, 1877-02-04

n.d thr ;1,nudcncf to ask Senator West. who
was nrescnt in the room, to open It, hut had
not the rnanlincss to allow him to make an ex-
nlana,ion. There is not one syllable in the let
ter which is not capable OF
ENTIRELY HONEST EXPLANATION.
There is not necessary hint Of a corrupt nur-
nose. # single instance was wanting TO sho"
that this whole story is the result OF an infan1-
Gus conspiracy, the conduct Of dudley Field and
his Committee towards Republicans and
towards Gov. Wells fully confirms this
theory. Directly the letter had been read
In Committee, Gov. Wells sent
to the Committee a letter requesting to he
heard at once, and demanding as matter of
slmn1e right and Justice that his explanation
might 20 the country with the letters which arc
being used as Instrument OF
RU1E1NG HIS REPCTyT1oS. ..
and of supporting the Democratic story o1 the
r,hbe..: OF q State Yet the Committee, by
strict oarty vote, refused Gov. Wells this "p~
nortunity to be heard, as they have contrivcd to
ref,sc him for week, and refused to allow the
minutcs to show that he had made such applics-
tim. The Republican minority arcpowcrless. II
Wells could have been hearl, il is positive that
be would have told q story which would have
shown 10 every fair-mindcd man that the letters
werr honest
II will be remembered that at the time when
the letters were written the White League OF
Louisiana were quite turbulent The lives OF
members OF the Returning Board were threat
ened, and boasts were openly made In the streets
that II the Returning Board returned the State
for Hayes or Packard, no matter what the facts
before them were, New Orleans
WOULD NOT BE "A SAFE PLACE
for them. Indeed, Littleteld testified to-day
th4t his uncle, Spcariug. told him that If he at
cepted the position OF clerk Of the Returning
Board he certainly would be hung with the
members Of the Board. These letters OF Wells
to the President and Senator West smplly in
formed those persons OF the tremendous efforts
the Democrats were making by corrupt means to
accomplish their purposes, and suggesting the
nrcssinr necessity Of supporting the handful of
Republica,,s ii, that State and the Returning
Roarl by the moral influence Of Northern pub
lie opinion and by the presence of troops. That
It is evident is what the letters were meant to
say. There were abundant reasons Why these
letters should hava been lntrusted to Maddox.
He gcnl to New Orleans during the count OF
the vote. renrcsentine that llc Ind been sent by
the President, and also he had credentials from
The Chairman uf the National Republican Com
rni,tce. Maddox. in his private conversations,
repeatedly declared that there was great danger
to the lives OF the Returning boara 1fonl Mln.e
Leagucrs, aud in conversation with Wells an
old acquaintance Of twenty-five years. warned
him Of these dangers.
MADDOX.
III the HtSEeYn AssnCi0fed fTfsS.
WASHINGTON, u. e., Feb. 3.-Naddo1 was
again to-day before the Committee on foNgrs,
Privileges, and Duties Of the House IN counting
tie Electoral vote, and, after saying - feel
much iudisposed this morning, q, anu Woula there
Mr. Field the two letters spoken OF so often
during his previous examination. Oncwas read
By Field, as follows:
New ORLEANS. goth Novembsr 1sse:-1o ~.
J. II. Aoddor, Nee 01teans-DEAh stm: lnaer- r
from ussociation with both political parties. and
Is a friend Of tho President and Government
duty t. 60 at vuce to Warrington with as little
delay as POSSIBLE and place before the President
the condition and pending dangers Of the situation:
premises, allow me to commend you 70 Senator
West, who il ay friend. aud with whom you will
freely communicate Yours 1eFy V,ns5. i,nl5, v,,,
Witness said that when be first alluded to
these letters they were IN New Orleans but had
been received by him to-day.
LETTER TO WEST.
At this point Senator West entered the room,
when Field asked him 70 open tlc letter ad-
aud read lhe contents. rs follows:
NEW ORLEANS, L., Nov. u, lS75.-NfI DEAR
SENATOR, regret much rot seeing you when
here. wanted to Fay much to Sou which would
however, to meet you in Washington 2s-soon US
the canra.s is over which is upon H.. Our duties
as relne1!ing officers have augmented The MANI,
tudc Ut tho destiny of thc two crra1 partics-may
not s.y The nation. fully comprehend tho sit2-
tion, well my duty IL the greatest living Cen
eral, I. $. Grant, and not w4tn my consent sinll
prisoners, aided oy The whte-tivetrd cowafas of
the Nortn. Let me, nly esteemed sir, w;zn you of
the danger. Millions have bccu sent here Elau WI.
be nsc1 in the interest OF Ti!1cn, and unlces i
counter movement made it will te eiu1possbc for
me or any other nuyiuual to urrcst ITS productive
fully aware Of the moves. and, if y0n nl]ow. will
com1nunioa1e freely 10 our. friends, and act
promptly, OF results will !,c disastrous. \ word
sfsss fo2 ss ssr dn t5a L. J. wss j.
Senator West permitted the Committee to
take copy Of the letter.
TIE COTTON CLAIM.
Nr. Lawrence asked Maddox whether any
body offered S50, 900 to report in favor Of the
cotton claim which lie went to louisa a to ILL
vest1gate-
Witness answered that, after the unfavorable
report had been made BY him, person said that
il he had made different report he mi gllt have
realized money by it, Witness declining to give
the name OF the person, it WIS insisted upon,
and he said it was Megrue.
Mz. Sparks asked il il was Con Mcgruc who
was connected with the St. Louis whisky frauds,
and Maddox answered lie thought so.
Committee then went into private consulta-.
ton.
LlTTLEF1ELD BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
The subcommittee VI the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections resumed Its sessions
today. Senator Howe, Chairman.
J. +. littlcdcld. in reply to questions, related
incidents in his later life, from which it appears