The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-08
A MODEL RETURNING BOARD.

4 MODEL RETURNING BOARD.
OF all the accomplished official mis-.
creants for whom our natioa has been
made to blush during the latter portion
of its first century, none have become 81
famous as the Louisiana Returning
Board. The very mention of the name
has for years been suggestive Of rascaity
and is well-known and generally accep.
ted synonym for official fraud and corrup.
ton, but recent developments are Of such
an astounding nature as to distance every
dishonest achievment Of these men in
former elections, and hold up to the
present and future ages the late canvas.
Of the vote of Louisiana as the most in.
famous record that has ever been made
by any set of officials 1t would be vain
to search the annals of crime for Il par.
allel to the reckless outragcs perpetrated
by this Board, if there is the least conf.
dence to be placed in the revelations be.
fore the House Louisiana Investigating
Committee. Fraud, forgery, perjury
bribery and corruption characterize the
whole proceeding. j. F. Littlefeld, one
of the clerks of this Board, was before
the Committee, and, after being imprison-
cd for short term for contempt in not
answering the questions of the Commit
tee, Mt last acknowledged to having
changed the figures of Vernon Parish,
and, to show the truth Of his statement,
produced tho original return. This
alteration was made. he says, under the
direction Of J. Madison Wells, Chairman
of the Board. Other changes were also
made and the originals were destroyed.
The reason assigned for changing the
vote of Vernon Parish was to elect Re-
publican and friend of Wells District At
torney. Another witness named Joseph
II. Maddox, m Internal Revenue Off
Ger, swore thnt Wells had authorized him
to sell out the vote of Louisiana to either
party for one million dollars Tha. he
said to throw out eight or ten thousand
Democratic votes to elect the Republi-
cans was heavy job, and that the Board
ought to be paid for it, Maddox accord
ingly approached Zach. Chandler and
Cameron with the proposition, but they
refused it. He then, through man
named Pickett, Democratic lnyer in
Washington, had Mr.. Hewitt, the Chair
man of the Democratic Executive Com
mitsee, approached with the same Eropo-
sition, but he positively refused to havo
anything To do with the matter Mad
dox then came down to the least figure
he said for which the State would be given
to the Democrats, II was the modest
amount of five hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. Hewitt still declined anything to do
with the matter, and there it ended.
The Republicans pretend to disbclicve
the testimony of Littlcfeli, Pickett and
Maddox, but unfortunately for them Lit
tletield had the original return from Yer
non Parish and it substan.iates his state.
mcnts, and Maddox had the following
letters, which go to prove the truth of
his testimony:
New ORLEANS, November 20, 1876.
j. Fl. MADnoX--Dear Sir: Under.
standing the political condition of matters
here from association with both political
parties, and friend of the President II I
goyarnmant officer, .g.:a!a !. no: &c c;;i.-
sidered part of your - to go as once
to Washington with rs little delay as
possible, and place before the President
the condition and the pending dangers o.
all a
upon prompt action in the premises
allow me 10 commend you to Senator
West, who is my friend, and with whom
you will freely communicate.
Yours, truly,
). iiADIsoN WELLS.
NEW ORLEANS, November u.
No Dea;. Senator.
| regret much not seeing you when
here. wanted to say much to you,
WHICH 1T would be ut least ilnprudent to
put on paper. thrust, however, to meet
you in Washington MS suon as the can
vass is over, which is now upon u. Our
duties rs returning officers have aug
mcnted the magnitude of the destiny of
the two parties-may not shy the ma
ton? fully comprehend the situation,
as well us my duty to Inc greatest living
General, U. S. Grant; and not with my
consent shall this Oppressed people be
governed by his paroled prisoners, aided
by the white-livered towards OF the
North.
Let me, my esteemed sir, warn you Of
the danger. Millions have been sent
.:czo ....Si vii 1e usei III the interest oil
Tilden. aud unless some counter move
ment is made, it will be impossible for
me, or any other individual, TO arrest its
productive results. The gentleman pre-.
senting this letter is fully aware of the
moves, and If you allow, will commnui-
cate freely. See our friends and act
promptly, or the result will be disastrous.
A hint to the wise. Strictly private and
confidential.
Yours, very truly,
}. ga$ &. y Esr, washington, ap,ayi b. ;; q. l''
OF course Wells and the other mem.
bers of this board all deny these aIlega-
tions, but the support given the sworn
statements of Littlefeld and Maddox by
the written documents is too strong to be
c;rcumvented by the word of Wells or
other members of the board. the coun-
try has at last awakened to the true con-
dition of affairs in Louisiana, and we
have no doubt the result of theee discov-
cries viii materially strengthen tho Dem
ocFatic cause
Capt, Wade II. Manning has been