The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-02-15
Investigating the Elections.
J. q. Maddox was again before the House

y. ii. Maddox was again before the House
Committee on Privileges on the Sd, and pro-
duced the two letters heretofore mentioned in
his testimony. They are as follows: NEW Or
LEANS. Nov. 20, ls76.-To Mr. j. VI. MADDOX.
New Orleansi DEAR Slit Understanding the
political condition of matters from association
friend Of the President and as government rove It
officer, would it not be Honsdefed BART of
your duty 10 go at once to Washington with as
little delay as possible and place before the
President the condition and pending dangers of
the situation Should you conclude upon
prompt action in the premises allow re to com
mend you to Senator West, who il my friend
and with whom you will freely Communicate
Yours very truly, J. MADISON WELLS.
,NE~ ORLEANS, La, Nov. q, lS76.-MY DEAR
SENATOR-I regret much not seeing you when
here. | wanted t. 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 which is upon
us. Our duties as returning officers have aug
mented the magnitude of the destiny Of the two
great parties-may | not say the nation?
fully comprehend the situation as well as my
duty 10 the greatest living general, U. S. Grant
and not with my consent shall this oppressed
people be governed by his parOled prisoners
North. Let me, my esteemed sir, warn you of
the danger. Millions have been cent here and
will be used in the interest of Tilden, and un-
less there is come counter movement
1t will be impossible for me or
any other individual to arrest its productive
results. The gentleman presenting this letter is
fully aware oil the moves, and If you allow. will
communicate freely to our friends and act
promptly, or results will be disastrous. A lift
to the wise. Strictly private and confidential.
To 6p 961 trqly wrsr w nAPsGS Wells FL
During the reading of the first letter, Senator
West entered the room, and at the request of
Mr.. Field he opened the letter addressed to him
and read its contents as above given. The
nv 1agr-i taaf han xrop inf ,rtx -nfn
Investigation into the conduct Of the
late election IN Mississippi was continued be-
fore the Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections on the 3D. j. T. leicester, President
of the Hines County Board of Registers, testified
that there was conference of leading Democrats
of HinesCounty short time before the election at
which il was proposed to furnish one of the Dem
ocratic Judges of Election at each polling place
with aduplcate key to the ballot-b0x Witness
furnished about fifteen of these duplicate KEYS to
different men all of whom were white men and he
thinks, Democrats. He slipped a small parcel
into the vest pocket Of one of the Judges re-
marking as he did so: Here is something
which may be of use to you" Did not tell them
what use was to be made of them, but thought
they were all smart enough to find out how and
for what to use them. In answer TO question
from Senator Teller. the witness said ~ sup
Republican votes in ballot box, the key was to
open the box that the Republican votes might be
taken out and Democratic votes be substituted in
their stead. The witness admitted that
the Republican judges of Election in
Hines County were generally ignorant
negroes, and it was an easy matter
to get them intoxicated on election day. He ad-
mitted further that duplicate ballot boxes were
furnished TO one of the Democratic Judges in ev-
cry polling precinct in the county. Henry Out
law, of Aberdeen, Monroe County, testified that
all meetings which colored Republicans attempt
ed to hold in his couxty, during thu late cam
paign, were broken up by armed Democrats; the
witness was at a meeting in Aberdeen during
September; at that meeting IL colored men were
shot, some of them killed outright, and
others were so seriously wounded they
have since died; Democrats had practice of
riding through Monroe County at night, taking
colored men from their beds and whipping them,
and many of his race had slept out of doors for
several nights previous to the late election, to
prevent being dragged from their homes and
= hipped; the witness was wounded in the Shout |
Ter by bullet, at political meeting in Septem
Der last. Upon taking the witness stand, Out
aw asked TO be excused from testlfying. He
said he should not dare return home If he told 1
he whole truth. ..tn ~. d.
Messrs. Wells and Cssanave, of the Louis
ana Returning Board, testified before the House
Committee on Privileges on the It'll. Gov. Wells
vas examined by Mr.. Lawrence, and testified |
hat Maddox, with whom he had a previous ac-
came to New Orleans, and called |
Ipon him Nov. IS, representing that he WAS an |
lgent of the Government, and he had been sent |
Town there to look after the political situation
II his (Maddox's) request, he (Wells) wrote the |
etter addressed TO him, as means of introduce |
ion at Washington, and also entrusted to his |
are the letter addressed to Senator West. Net-
ers produced IN evidence on the 3d. Witness |
esuhed tDat he never had any conversa-
ion whatever with Maddox upon the sub
ect of obtaining money to influence the
ction OF the Returning Board, and never gave
i'm any authority to negotiate for the payment
4 any money to himself (Wells) or any member
hn Dafrr psr,rr orl e-.@ 81
hat he had no knowledge Of any alterations hav-
ng been made in the returns of Vernon Parish; !
ever heard any suggestions from Gov. Wells
bout receiving money Or other valuable eonsid
ieturning Board. Gov. Wells was subsequent
: cross examined at length Oy Mr.. Field in re-
alton to the West letter, which was read to him
enteEce by sentence. Witness frequently be-
anne very angry during the cross examination,
nd said: 81 ask to be protected, and, if the
Dmmittee does not protect me, l will protect
yseh."
The Louisiana Subcommittee of the Sem
ie Committee on Privileges and Elections, on
e 5th, adopted an order requiring the Secretary
State Of Louisiana TO produce before the COM
ittee the original returns from the disputed
irishes in that State, together with the state
ents OF the returning officers accompanying
Gen. John G. Corse appeared before the !
mats OoAnIn41ct on EIlVllegSS anu Eiecuons, | :
the 5th. and testified regarding a number of ,
egrams sent andreceived by him. The follow '
3 is a sample Of several produced: r
CHICAGO, Nov. 1s, ls76.-PERRr III. SMITH, .
Charles Hotel. New Orleans: If the Louisi.
a Electoral vote is stolen from us, we will get
lfornia and Oregon. We have I60, 600 ex-
diers now enrolled. A vast number of Re- [
blicans with US. Stand firm. CoRsE.
The cross-examination Of Gov. j. Madi- !
1 Wells was continued at length by Mr.. Field. :
the House Committee on Privileges, on the I
. Witness still declined to answer many s
estions asked him regarding the action of the
turning Board, but made q general answer s
1 DO votes were rejected except in accordance h
h the law.
louis NJ. Kenner, Of the Louisiana Re- !,
ming Board, was examined by the House !
nmittee on Privileges on the eth He testified q
I be had no nersnnal knoWledCe of anv aIter. ID