The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-01
..s.nl EsI .EGRIs1AARHIIa sAsaa gEzN VS..
INTERESTING DISPATCHES FROM
WASHINGTON.
Organisations or the Electoral Conn
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. JUSTICE CLIFFORD PRESIDENT oFsTHB TRfBu.
NAL-THE MAJORITY REPORT FROM THE
! FLORIDA CoMMITTEE--A MAJORITY or NINE
i, TY.oNE FOR THE TILDEE RLEcT0Rs--IE.
4 TERgsTINa REPORT OF THE LOUISIANA N
(. ,rEsTIGAT7oN--A DETERMINED WITNESS
4 +, THE CROWD ARRIVING TO BE PRESENT Al
THE cOUST-TRs DEMOCRATS SURE OF sue
CEss.-wIIL THE TRIBUNAL GO BEHIND, THE
RETURNS ?--THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
LOUISIANA cAsE--THE CONSPIRACY TO Sell
OUT LOUISIANA, &c. TH3
et4s from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January 31.-The crowd in
the city has perceptibly increased for seve.
raj days, and by tomorrow win doubtless
be very great. The corridors, and lobbies,
and galleries were crowded to their full Ca.
pacity to-day, and anticipating n rush Of
unarmed citizens, strict orders from the
presiding officers forbid the admission Of
anybody during the counting except upon
ticket from the Committee on Rules. And
q concurrent resolution authorizing the ap-
pointment Of one hundred special police has
passed boil. houses. t...,t,. -.
| The Democrats seem to be perfectly sure
OF the success OF their case before the tri.
/ b1nal as constituted, whether it may be de.
cided upon the law or the facts, or both,
| It is expected the political members OF the
commission will divide about equally upon
the question of the right to go behind the
returns OF the canvassing board, and that the
question will be decided by the five judges
solely by the cold measure OF the funda-
mental law. Had Judge Davis been chosen it
was feared blythe Republicans that he might
be in some degree BIASED by his supposed OBJ
LEGATION to the Democrats, to whom be chiefly
owes his election as United States senator.
The other side insisted that his election,
without his consent, by Liberal Republi-
cans and Democrats, showed he had the full
confidence of both parties, and was there
fore Of all men most suitable to serve on the
commission. Happily, the dispute is settled
satisfa ctoriiy by the selection OF Justice
Bradley. 49, 49,.
The commission met this morning in the
Supreme Courtroom. The oath Of Office was
administered by the clerk to Justice Clifford,
who as senior justice becomes president Of
the commission and by him the oath was
then administered to the other commission
ers. This afternoon series Of rules OF pro-
cedure, prepared bya committee appointed
ut the morning session, were reported and
adopted. ,'t
There was great curiosity this morning
TO hear the developments in the Louisiana
case expected from Colonel John T. Pick
! EFT and Joseph II. Maddox. The former is
more particularly known to the public in
connection with the sale Of certain Conied-
crate documents. Maddox is a special agent
OF the Treasury Department, and was sent
to Louisiana, in his official capacity, soon
after the election in November. ;
Pickett was called first TO testify before
Knotts's committee, but a technical obiec-
! ton excluded his testimony, and Maddox
was placed on the stand. He said
be had known Wells and Anderson
for a great many years, and had had
many interviews with Wells and some with
Anderson since the election. Witness
declined to- say what transpired between
himself and them because he now felt it
| would be breach Of confidence, but il
| allowed until tomorrow might decide to
tell everything he knew. The interviews
with Wells were privately held at the Gus
tom-house and at Wells's lodgings. Du-
ring the canvass of the vote Wells frequently
| told him what had been done and what was
to be done. and he gave Wells advice about
some things. He had returned fiom New
Orleans by order Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, and was now under orders to go
TO Louisiana. Since he had been in Wash
ington he had had interviews with Wells,
but declined to say what was the nature OF
any OF these conferences.
Mr.. Field showed witness several tele'
grams which passed between him and Pick
cit, and between him and one Calvert, OF
New Orleans. Witness was surprised at
the presentation of the correspondence
which had been submitted by Colonel Pick
EFT, but still declined to tell what he knew
He admitted that he addressed Pickett as
"J. Thomas" and signed himself "Joseph
Hancock -; and that all kilograms address.
ed to G. NJ. Calvert were understood, by
previous agreement, to be for Wells. Cal
vert was particular friend OF Wells.
Maddox said he had also several inter
views with the Secretary OF War, but re-
fused to say what passed between them be-
cause it was Sc connected with the questions
already asked" and said that il he told thai
he would tell all. Nor would he answer
whether he was authorized by Wells to ne.
gotiate for the vote of Louisiana.
Maddox was given until tomorrow morn.
ing to decide whether he will make clean
breast of the whole matter, and was notified
that he will be reported for contempt if he
declines to answer any questions.
The following shows the outline Of con.
spiracy to sell out Louisiana. Maddox iden-
titled the following letter written by him to
Colonel Pickett
Barnun,'s Hotel, Baltimore, November
p, 1s76.-Dear Colonel, Have just arrived
and have your dispatch. / can't wait. So
leave at 9to-night. think "J. Thomas y
had better telegraph j. III. Maddox, 137
Bienyille street, that be can do it at - pei
cent, and will see his party in Baltimore.
Gods do your patriotic friends hesitate
They amt alive to the situation Above al
things keep me from trouble. You know
the risk T take. You may say what you
please to your friends, but keep me from
trouble. will hold things in hand till
see you. 49, j ;.,.i.
Ill HnIn osofo Iay,