The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-02
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
The Louisiana Investigation Nearing
an End.

4 al EEus
THE RASCALITY OF THE GANG THAT HAS RULED
/ THE PELICAN STATE COMING TO LIGHT
| MADDoX'S CORRESPONDENTS VISIT TO WASH
INGToN TO NEGOTIATE PROPOSITION TO
SELL OUTyF FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS OR
LEss-uOw HIS PLAN WAS LAID BEFORE
GRANT AND THE SECRETARY OF wAR-MAD-
nOX IN THE ROLE OF SPY-TELEGRAPH oPE-
RATIvES DISMISSED FOR SHOWING UP RADI-
CAL RoTTENNESS, AND MADDOX TO SHARE
THE SAME FATE-CoNDITIoN OF THE PUBLIC
DEBT-wELLs, OF TIE LOUISIANA RETURN
ING BOARD, INDICTED.
/ From Our Regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON, February 1.-Mr. Joseph
IL. Maddox came before the Special Com
mttee on Elections (Knotts'sl this morning
and explained that he declined to testify
yesterday i'll the hope that Wells would
relieve him by voluntarily telling every
thing. As he had not done so, witness felt
at liberty to testify freely.
On the night OF the 10th Governor Wells
proposed that Maddox should go to WASH
ington and explain the situation. and he
wrote several letters to witness and one to
Senator West. The latter has never been
opened In that to witness he said he had
difficult task before him, and his life was
in danger. He said he would like to serve
his party in making the returns in favor Of
Hayes, but would not be willing to under
take it without pay. The majority was too
large lie said, for him to handle easily I'M
less be should throw out the vote of New
4 Orleans. He asked witness to go to Wash
ington and see influential men and get pro-
lection for him and the money necessary.
He thought he ought to have a million Of
dollars to carry out the job. Witness got
tle letters mentioned above and brought
them to Washington and used them. One
he showed to the President, the Secretary Of
War, and others. COMMITTEE declined to
hear what conversation occurred with the
President.] Hetold the Secretary OF War
what Wells wanted, and he declined to fur
nish money.
Witness had suggested, and it was agreed,
that il the negotiations were successful,
Wells was to resign, alleging the election Of
the fifth man (Kennedy) as an excuse. The
successive designations mentioned in one OF
the letters Yesterday were for the protection
of Wells.
1t was agreed if the attempt TO negotiate
at Washington should fail, Wells was to
hold the returns while witness was nego-
tiating with the Democrats.
The words per cent in one of the letters
meant hundred thousand dollars-for in
stance, per cent. meant 100000.
Wells said he wanted 100000 each for
himself and Anderson, and a less amount for
the niggers.' And that il the Republicans
didn't come to terms he'd beat them. Pick
EFT failed in his negotiations at New York,
and it was tried at New Orleans, but the
Democrats had no money.
When Maddox was sent to New Orleans
by the Treasury Department he was re-
quested by Colonel Casey, as he said, by
Chandeliers request, to look out for political
matters, and report.
During the canvass Of the vote Wells told
me he expected to throw out votes where
ever it could be done to advantage.
Witness wrote the letter commencing " For
one million Of dollars" &C., in the presence
of Pickett That was understood to be the
maximum to be asked, but lower figure
would have done. Wells and witness had
agreed upon system of cypher, and tele-
graphic communication was to be through
Calvert, his friend, who lived in the same
house.
The first person witness converscd wit h
in Washington about the scheme was j. j.
Stewart, of Baltimore, also with the Presi-
dent and Secretary Cameron. Witness told
the President million OF dollars was want
ed; also told the Secretary OF War. Cam
eron declined the proposition.
Maddox said the letter to Senator West
was never delivered. It is still under wit.
ness's control, and will be produced before
the committee tomorrow. No converse
ton occurred with Anderson about selling
out the vote. Wells did say he needed mo-
ney and must have it, as it would be his last
to his Democratic friends in New Orleans
/ that he (MaddoX) was dangerous man, and
to beware of him.
In the cross-eXamination Maddox said he
had visited the South several times during
the war by special authority OF Lincoln and
Seward. He had given them information
of what was going on in the South, and had
/ some conversations with Jefferson Davis. a
The letter to Senator West was not de-
! liyercd because it contained information OF
q very delicate nature, and witness was not
willing to trust or contide in him. This
. opinion about West was derived from Judge
Alexander Walker, go weak Democrat in
New Orleans" The negotiations at New
Orleans were, with Walker, and he knewthe
contents OF the West letter before witness
brought it from New Orleans. Walker ae-
quiesced very readily in the propositions
Maddox made, and was anxious to carry it
out. He said he tried to raise the money.
| Wells was not informed Of the negotiations
| with Walker. There was no agreement
with Colonel Pickett as to what he was to
get He said be did not care to take any,
and il received would devote it to charita-
ble'purposes. 1913
The rascality Of the gang that have long
ruled Louisiana is now sure to come to
light, and, however her vote may he dis
posed OF in the presidential controversy, the
conspiracy to make it q subject Of barter
will be proven. Maddoy's confession to-
day shed flood OF light upon it, and his
"a nj o,,,nnf will ha oY,bcfopY;ofad bu other