Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-02
Louisiana.


auy letters from Mr.. Wells, frstrcad the follow
ing paper
In explanation Of my refusal to answe' the
question propounded to me yesterday, deem
it due to myself to state that my refusal arose
from q Dissemination to commit breach OF
confidence. I asked for the delay with the
hope that Governor Wells would be disposed
to make full statement Of all the facts in the
Louisiana case, and thus relieve me trom my
embarrassment. His failure to indicate will
ingness to do 80 relieves me from further obii.
CATION to him. and am now prepared to an'
sWer such questions as the committee may see
proper to ask. Jos. II. MADDOX
MIR. Maddox then stated that be had not
now the letters asked for by the committee,
but could control them and would produce
them before the committee. There is one letter
to himself and two others to Senator West.
They have been sent for, and will be il this
city tomorrow (Friday.) One OF them was
written at Governor Wells's Office at the Gus
tom-house. It was agreed upon the night be-
fore that the letter should be Written.
Mr.. Field.-State the conversation that took
place the night before.
gard to the political situation and the difficult
tea of the Returning Board. This was on the
night Of November l9. Gov. Wells wanted
that should 70 to Washington, and proposed
to give me general letter of credentials and
another to friend of his. When | came to
his Office the next morning che Of the letters
was flushed the other be was then writing,
ADD after awhile sealed it, and it is still sealed.
This letter is to Senator West. He said that
he had difficult task to perform; that his life
was 10 danger; that he wanted to serve his par.
ty, but did not want to run the risk unless be
was compensated for it. He stated that he
would like to serve his party, to make the re-
turn for Hayes but wanted to be paid Tor it.
He said that the vote was very heavy for him
to handle; that if it had been smaller he might
have accomplished the desired result By throw
ing out New Orleans.
Q.--What did he ask you then? A. He
asked me to come on to Washington and see
Influential men and get protection and the
money he wanted.
Odd he say what amount he wanted :?
Ale said he wanted million Of dollars
Q.--On the 10th, you say, you went and got
the letters; did you take those letters with you
to Washington? | did, sir.
Odd you make any use Of them there ?
Al did of the two addressed to me.
Q.-To whom did you show them? A.-Thc
larger one showed to the President, The Sec
rotary of War and some of my friends.
Mr.. Ficld.--I will not ask you for your con-
versation with the President but | want you
| TO state your conversation with the Secretary
| of War. Al told him what Mr.. Wells want.
| ed, and the amount Of money he asked. The
| Secretary declined 10 accede to the proposition.
Q.-What did you do next? Al took the
other steps agreed upon between Us.
NJ EIol1 -Eyploip tho m n1um a hon (
the members Of the board resig0iDg, and your
conversation with MIR. Wells about that. A
am not sure that L had any conversation with
MIR. Wells about that. INTENDED this moro as
guide for Colonel Pickett, and it was sug-
gestiou Of NINE My idea was that the fifth
man was to be elected, and that Gov. Wells
should resign in anger There was 20 special
agreement between US as TO the details, but 1t
was understood that | was to arrange the plan
and he was TO get the money.
Q.-EXplain tho telegram to {. NJ. Calvert,
"Hold," &c. Alt was understood between
us that Representations made at Washington
failed to bring the money, should use my own
discretion in negotiating tor the returns to be
given as they were in New Orleans. and the
telegram was to indicate that [ had entered
upon the second negotiation.
Q.-Explain the figures 10 tho cipher tele-
gram. A.-Each figure meant so many hun
dred thousand dollars
Q.-What did Baltimore mean? A.-Balt!.
more stood for New Orleans.
Q.-What did %. 50, l . and mean y.
That meant that he would be there with the
money on one of those days.
Q,-llow much did be say he wanted for
each member of tho board? Allie said he
wanted at least $500, 900 piece for himself aud
Anderson and q smaller amount for the niggcrs.
Odd Wells say 10 this conversation what
be was going to do with his party? Ale
said be was going to beat them.
Q.-After you returned to New Orleans
what conversations had you with Wells? A.
| received dispatch from Colonel Pickett that
the negotiations 10 New York had failed and
so stated 10 Gov. Wells, who then requested
me to try to make arrangements 10 New Or
leans. | did So but did not succeed.
Q.--When you left Washington for New Or
leans. did you 90 with any political iostruc
tions2 Al had instructions 10 observe the
situation.
Q.-Who gave you those instructions? Al
| think Col. Casey told me that Mr.. Chandler
wished me to do that.
Q.-Who paid your expenses? A.-Theg
were paid by the internal revenue bureau.
NlduuUd Sluleu tudL w CHS IUlu VI tuO
noon of December 6. that the majority for the
Hayes electors would be about 200 to 1900.
Wells also told him at divers times that he
threw out votes wherever it could be most COD
venienty done.
Q.-Was cipher agreed upon between you
and Gov Wells before you lett New Orleans?
A.-There was, and be had the key SO that he
might understand the kilograms should send.
Q.-Could you give the contents Of the CT
pher? Al don't think | could swear TO the
contents.
Q~Cau you give any part Of the contents?
Al think the word hold was the prnci-
pal word Of it.
Maddox stated that the first person he talk
ed with when he came to Washington was the
President; the next one he talked with was.
Mr.. Stewart lawyer and republican from
Baltimore de then saw Secretary Cameron
and presented the case fully to him, as sug
gested by Gov. Wells. He told the Secretary
that Wells wanted one million dollars, but tho
Secretary declined to accede to the proposi-