Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-01-04

parishes; think the votes thrown out aggregated
several thousand, couldn't say how many.
When asked If he intended to bring for the in
~spection of the committee the original returns OF
the Supervisors, he said he would consult the
other members of the Board and bring them II
they consented. Thos. G. Anderson, OF the Re-
turning Board, was recalled: He handed q state
ment to the committee, saying twas the original
statement signed by all the members OF the Re
turning Board, showing the vote for Presidential
Electors in the State. The statement contained
the aggregate vote, not the vote by parishes,
and il was evident to the committee that the hg-
ures and letters had been changed, which was
explained by General AndersOn's saying that
some of the parishes had been misplaced by the
clerk, but that he did not remember very well
how the mistake occurred; that the clerk nad
satisfactorily explained 1t at the time. No one
was present in the room where the Board was at
work on the night before the PRONUNCIATION, ex-
cept members of the Board and the counsel when
brought in to give legal advice. q The witness
produced a memorandum of the polls rejected
by the Returning Board, with reasons therefor.
The list shows "a polls IN 20 parishes thrown oul;
and also the parishes she OF SFans aon
General Anderson testified Am 90
years of age: am a planter, but have been a
merchant; was a Confederate soldier during the
war; am worth, in real estate situated in Louisi-
ana, about 5 I0O, 900; became a republican IN
1870; was appointed on the Returning Board IN
1873; oficiated in 1874; based our reasons for
throwing out the polls on what we considered
good and sufficient evidence; took up the contest
ed parishes after we were through win the I'M
contested ones, ana gave du1plS opportunity u
all to take testimony; in some instances extend
ed the time for taking testimony. Robert rom
dexter, colered, testified: Lives in New Or
leans; was formerly, for 80 years, a resident OF
Parish; took the census Of Assump-
ton Parish in 1875; made report to the state
Register; found out after signing the report that
the figures had been changed so as to Increase
the voting population about 600 remarked the
change. and informed the clerks. in the Regis
trar's office, and was toll. that it was necessary
to swell the colored vote; became a Democrat
in August or September after the Baton Rouge
convention; had more confidence in Nichols
than : in Packard; always believed the
be corrupt since, when a senator
in '6s. was offered a paper and $50, 200 to vote
for a printing bill; canvassed the State for the
Democratic party; never heard OF the intimida-
ton of colored people by the whites; was assault
ed with brick bats after attending a meeting of
the Democratic club; believe the Republican
RACES committed Il in Grant Parish in 1873. and al
other times; the Democratic speake s in their
| speeches always cOunseled peace, order and far
ness; the very best feeling exists among whites
and blacks.
j. Madison Wells, President of the Re
turning Board, testified on the 2lst: All of the
Republican Electors were voted for in Concor-
dia Parish butthe votes were not properly count
ed we sent for the boxes and corrected the re-
turns; some Of the returns received and canvassed
by the Board We're sent by mail. some by express,
and some were delivered by hand; the law re-
quires that all returns shall be sent by
mail; did not canvass the re
did not come through the Supervisors; did can
vass some of the returns from toncOrdia Parish
which did not come through the Supervisors: the
law requires that commissioners OF Election shall
be appointed from both parties; do not know
that all the polls in the State were represented
by Democratic commissioners, and do not know
that there was any Democratic supervisor OF
Registration in the State; am a decided partisan,
but would not allow politics to influence Inc to
do any thing unjust; am surveyor of the port
and praEilanf "a tho patRr,,in1 Fnarl hnf do
not think that holding both offices is IN contra
diction to President Grants orders that no Fed
cral officer shall held Il State office; the law says
there shall be a Democrat Oh the Board,
but did net fill the vacancy be-
cause the Board could not agree; DIR.
Hugh Kennedy, the gentleman proposed for the
vacant position on the board, is a gentleman Of
high standing, irreprOachable character ard a
friend of mine, but the Board could not agree on
his appointment, and no other name was pre-
scented; did not vote on the question nor think
that any member of the Board was mach OPP
posed to DIR. Kennedy; but, in talking over the
question, we found that We could not agree.
The Minute book containing the proceedings of
the Board was produced, and witness was ASKED
to explain a number of entries and omissions to
when his attention was called, but was unable
to do go. Charles ;, Abel, Assistant Secretary
of the Board, testified: Did not knOS that any
polls in the Parish of Orleans were thrown out;
the Board had no official knowledge of any thing
not returned by the supervisors and could not
act on polls not before them. Witness was in
terrOgateu in reference to the action of the Board
III z NUMBER OF instances winch he nau no re-
membrance of; am a member of the Flour Board
also; appointed by Governor Antoine last Au-
gust; am paid by the fees OF the Off e, which
run sometimes to one hundred dollars per
month; in 1874 was Inspector in the Custom
house at three or four dollars per day, was then
Assistant Secretary OF the Returning BOARD.
Witness stated that he had real estate, but re-
fused to state where it was located. saying twas
out of the State. Frank Johnson, colored, of
Catalonia Parish, testified that he canvassed the
parish for the Democrats; was a minister of the
Baptist Church, and was turned out Of the church
because he was a Democrat; knew of Il secret or
ganizatlon called the Council of Freedmen - it
was oath bound; the members had arms and car.
tridges; was President OF a colored Democratic
club of about thirty members; no intimidation
was used to induce coiored men to JOIN the
Democrats, but the Republicans inundated the
Democratic speakers; told them that if the Dem
ocrats succeeded the negroes would all be put
back into slavery. On cross-eXamination, said
he quiz preaching when he joined the Democratic
party; they turned him out and took his license
away from him; the election passed off quietly
at the poll where he voted; only one straight Re
publican ticket was voted at that poll. The
House Committee, in executive session, to-day
instructed Mr.. Morrison, Chairman, to report
the members of the Returning Board to the House
for contempt in refusing to produce the records
called for.
Before the House Committee, on the 22d,
Il. j. Hogan, colored, of West Feliciana Parish.
testified that the election was far, free and
peaceable; the only intimidation was by celored
Republicans Of -cOlored Democrats; witness
made an affidavit at the Custom house some time
after election; did not know what was in it, asd
only swore to his signature; heard other colored
witnesses say they did not know what was in the
afidavits they swore to: Several witnesses
swore that the election at Poll2, Eleventh Ward,
was fair and peaceable. and that the returns
were legally signed This poll
was thrown out by the Returning Board. }
Lieut.. Samuel y. Holmes, of the 18th United
states Infantry. testified: During the election
was at Baton Rouge; the general disposition of
the people during the canvass IN East Baton
Rouge and East Feliciana was to avoid any dis
turbances of any kind by either party, and espe-
clally was that the case with Democrats; have
not heard complaints OF an unfair election by
either party beyond the fact that Demo
Gratis expressed themselves surprised at
that poll being thrown out, they having a major
i y there; in East Feliciana, before the election ,
[ knew that meetings We're held by both parties,
and every thing was conducted quietly and
peaceabiy; am not well enough conversant with
tue situation TO say whether or not there was any
feeling of dread among colored people.
A. NJ. c. Hearsey testified before the
House Committee on the 23d: AM a Republican ;
was a Commissioner of Election at Poll 2, Elev-