Ottumwa weekly courier., 1877-02-21

fore you. Suppose, for instance, the
State of Louisiana had passed such
an act as this:
"Be it enacted, That William Pitt
Kellogg, j Madison Wells and their
associates are made body corporate
with all powers of corporation under
the civil courts of Louisiana, and
there is granted to them the sole and
exclusive power, privilege and inn
munity to appoint, in all forms and
at the times they may be designated
in the acts and statutes of the United
states, electors for President and
Vice-President of the United States
at each Presidential election, under
the Constitution of the United States.
which may be appointed and allot-
ted to the State of Louisiana, or
which the state of Louisiana may be
entitled to appoint and from time to
time the legislature contracts to make
such directions as may be necessary
to make this grant effective and the
Governor shall grant all such certif.
icates and commissions as may be
necessary and do all other acts in
furtherance thereof"
What would be said to such an act
as that? and yet it is not very far
from the case before the court.
Judge Campbell said on the 3Oth. of
October there issued out of the Circuit
Court of New Orleans ten thousand
and upwards of warrants of arrest
to seize ten thousand individuals. in
habitants of the city of New Orleans,
for having registered themselves as
competent voters in 1874. They en-
braced some of the most respectful BILE
men in the city-my friend and fami-
" physician among the number.
Now that is not quite 1900 murders
and blocdshed, and all that. A whole
community, comprising the very best
citizens APPARENTLY the best in standing
in prosperity and social position, with
warrants of arrest to seize them and
bring them before an officer Of the
United States Court for fraud. Now,
sir, there are 10000 lies sworn to in
order to procure these affidavits.
There was not a scintilla of truth, or
any desire to have truth. One thou
sand three hundred and sixty cases
were tried and dismissed on sight, but
IL served the purpose.
Tie afiidavits were made by two
policemen, all of them; 1 read them
myself.
Thurman-The whole 10000 made
by two men?
Campbell-Yes, sir +; two policemen
in each ward made the affidavits. On
these red line is drawn around the
name on the registration list, and sew
eral thousand voters were unable to
restore their names on that list in
order to vote.
Justice Clifford then announced
that the discussion on the pending
question was concluded. That there
would be no further public proceed
ings to-day. AT half past 4 o'clock
the Commission after a short recess
went into secret session. 1t was de-
cided not to hold private session
tonight as anticipated and adjourned
until 10 o'clock tomorrow, with the
understanding that vote on pending
questions with regard to the admis-
sibility of evidence in the Louisiana
case as proposed by the democrats,
shall be taken at 4 o'clock tomorrow
afternoon.
In conclusion Campbell argued
against the legality of the Returning
Board, saying the Legislature had
said there should be five persons, and
they had refused to fill the vacancy
because of fraudulent purpose.
Merrick, of the democratic counsel,
asked leave to file a brief of the SUBJ
ject last referred to, and permission
was granted.