Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-02-08
Associated Press Reports Of Political Invcs-
LEGATIONS.
LOUISIANA.

The House committee on powers,
privileges and duties of the House in
counting the electoral vote is dragging
along with daily sessions, the greater
portion Of which are not of absorbing
interest. On the 30th ult., one Little
field, clerk of the Louisiana returning
board, testified that on the Sd of De-
cember he altered the returns from
two Of the polls in Vernon parish SO as
to transpose IFS Democratic votes over
to the Republican candidates; and
that he did this by the express direc-
tion of Gov. J. Madison Wells, and that
after making copies of the altered
originals and substituting them for the
originals. the latter were burned,
either 10y himself or Gov. Wells-he
did not remember which, but at all
events with Gov. Wells knowledge.
Gen. Hurlburt, of Illinois, cross.ex.
amined Littletield, and reading certain
answers from the stenographer's notes
of yesterday, which witness is record
ed as having then made, he asked him
how it was that his answers of yester-
day and to-day did not agree. Witness
stated that he did not make the an
sWers as claimed, but that he refused
to answer all questions, and he stated
here, as he did at the beginning Of his
direct examination, that he made no
such answers on his examination as
were reported.
On the 3lst of JAM, the committee
had John L. Picket, a Washington law
yer before them. The substance of
his testimony was that Joseph II. Mad
dox, all old friend and former resident
of New Orleans, brought him on the
23d of November the following letter:
New ORLEANS, Nov. 20, 1876, (name left out)
My DEAR SIR: You fully understand the
situation. Can you not advise with me rela-
tive thereto.
Yours very truly,
J. MADISON WELLS.
Maddox explained verbally that he
had a letter from Wells to Senator
West, stating that the Democrats
would have to give million dollars to
secure the count in Louisiana and that
it was necessary for the Republicans to
secure similar amount to counteract
it. The witness testified that he went
to New York to see whether the Dem
ocrrats would raise million dollars
and that he consulted with Congress-
man Hewitt and John Morrissy, both
of whom declined the proposition.
Mr.. Maddox was next called but he
proved a very unwilling witness. Sew
eral papers were shown witness, which
he recognized as genuine, including
correspondence on his part. The fol-
| lowing memoranda was read:
n Io1l {1,oV V-ofo nj
ana can be secured to Tilden and Hendricks.
Manipulation must be done by me, and as far
as possible to protect members OF the return
ing board who favor such result; it may h,
necessary to elect two or three members Of
the board to reach what we want; details to
be agreed upon; money to be paid in install
ments-say one fourth when the fifth men,
Der is elected one-tourth when one member
resigns and another is elected i'll his place,
and one-fourth when another resigns, with
another elected in his place the balance OF
one fourth to be paid when certificates are
gwen" >.
Witness for a long time declined to
say who wrote him the letter quoted
above. but finally the following was
elected:
By Mr.. Burchard. @. Did you see Mr.
II Wells write the letter to yourself which has
been produced here? A. Yes, dictated it.
, and lie wrote it.
); On the I'd inst, the recussnt wit
ness, Maddox, was again before the
House committee, and consented tt
answer the questions which he declin
ed to answer the previous day. Ht
: then proceeded to detail conversation!
which he had with Gov. Wells relative
to giving the vote of Louisiana to Til
den for a million dollars. Witness
! swore that Gov. Wells told him HI
, wante ed for himself and Anderson a
: least 5000, 900 apiece and a smaller sun
: for the negroes on the returning board
5 Gov. Wells was present while the wit
e ness was present. lie denies the testl
mony and both he and Anderson ex
pressed themselves anxious to testlf
in rebuttal to Maddox and Pickett
Witnesses have also been summOne
q from New Orleans to rebut and, it
;. claimed, impeach, Littletields test
e mOny.
o Maddox continued his testimony O
: : the 2d, reiterating his story abou
y Gov. Wells offer to sell out. II
/ claimed to have Wells letter to Sen;
: tor West, offering to sell to the RI
publicans, and promised to produce
> next day. Gen. Anderson of the RI
/ turning Board was the next witness
: He denied having heard either frOr
Maddox or Wells any proposition fo
j. buying the electoral vote, but said Dl
! W. 4. Robson, Democratic State ser
n ator, sought an interview with hi1
). and told him that he could have 5000
= 600 to insure the State for the Den
n ocrats. Witness said he Spurned tn
j. proposition. Morton's Senate CON
n mittee had the witness Littlctielt
y clerk of the Louisiana Returnin
i Board, before them on the I'd inst. Il
o stated that the House committee ol
e tanned the Vernon parish retur
e e through his uncle, Mr.. Spearing, an
h that he (witness) had not been paid
It produce it.
es The House committee continued til
OF examination Of Maddox on the Sd. Il
Il produced two letters from Gov. Wei
- -one addressed to himself and tt
re other to Senator West. The one a
a dressed to Maddox was dated Nov. 2
Dr 1870, and requested him to go
4. =. Washington and "place before tt
Sc President the condition and pendi1
OF dangers of tho situation" 1t also r
n quested him to see Senator West. II
e. letter to Senator West was dated No
y, =, 2lst, 1876, and said the Democrats h:
h. sent millions to Louisiana, and that
r. was necessary to have a counter NOV
a!l ment on the part of the Republican
or It was marked ''strictly private al