Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-01-11
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

The House Committee, On the 26th
adopted a resolution, that the refusalof William
Orion and E. W. Barnes to respond to the SUBJ
p9nas of the committee be reported to the House,
such refusal, In the opinion of the committee,
being in contempt of the process Of the House.
......The Morrison sui. committee heard the
evidence of a. b. Morgan, who was employed
in the Custom house up to Nov. ~ last: Stated
that the atfidav Is made out in the Custom house
were different from tine statements of the wit
nesses; a man named Harris seemed to be al
the head of the affidavit making business in the
Custom house; know OF an instance where the
answers to Observation-Disclosures were
struck cut by Harris's orders and other
answers put in; this was in the case OF
Mr.. Simmons of Livingston Parish; Harris said
the first answer wouldn't 10. A number OF ne
groes testified to being assaulted and beaten for
veting the Democratic ticket...,.. The Black
burn sub examined witnesses as 10
the election in Livingston. Lafayette, Tangi-
pahoa and Lafourche Parishes, all of whom
testlhed that the election was fair and peace
able.
Before the House Committee. on the 9th,
Rev. Thomas Brown, colored, testified: Was
President of q Democratic club; was knocked
down and was not permitted sto preach because
he was a Democrat; lost 5 400 by the Freed
mems Bank; used that argument il his speeches.
Joe Craig, colored, testified: Was President of
a celored Democratic club of 90 members at
Baton Rouge; the colored clubs numbered :0J or
600 members. Eight other colored witnesses
testified as 10 having been assaulted and their
lives threatened for voting the Democratic ticket,
Robert t. Carr, OF De Soto Parish, testified
Was Republican candidate for Sheriff and was
retained as elected, although his opponent re-
celved 239 more votes than he did; there was no
intimidation whatever in the parish. .... The
Blackburn sub committee examined a number
OF witnesses as to the election in LafourChe Par
ism, the substance OF their testimony being that
the alleged irregulal tiles at the various polls in
the making up of the returns were due to the in
competence or wllful disregard of the law of the
Republican officials; and that the voting was
1alrly and peaceablv conducted.
The House Committee, on the 2Sth, eX-
amined some half a dozen colored witnesses of
the Parish oflOrleans, who testified to being as
saulted, beaten or intimidated by their own race
for voting the Democratic ticket. Albert Voor-
hees, member of the Legislature and Chairman
of the Democratic State Central Correspondence
Committee, testified that every effort mad been
taken by the committee and himself to secure a
peaceful election. The Blackburn sub. COM
mlttee examined six witnesses in reference to
Plaquemine Parish. all of whom testified to ir-
regutarities on the part of the officers of election
at Poll 8, and fraud in registration, as well as to
intimidation of colored Democrats by colored
Republicans.
The House Committees, on the goth, re-
ceived some additional evidence in regard to the
intimidation of colored Democrats. Charles
Lewis, colored. said he was a member of the
Council of Freedom, of which nearly every
prominent Republican in the State was a mem
Der, and that among the penalties was death for
A copy of the BYLAWS and Constitution was
Identified and filed as evidence.
The House Committee, ON the Both, ex-
amined at length Mr. Veazey, Supervisor of
Lafayette Parish in regard to the returns from
that parish and the protest accompa aging them.
lie said the latter was written at the Custom
house, and he was told he must sign IL to make
his returns regular, and that the new tally
sheets were maze out with certain polls reje ted,
which he signed. after they were made OUT at the
house. Witness said the election was
ldlr ana DtacPaDle. and that the statements or
were from hearsay evidence. The COM
mlttee then adjourned until Tuesday morning
The House Comm ttee, on the ID, exam
ined five witnesses, WIN testified to she fairness
Of the election and the absence of intimidation
In COncordIaP Parish. The House sub. COM
mlttee examined a number of witnesses relative
10 Livingston Parish. Sylvester Symmes, tax
testified that the election was peace
able and quiet, and that his affidavit appearing
In Sherman's report was prepared in the Custom
house and made him say things he knew moth
lng about. He never knew of any armed organ
lzation there.
1he House Committees, on the Sd, re-
celved the evidence of a number of witnesses,
who testified to a fair and peaceable election in
the parishes of st. Tammany, Concordia, and
A. w. Kirchen, Supervisor of
re l%sration, said that all the aft tavits relative
20 lmldation in Living ston Parish were pre-
pai 4 by clerks in the Custom house at New Or
pea. ;.
Oregon.
E. =. Cronin, Oregon Democratic Elect