The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-09
POLITICAL POINTS

Col. Plumb has been chosen by the kansas
Legislature 10 succeed Mr.. Harvey in the
United States Senate. The new Senator is
well known in Kansas as printer, editor and
lawyer.
j. Madison Wells, President of the Louisiana
Returning Board, appeared before the House
prerogative committee, on the 5th inst, for
the purpose Of testifying in his defense re-
garding the charges of Pickett, Littlefeld and
Maddox. He denied ever having given Mad
dox or any one else authority to negotiate for
the payment Of any money to himself or any
other member Of the board, and char
acterized the whole story as false
from beginning to end. When
questioned regarding the destruction OF the
returns from certain polls in Vernon parish he
became excited, and said, "The man who
swore 80 was an unmitigated liar" He said
the ordinary papers did not accompany the
returns from Vernon parish, and denied all
knowledge OF the transfer of votes in the case
Of that parish. Wells was examined by Mr..
David Dudley Field touching certain passages
in letter to Senator West, written in Novem-
Der.
Question by Mr.. Field-"Our duties as re-
turning officers have augmented to the magni-
tude of controlling the destiny of the two great
parties-may not say the nation?' What did
you mean by that? Answer-I meant by that
that the Presidential election hinged upon the
result of the election in Louisiana.
Mr.. Field-Have you stated that you did not
know what parties had carried the State at the
last election until you actually made the re-
turns
Witneee-I have saIo so. 1 will explain
that the results throughout the States had
been known 80 far as those States were con-
cerned where there was no trouble or difficulty,
no numbering Of people because they had at
tempted to vote, but the result in the three
Southern States was in doubt.
Mr.. Field-Do you mean that the result of
the Presidential election hinged on the result
in the three Southern States? Al mean
Louisiana, together with two other South
ern States.
Mr. Field-Oh, yes.
Witness Qnterrupting) MIR. Chairman, am
not lawyer, and don't wish a gentleman to
say for me what did not want to say myself.
l am no sharp practitioner, and want no sharp
practice upon me in this committee. ask to
be protected, and (excitedly) if the committee
does not protect me will protect myself.
Q.-You also say here, las well as my duty to
the greatest living General, U. s. Grant"
What duty had you, as returning officer to
Gen. Grant? A.-Gen. Grant had sent or re-
quested gentlemen to go down there to witness
tba III Il Folt 10 1..4.. A..
fair, legal investigation and count Of the en-
tire State of Louisiana in the presence of those
gentlemen, to satisfy them that the board was
correct in regard to it's action-if it should not
happen to be pleasant to them, let the de cision
fall as it may.
Q.-I read further from this letter: "And
not with my consent shall this oppressed peo-
pie be governed by his paroled prisoners, aid
ed by their white .livered towards OF the
North" What had that to do with your duties
as an honest member of the Returning Board?
Alt had good deal to do with it.
Q.-Explain it. A.-The condition OF our
country is very different from that here. The
people are forced with tie bullet, the ballot is
snapped for the bullet and 1 determined
WHeIoNoE tuht was uOue IL bnOulQ not De tOler-
ated where had voice in the matter. said
there "his paroled prisoners" BY that
meant that the Confederate soldiers, together
with their associates, should not control the
destiny Of the oppressed people by violence
and intimidation. That is my answer.
Q.-But what had that to do with your duties
as q member Of the Returning Board A.
Well, this was merely writing q letter, and
these ideas going in as q matter of course
transmitted TO paper.
Q.-Whst had that TO do with your making
an honest count Of the votes At had
nothing to do with an honest count.
Q.-Then why are the two things brought
into connection in this way3 Why did you
speak Of your consent in this letter. A.
That would not approve anything that con-
ceiyed to be illegal or improper.
Q-.Hsd any such thing been proposed A.
anticipated it, sir.
Q.-N~ver mind anticipating. Had any such
thing been proposed2 A.-By the Hon.