The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-02-08
vy.r,z Wanted ag.ooo,e0o.

w ESQ v EENE
1t has come to light that J. M. Wells,
Chairman Of tho Returning Board OF
Louisiana. olTe ed to sell the vote OF
that State to the Democrats for $1,000,
900, but as they failed to take his oiier
he wanted to induce the Republicans to
do something. The following letter OF
Wells to Senator West has just been
made public:
New ORLEANS, Nov. Dist.
Nh Dear Senat0r:-
/ regret much not seeing You when
here. I wanted 80 say much to You,
which would be at least i%mprudent to
put on paper. | trast, however, 70
meet You in Washington as soon rs the
canvass is over, which is now upon us.
Our duties as returning officers have
augmented the destiny Of the nation.
[ fully comprehend the situation, as
well as my duty to the greatest living
General-U. $. Grant-and not with
my consent shall tais oppressed people
be governed by paroled prisoners, and
ed by the white livered towards up
North. Let M, my esteemed sir, war!
you OF the danger. Millions have been
sent here and will be used in the inter
est of Tilden, and unless there IL some
counter movement, it viii ho impossl
Die for mo or any other indIviduaj to
avert its producing the result. me
gentleman presenting this letter is fully
aware of the move. and if you allow,
will communicate freely. See Our
friends and act promptly, or the result
viii be disastrous. Il hint TO tho wise.
This is strictly private ana c~outisntial.
Yours very truly, :
J. MADISON WELLS.
The Following is the Associated Press
report Of the testimony of J. Il. Mad
dox. Special Agent TO the Treasury
! Department, before the Congressional
Investigating Committee:
Before the Privilege ana Powers
Committee Of the House. Maddox had
asked time to allow Governor Wells TO
make Il full statement, but not having
done 50, Maddox WAS willing to answer
last night. Before Wells wrote
the letter to witness. witness had com %
municated with Wells: Wells requested
witness to 60 20 Washington and e1-
plain the situation; the letter WAS al
dressed 10 Senator West. Governor
Wells said bis life was in danger, "a he
had . very difficult Job in hand. and did
not know how he could get through
with it.
Wells said he would serve his party
in making the returns for Hayes, but he
woull not take The risk unless paid
for it. Wells said the majority was
! rerv larga, too much FOR him to handle.
aud he uid not know where to com
Iuence; in throwing out he said in all
probability he would have to throw ont
the vote OF New Orleans. Wells ask
! ed witness to g. to Washington and
secure the protection of influential men
for him. and whether he conld get the
required money to satisfy hn. Wells
said he ought 10 have 81, 900, 900; wit
ness showed TO the President ana Sec
rntsrv of War two letters addressed
10 witness by Wells; he wanted money,
bnt the Secretary declined 10 have any
thing to DO with the matter.
TIE programme was that ihe vacancy
should be filed. and Governor Wells
resign in anger on that account: ii wac
understood between witness and Wells
if representation at Washington failed
to bring money, witness would open
negotiations elsewhere: the word
hold" in the dispatch TO Wells from
witness. meant he should hold the re
turns so as to make them available al
will.
The first negotiation failed;and Wells
stated to Witness that he wanted $500
0O0, FOR himself and a smailrrsum for the
darkies on the board. After his return
to New Orleans witness received ? dis
patch from Col. Pickett than nrgotf
lions had failed. when Gov. Wells s'N,
gested to witness to endeavor to make
some arrangements with the Demo-
Gratis; witness made the efo,t in thai
direction but failed; Gov. Wells sait!
he wopld throw out votes to the hrat
advantage. in order to produce certain
results, which would depend on cream
stances.