Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-19
The Louisiana investigation,

| The Committee Ga the Powers, Privilege:
and Duties Of the House Saturday morning ex
amined Duncan s. kenner, Of New Orleans
lie testified that Gov. Wells told an unruth il
testiyiug that he (kenner) offered him bride
to cast the vote Of Louisiana for Tidcn. Mr.
Keuncr stated preliminary that the interview;
between himself and Wells were confidential
and nothing could have induced witness to dis
regard the obligation Of secrecy, were il not
| that Wells had first broken this obligation.
Witness then stated shat on November II, or
Is, he met Gov. Wells on the street and said
10 the latter that he wished to sec him at his
(wlncss'] office on the subject Of the late elcc
tiou II was we'll recognized fact that Gov.
Nichols had carried the State, but an appre-
hcnsion was felt by the people Ct Louisiana
that he would not be permitted to take his seat.
Wells said he was perfectly willing to talk
frankly and freely on that subject, and did not
wish to lose the good opinions OF any OF his old
friends. Witness replied that the anxiety arose
from the Tact that four years more OF misrule
and disquiet, Incidental TO a government that
could not be recognized As legitimate one
| would cause the same stagnation 10 business that
had existed for the past lew ycars;that lie ought
to look we'll TO the consequences. lie stated
that he did not wish to do anything wrong, but
he was partlZan, and could not break with his
party without great personal Inconvenience; he
meant that lie would have to give up his office.
| asked what Office Mr.. Packard could give him
to compensate him; he answered that he had
been promised ne office, and wanted none; that
he was too old-bciDg SIS years OF age-but The
direct compensation he expected would, he
hoped, enable him to 60 home and rest IN peace
aud quiet for the remainder OF his days; / said
there is nothing that these men will not prom.
Use you, as ono Of them will become Governor
and the other Senator, and be answered,
promises will not answer this is q big thing
| said, Don't you believe it would be better
to receive small competency for doing right,
rather than a large sum for doing wrong?" lie
acknowledged it, and said it would be easier to
count in Nichols than Packard. told him that
he would be compensated for doing right, by
the people, and asked him to name his sum.
After hcsitating, he finally said Il can't for
must consult with some one" | said, you
must tell me with whom you want 10 consuit,as
our conversation is private, and lwant 10 know
the party with whom my name will be nccessa-
rily connected" lie said, want to consult
Tom Anderson" Some five or six days after
| met Mcssrs Wells, Calvert and Anderson in
the City Hotel Mr. Wells drew out bundle
of letters and handed me one; it had no super
scrption and no signature, but simply said that
he was astonished he had not heard from me
and wanted to know the meaning Of it. |
wrote him Il note in drug store on the other
side of the street, and sent it to him while be
was at dinner. The note said | would meet
him in room after dinner. After dinner we
met 10 the room as suggested by the note, and
at the interview we repeated some of the sub. !