the election 80 far a5 the
Democratic conservative psEtylwas con-
earned, %as fair aud peaceA6le, and that
said candidates. and lsaii party used
every exertionV and eudsayor TO secure
free and full vote and q quiet election.
/ f3d! That, On lithe lother Hand, their
opponents and leaders Of the Republican
party ofthisj State! had iorsaone time
previous to the election determined and
eopspired toGarry, the Stats byftaud aud
unfair means, and with that end in view
did'periOrmr amongst o.hessIthe follow
ing acts: wv = ~ ! S'@"'
4Ih.. They did appoint ~; ,Supervi.
ltsors of Repatriation none bdt Republi-
cans, and few but Republicans as Clerks
OF Registration, refusing the reiterated
demands by the Democratic Conservative
party fos representation, Tins limiting
and restricting the opportunities OF de-
tecting and preventing frauds.
s5lh.-That they did in most cases,
send out 10 country parishes, super
yisors, corrupt and dishonest men from
this city, whose residences .Wfre mol. in
the parishes for which they were ap.
pointed, and In many instances selected
Tor such supervisors, clerks and employ
ees of,the United States.
sS6th.--That said Esupersisots in a
number Of the parishes Of this State, did
throw every obstacle In the way OF regis
tration by the Democs rats; amounting in1
many cmesto the denial of3the .fegisiba-S
tion, on the other hand affortling every
facility to the Republicans, and issuing
large numbers Of fraudulent registration
papers to colored republicans, amounting
in the State to more than 10000.
9Th. That said Supervisors in nun.
Der Of cases refused in their, revision OF
registration TO strike of the names OF
coiored Republican voters, clearly pro.
ven as fraudulent, and that on the day,o
the election q greater part Of said fraudu;;
lent repatriation papers were voted, In.
creasing the Republican vote Of The State
fully 1900. -
II sth. That said Supervisors were in
communication with The Campaign and
other committees OF the Republican par d
ty, and receiving Instructions In relation
TO the registration and lnjnnctionsIto ,int
fate the Republican vote, accompanied
by q promise o. o reward from the Re-
publican administration II successful. 4
9lh.-That Republican voters and Re:
publican leaders, did adopt means ot
intimidating the Democratic voters byl
threats, violence, undue and corrupt
practices, exercised towards colored yot
ers and by! wholesale issuance just pre-.
yious to the elections, Of warrants to, the|
number OF several. Thousand, without just
cause for the arrest OF white voters, there
by causing terror and depriving said
Democratic conservative party Of large
number fyoles. ~
10th. That -saii,- Republican leaders
and said Supervisors did employ artiiices
to prevent the casting Of full Democrat
ic Conservative vote in several parishes.
11th. That they did illegally appoint
4 large number Of DEPUTY. u s. Mar
shalls, and In the various parishes Of this
State, at aiarge expenseto The US gov.
ernment, large number Of deputy con-
stables, all Of whom surrounded the polls
In large numbers and intinidated voter&
= l2th. THEY did-illegallys expend' the
money OF the Government for partisan
pur poses, by commissioning large mum.
bers OF Deputy United States Marshals
exclusively from the Republican party,
by employing ,Goyernment. clcrks'~to
write aud copy aiEidavits.a and documents
for use before the Returning Board and
other partisan purposes, and by summon
ing and paying cloud Of Republicans
large sums as mileage and per diem as
witnesses before said Board.
IS, That they. did close courts 10 all
redress against illegal actions complain
ed Of, entering nolle prosequi in the cases
where true bills had been found against
the parties guilty Of aud otherwise ,pro,
tecting them from punishment! l WI
IA. Your appearers further state and
charge that said Republican leaders did
previous 10 and alter said sleation. Com
spire and determine to cause to, be fraud
ulently counted the votes actually cas-,
by the appearers received, aud to accord
to their opponents q majority they had
never received, the said conspiracy and
determination being shown II public
declarations and by the. course pursued
in this connection.
10Th. That rs instrumental Of said con.
spiracy was used the Returning Board
OF this State, composed In violation Of the
law, OF Republicans alone, acting with an
untitled vacancy, the law requiring as a
prerequisite 10 all action the filling OF
vacancies and full Board Of five mem
berS. E
10th. That said Returning Board
usurped and exercised Judicial functions
contrary to the constitution Of the State,
which restricts judicial power 10 the Judi.
ciary. U7g tl 'i Ntaap g
Eth. That said Board sought 10 escape
all effective scrutiny by :exoltidlngS Oh.
servers or representatives OF The Demo
cratic Conservative party at the most
important parts Of It's labors, and by re-
fusiug to Gil vacancy, and by refusing
TO one party representation on said
Board. lt;i yAlist4g H.
18Th. That said Board SonsPHirsd wi,h