The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-02-14

r that the result of the Presidents
) election hinged on the result i
!, three Southern States?
n Al mean Louisiana, togethe
< with the other two Southern States
2 Mr.. Field-Ah, yes.
: Witness Gnterrupting)--Mr. Chair
: man, am not a lawyer and l d.
? not wish gentleman TO say for M
what [ did not want to say for my
self. | am no sharp practitioner
F and | want no sharp practice on mt
tected, and (excitedly)if the Commit
tee does not protect me | will pro
tect myself.
The Chairman--Just answer the
question. Do you mean that answer
which you gave a while ago, that
the election hinged on the result in
Louisiana, was true?
At was.
Q.-But what had that to do
with your duties as q member of tue
Returning Board?
A.-Well, this was merely writing
a letter and those ideas going in,
as matter of course, transmitted to
! paper.
Q.-That is to say, your ideas of
your duty to Gen. Grant and to the
nation came in direct and proper
connection with your declaration
that you would not consent that
this oppressed people should be
governed by his "paroled prison
ers!"
Al have answered that.
Q,-What had that to do with
your making an honest count of
votes?
At had nothing to do with an
honest count?
Q.-Then why were the two things
brought into connection in this way.
Why did you speak of your "con~
sent in your letter?
A.-That 1 would not approve
anything [ conceived to be illegal or
improper.
Q,-Had any such thing been pro-
posed?
Al anticipated it.
Q.-Never mind anticipating.
Had any such thing been propos-
ed?
A. By the Hon. Duncan f.
Kenner, a very wealthy gentleman
in he State Of Louisiana.
Q.-What did he propose?
Ale proposed to give me $780,
900 to change the vote for Mr.. Til
den. He made the proposition in
his own office on Sunday the 10Th of
November, between 10 and II
o'clock in the morning.
Q-You had this intimation or Of
fer from Mr.. Kenner?
A.-Yes sir.
Q.-Is that the reason why you
SAID you would not consent to de-
liver over Louisiana TO the "paroled
prisone.s?'
Witness-My reason, sir?
Mr.. Field-Can't you answer me?
Witness (emphatioally)-No,
won't do it.
Mr.. Field-You won't do it?
Witness-I won't do it; l will an
swer it my own way you will have
it my way or you won't get it at all.
Mr.. Field-Well, give it your
own way.
Witness-Very well. My mean
ing was, as | stated while ago. that
if the election was fairly conducted
and there was no bribery, no intimi-
dation and 20 frauds, then l had no
objection TO either party controlling
it.
Q.-What was the danger so long
as the result depended upon you
four honest men counting the votes?
Al don't say that any of the
board might be bribed, but 1 did
not know what influence money
would have. You know it better
than I do, because all New York
politicians know exactly how the
city Of New York is carried, and it
is carried generally by money.
Q.-Then you thought that the
New York way OF dealing with eleo.
tions would be followed in Louisi-
ana?
A.-Exactly, sir.
Q.-Iow could the result be
changed except by acting through
your board?
An the event of the vote of
the State being cast for Hayes,
would it not give an opportunity for
them to tamper with some one, and
would not this money have given
to hire mobs to destroy
the papers and assassinate the
board? There was an assassin sent
to assassinate me, and lie sat by my
side, and l had him rushed out of
my room, and the Democratic law
yers, when | had him turned out by
a police officer. pursued him, and
said let us protect him, and Zacha-
rie is one of the gentlemen that (
made that exclamation.
Mr.. Field-The witness outrages
all the license of witnesses, and l
must ask you to request him to an {
swer questions and answer no more.
At this point the witness inter
rupted Mr.. Field, who sharply or I
dered him TO stop.
The witness-Mr. Chairman, has
The gentleman a right to order me
to stop, and do it in an abrupt man {
ntr?
The Chairman-The gentleman
has right as member OF this com
nittee to stop q witness from inter-
-upting him, when he is addressing
he committee or addressing the 8
Chairman.
The Witness-Is he allowed to
20 out Of the pale ofa gentleman to
10 IL?
The Chairman - Mr.. Witness, ;
-o.r .,lnir. dnt.- L. "a LII 4;II o..o.