The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-02-08


of the witness before the committee |
Have you stated repeatedly, in this ex-
animation, that you did not know what
parties had secured the state in the first
instanceg A. did.
Q. Have you stated that you did not |
know what parties had carried the state |
at last until you actually made the re-
turns? A. But L
Mr.. Field: You had better answer |
the question.
Witness: I will answer your question,
but l will answer it in my way.
MIR. Field: Well. don't answer any
more than my question.
Chairman: Answer the question.
Witness will answer the question,
but must answer it in my common,
plain style.
Chairman: Yes. that is the style we
want.
Mr.. Field: Have you stated that you
did not know what party had carried the
state at last until you actually made the
| returns?
Witness: / have said so. | will ex-
plain. The results throughout the states
had not been known so far as these states
were concerned where there was no trou-
BILE or difficulty, no numbering of people
because they had attempted to vote, and
| the whole matter in regard to those three
| southern states was in doubt.
| Mr.. Field here made an inquiry OF the
stenographer.
The witness interrupted, upon which
Mr.. Field reprimanded him.
Witness: have right to speak in
defence OF myself.
Chairman Ito witness): Keep cool.
Witness Well, protect me, or l will
protect myself. and that very quick.
| Field: DO you now mean that the
result OF the presidential election hinged
on the result in three southern states A..
mean Louisiana together with the other
two southern states.
Mr., Field All, yes.
Witness Gnterruptiug) MIR. Chairman,
l am not lawyer and 1 do not wish =
| gentleman to say for me what cid not
want to say myself. am no sharp prac-
titioner, and l want no sharp practice
upon me on this committee. l ask to be
protected, anil [excitedlyl il the commit.
tee does not protect me | will protect
myself.
Chairman Just answer the question
Do you mean that the ans wer which yol
gave a while ago, that the election
hinged upon the result In louisiana
was true, or not. A. l mean that tn
result of the presidential election hinges
on Louisiana with other Southern states
=. Which others? A. Florida is one
sir, and at that time South Carolina wa
l one.
l q. Then when you said in this lette
. sour duties as returning officers hav
augmented to the magnitude of the de!
tiny OF the great parties, NAV l not sa
the nation - did you mean that the de-
tiny OF the two great parties
= Witness Interrupted; Stop, sir;
:, I r-..~.
,, The Chairman: Witness you mus
! not interrupt the examiner. Jul
answer his questions and if you object I
!. any one of them ask the committee
q you are obliged to answer.
q. When you wrote what | have Jus
a read, did you mean the testimony OF tn
e two great parties might you not say tn
nation depended on Louisiana. Florid
and South Carolina !? A. SO far as had bee,
ascertained.
/ q. How did your duties as returnin.
officer augment to any magnitude? A
There was very great question betor,
as that we had to decide as to the result
OF the vote of Louisiana.
Q. And you decided according to thu
law and the justice Of the case, did YOU
not; without reference TO its effect upor
parties, did you not: A. Most as
suredly.
Z Then will you tell u how your du.
ties were augmented by the destiny of the
nation! A. AS responsible men for the
result of our findings, We were RESPONSE
BILE to the nation and to the people OF
Louisiana, and we felt ourselves so.
q. Responsible tor what: A. Respon-
sibie for an honest, fair and upright de.
clsion upon the result Of the election in
Louisiana.
q. Then you meant merely that the
destiny OF the nation depended on the
honesty OF the discharge OF your duty,
did you: A. cid not mean that, sir.
z. What did you mean beyond that !:
A. mean just what have said.
q Did you mean that the destiny Of
the patton or OF the two great parties de-
pended on anything more than honest
discharge Of your duties as returning
officers: A. As a matter Of course. did
not.
| z. (Reading:) 81 fully comprehend
the situation" What did you mean by
that' a. meant the political situation
OF the country, the distracted condition
in which the people we're In regard to the
contest then pending, which was not oyer
then. The vote was over that the peo-
pie were excited upon.
z. DO you mean to say that The impor-
lance OF that affected in any way the
honest discharge of their duties: Al
did not, sir.