The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-01-04
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

J. Madison Wells, President Of Returning
Board, testified on the 21st: All Of the Republi
can Electors were voted for in CoHcordia Parish,
but the votes were not properly counted; we sent
for the boxes and corrected the returns; some of
the returns received and canvassed by the Board
were sent by mail, some by express, and some
were delivered by hand; the law requires that
all returns be sent by mail; did net canvass the
returns from Grant Parish because they
did not come through the Supervisors I;
did canvass some of the returns from COncordia
Parish which did not come through the Super
visors; the law requires that Commissioners Of
Election shall be appointed from both parties /;
do not know that all the polls in the State were
represented by Democratic Commissioners, and
and do not know that there was any Democratic
Supervisor of Registration in the State; am q de-
cided partisan, but would not allow politics TO
influence me TO do any thing unjust; am Survey
or of the port and President of the Returning
Board but do not think that holding both offices
is in contradiction to President Grants
orders that no Federal officer shall nod
a State office; the law says there shall De a
Democrat on the Board, but did not fill the va
cancy because the Board could not agree; DR..
Hugh Kennedy, the gentleman proposed for the
vacant position on the Board, is a gentleman of
high standing, irreproachable character and
friend of mine, but the Board could not agree on
his appointment and no other name was present
ed; did not not vote on the question nor think
that any member of the Board was much opposed
to DR.. Kennedy; but in talking over the ques-
ton, we found that we could not agree. The
Minute book containing the proceedings of the
Board was produced and witness was asked to
explain n number of entries and oinissionssto
which his attention was called, but was unable
to do so. Charles S. Abel, Assistant Secretary
of tho Board, testified: Did not know that any
polls in the Parish of Orleans were thrown OUT !;
the Boardahad no Official knowledge of any thing
not returned by the Supervisors and could not
act on polls not before them. Witness was
interrogated in reference to the action Of the
Board in a number of instances which be had
no remembrance of; am member of the Flour
Board also; appointed by Governor Antoine last
August; am paid by the fees Of the office, which
run sometimes to one hundred dollars per
month; in ls74 was Inspector in the Custom
house at three or four dollars per day; was then
Assistant Secretary Of the Returning Board.
Witness stated that he had real estate,
but refused to state where it was
located saying it was out Of the state.
Frank johnson, colored, Of Catahoula Parish,
testified that he canvassed the parishfor the DEM
ocrats; was a minister of the Baptist Church and
was turned out of the church because he was a
Democrat; knew of q secret organization called
the Counsel of Freedmen il was oath-b0und;
the members had arms and cartridges; was
President OF a c0lOred Democratic club of about
thirty members; no intimidation was used
TO induce colored men TO join the
Democrats but the Republicans inundated the
Democratic speakers; told them that if the Dem
ocrats succeeded the negroes would all be put
back into slavery. On cross examination, said
he quit preaching when he joined the Democratic
party; they turned him out and took his license
away from him, the election passed
Of quietly at the poll where voted; only one