, 1877-01-28
elected, the Board being equally divided. None
OF the returns Of tho election had been destroy.
ed as far as witness knew. -, ::

tlr. Field asked number OF questions con-
cerning the returns Of tho Parish Of Vernon,
expecting, he said, to prov: that tho Distric.
Judge and District Attorney Of that district
were ncighbors Of Gov. Wells, and that Goy.
Wells procured alterations to be made IN the
returns in order to elect his friends, and in this
parish tho returns Of the Presidential canvass
were also altered. Mr. Field further remarked
TINT this was
PART OF THE CONSPIRACY
to alter and fab.catc returns.
Witness, after examining the returns, said 1t
looked as Il the figures had been altered He
did not rccollcct any discussion OF the Doaru
relative to the returns Of Vernon. The witness
was asked whether the Returning Board certi-
fed to the election Of Hunter as Judge and An
drews as DistFict-Attorney- He answered he
did not know who were elected, aud On being
asked whether Anderson did not write letter
declining the Office on the ground OF the frnud-
ulent character o; the returns, the witness re-
piled that he had merely heard OF such letter.
Mr.. Field showed witness certified copy Of
the returns OF the Parish OF Vernon, in which
LIS votes had been given for Hayes, while In tho
original returns two votes only were given to
Hayes. Witness having been asked to explain
the difference, said that il any returns had been
thrown out he Was
NOT AWARE OF IT.
It did not take place while be Was In the Board.
Mr. Field directed the witness to look will, a,
magn.fying glass Furnished BY Hewitt, who at
this point entered the room) at the original
papers and fnG,whcther there had been'anv
erasures OF alterations. The witness, after
suutinizing the figures, said it looked "a it
something had been done, as the figures had
been written oycc ensures.
The witness being wanted at the bar Of the
House, the Committee took recess.
IN THE HOUSE.
The four members Of the Louisiana Return.
ing Board were now presented at the bar OF the
House, and the Speaker put the formal ques-
tion to Wells: What excuse he had to makel
Mr.. Wells replied that two members Of tho
Board had just arrired, and asked time for ron-
ference to make their answer. Other members
Of tho Board made the same reply, and Mr..
Lyn1e thereupon offered two resolutions, ono
adjudgin.. the witnesses III contempt, and tho
other ordering them to appear before tho In
.ycsti9atIuy Committee and produce papers :
called Tor, and, in the meantime, that they ho
kept in til: custody OF the Scrgeant-at-1Artns.
Nr. Harris suggested as an amendment that
the witnesses be confined in the common jail.
[Murmurs Of disapprobation on the Republican
aide.1
Mr. Pasc-Bettcr have them taken out and
hanged right 1wsy. [Lausatcr]
Mr. Eoar asked whether the first tTo nit
ncsses arrested had an opportunity OF confer
cree with their associates.
Mr.. Lyudc-I understand they have. They
have been together since half past Il this
morning.
Mr. Wells {vithout rising from his seat)-Wo
have not.
Mr Anderson {rising and addressing the
SpeakcrT We have not:
The Spcaker-The witness will DC seated.
AIr. Gariiell-1ilcsc witnesses have been kept
in durcss aud separated from eaSh other (Calls
to orderl There can be no vote on the prev|-
Gus question without hearing.
Mr.. Cymcr Ito Garllcld} You have been
heard quito enough We propose to dispose OF
this matter at once
D1LaronT MOTIONS.
Mr.. Kasson-I move the House adjourn. Hn-
less gentlemen are allowed to Aay: At least i
| conversation on tue subject.
Atr. Page-1 move that when the House AZ
journ it be to meet on Tuesday.
3Ir. Garicld-Thc House has mt even heard
tho answcrs Of thes. witnesses They have
them written in their nantls, aud have not been
heard.
After one vote by yeas anu nays on lilatory
motion, Mr.. Hancock proposed that the previous
question, be withdrawn, nnd that the witnesses
have la1f an hour to confer auu to prepare their
answer. Tina. aErangemc cat was assented to on
both sides, and the four witnesses retired to tho
Ccmmittce-r0On.
TIE WITNESSES ANSWER.
When the ulctnbers Of tho Returning Board.
were again presented at the bar OF tho House
they se:,t up 10 tho Clerks desk their answer,
which was read: They declare that IN every oua
OF their acts they acted With the most snccEc
respect and deferenfs ,ss t. 4}ou.t the Id dsnty
Committee, and with desire ana p;;rros:
requirement of the House Committee, aud II
tl,3t any act Ut theirs was breach Of the inst
privileges Of the House it IVES not SO intended,
but WAS without any purpose OF lraut or dis
obedience to lawful authority, aud was solely
in tic honest purpos: to discharge their official
duty faithfully. They submit that they hare
not in Law or In fact violated an; privileges Ut
tho House, nor rendered., themselves in airy way
justly asnenabe to be treated as in contempt Ut
its authority.
The answer then details the provisions Of
THE LAW OF LOUISIANA
governing tile action Of tn: Returning Board IN
regard to the election. They statc that until
the full canvass OF the election in the State wos
completed continuous contrib OF the papers WIS
absolutely Indispensable, aud that the moment
these duties are r1,,le,l all such papers are re-
quised to he deposited with the Secretary OF
State. THIS WIS done or about the 5th OF
January, 1877, aud the papers have since re-.
mained there, without these witnesses having
anv control over them.
The answer ths hex gi;ss :. o1g s lfgal a.s srE :.
t1l:niu. Board as to the election of Presidential
Electors, and charectcr:zing the attempt Ut thu
Committee to posecsa itself OF the papers as
AN ACT OF UsCRr.TiON
which the Cou1M1itec Or lloEsc, utter mature
dciibcration, would not persist In. They declare
that neither OF them kEow5 Of a7r fraudulent
or false returns on which they based their
action, bnt that, on the contrary, in evez1 oct
and conclusion of theirs they acted to the best
Of their knowlcdgn End according to Law and,
right They say 1t Is not In their power to slr-
render the papers called for, AID they sub,
nit that Il they ure to bc punished
by the House the guarantees of the
Constitution are 4 most cruel ulockery~. In
conclusion they state they submit their rights rs
officers, and their libcrt:cs IL citizens. to the
urotectlou Of the laws Of tho land.
NOT SWORN TO.
Mr. LJnde inquired whether the answer was
sworn to.
The speaker, after examining it, said It was
not
31r. Lynde suggcsted that, as usuai thing,
such answers are Under oath, and TINT was par
liamentary law.
The Speaker remarked that it had recently
been the practice, and former Speakers had in
timatcd it WAS better to have The answers sworn
to.
Afr. Haie-But on1y IN suggestive way.
The Spcakcr-Of cOuFse. There Is no rule to