The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-22
WELLS TO WEST.
New ORLEANS, Nov, q, y

New ORLEANS, Nov. q, '76.
Ny DEAR SENATOR: regret much not
seeing you when here. l wanted TO say
much to you which would be at least
imprudent to put upon paper. trust,
however, to meet you in Washington
as soon as the canvass is over, and
which is now upon us. Our duties
as returning officers have augmented
the magnitude of the destiny of the
two great parties. May l not say the ma
ton? l fully comprehend the situation,
as we'll as my duty to the greatest living
general, U. S. Grant, and not with my
consent shall the oppressed people be
governed by his paroled prisoners, aided
by their white livered towards of the
North.
Let me, my esteemed sir, warn you of
the danger. Millions have been sent
here all, will be used in the interest of
Tilden, and unless some counter move.
ment it will be impossible for me or any
other individual to arrest its results. The
gentleman presenting this letter is fully
aware ofthe moves, and if you allow, will
communicate freely. See our friends,
act promptly, or results will be disastrous.
A hint to the wise. Strictly private and
confidential.
Yours very truly.
J. MADISON WELLS.
Hon. j. R. WEST, Washington, D, G.
1t was whilst Wells himself was COM
plete master fthe situation, and could
give the votes of Louisiana to the Demo.
Gratis or Republicans as he pleased, that
he wrote the above to Senator West. He
expressed much regret at not seeing him
in person, and says: "I wanted to say
much to you which it would at least be
imprudent to put on paper" Beingso inn
pressed with the imprudence of putting
on paper the very important communi-
cation he had to make to Senator West,
and yet feeling the necessity Of making it
he accredits Maddox to the Senator, tell
ing him that Maddox, "the gentleman
presenting this letter is fully aware of
the moves and will communicate freely"
and closes by adjuring West "to see our
friends, act promptly, or results may be
disastrous. A hint to the wise. Strictly
private and confidential" Could Ian
guage more plainly signify thatWest must
hear Maddox, who is "fully aware Of the
moves" and will communicate freely
"what it would be imprudent to put on
paper" and thus make "our friends act
promptly (do what Maddox says at once)
or results may be disastrous"
But that is not all. The letter not only
enjoins West to make "our friends" do
what Maddox tells them to do, but it
states the subject upon which their doing
must be had; points to the friends" who
are to do the needful, and comes out
plainly with the kind and degree of ac-
ton required to be done. The Louisiana
returning board (himself) is to be acted
on, the friends" to act are those ofwhom
the greatest living general, U. s. Grant
was chief, and the kind of action requir-
ed was to come down with the money,
and the degree or quantity was enough
to "countermove" or counteract the mil
lions sent to Louisiana in the interest
of Tilden. sour duties Che says as re-
turning officers have augmented the
magnitude of the destiny Of, the two great
parties may l not say of the nation"
This is nonsense of itself, but read by the
context its obvious meaning is that his
power as the returning officer of Louisi-
ana at this juncture put into his hands
the destiny of the two great parties or ef
the nation; for having said II compre-
hend the misunderstanding that he
knew how to make the most Of the cir
cumstances which had 80 augmented the
magnitude of his office-he proceeds to
J busines by saying that whilst he recog-