The Portland daily press., 1877-01-22
THE POLITICAL TELEGRAMS.
The House Committee still Trying TO En-
vOlve Secretary Chandler, But Without
Success-Madfson Wells Before the


vOIve Secretary Chandler, But Without
Successful adison Wells Before the
Committee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-The Committee on
the Privileges of the House in counting the
electoral vote had before them to-day Osborn D.
Roberts, who testified he was cashier of the
Second National Bank of New York. He ex-
hibited two certificates of deposit in the bank
by q. Chandler, dated Oct. q, 1876, one $3, 900,
the other $4,000.
They were made payable on his own order
on the return Of the certificate: The endorse
ment read, "Pay S. B. Packard or order. z.
Chandler. Pay James e. Ayr. S. B. Pack
ard" and james e. Ayr transferred the order
to Winslow, Lanier & Co. He could not state
how the facts of these deposits were made pub
lie. he did not know whether any transac-
tions of money were made through his bank by
leading Democrats for political purposes. Be-
sides the certificates of deposit above referred
to, there was an account of q Chandler as
chairman of the National Republican Commit
tee. An account was also kept in that bank by
Governor Mccormick.
g. W. Partridge, the private secretary of q.
Chandler, was asked whether he had in his pos
session or un jer his control, any letters or tele
grams written or sent by Y. Chandler to any
person IN Florida, South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, Louisiana and Oregon, or any letters or
or kilograms received by him from persons in
those States.
Witness In reply produced copies of letters
which were privately examined by the commit
tee, when two of the letters were read and put
in evidence. They were written respectively
by j. B. Stockton, dated New OrleaDs, Nov. Ii,
| to the effect that if steps were taken immediat
| ly the afddavlts of ten or twelve thousand Ke-
| publican voters could be obtained showing they
| were deprived of the exercise of the ballot by
| violence and intimidation.
The writer was chief deputy of Marshal Pit
| kin. He says if you could send trusty person
| here with funds, or authorize some one to draw
| fur such sums as may be needed to have the
proper testimony taken throughout the bull
doing parishes, such testimony could be piled
up of frauds and outrages so damnable IS to
| preclude the possibility of any President taking
his seat who was elected by such frauds.
Several other letters or the political situation
were read, among them the following:
| WASHINGTON, D. G Dec %
| To John Z. Cranes, Ih0mdsyille, North Caro-
lima:
| Dear Sil:-Your favor of the 10th received
and contents noted. What you state in rea-
tion to North Carolina and other Southern
| states. fully believe, is entirely correct
1t would have been great national calamity
to the South, as well as the North, had Tden
succeeded in getting himself elected President.
No man who countenances and uses the means
| he has to promote his own election, should
| ey er be entrusted with such great and RESPONSE
BILE trusts as are given to the Chief Executive
of this nation. The sooner such turbulent Til
den Democracy gets down and accepts the sit
uatlon, the better for the country.
,s: Very truly yours.
Witness stated that kilograms sent from and
received by q. Chandler from time to time
| were destroyed. He did not think there was
anything in them abont furnishing money or
troops.
Thomas G. Joynder, telegraph operator at
Franklin, N. c., testified he did not take
copies of kilograms passing through bis office.
He remembered hearing messages going
through, but could not tell the exact phrase
ology.
The messages, so far as he could remember,
| were signed Chandler and addressed to Thomas
B. Keogh of North Carolina. They were to
the following effect:
"We think Hayes elected, but if possible
hold your state" and 1--WE think Hayes elect
ed, but wish to add your state.'
Witness said one of the telegrams was rather
long; did not think it mentioned any means of
holding on to the state.
Madison Wells, president of the Louisiana
Returning Board, was examined and asked
whether there was not a vacancy in that board
which was not filed, and why.
The answer of witness was in the afirma-
tive, and he said the vacancy was not filled
because the members could not agree upon a
| man.
Or. Kennedy was proposed by Democrats to
I'LL the vacancy, but portion OF the board OBJ
jected to him. There were four members act
ing as this board, all of them Republicans.
They never resolved to reject or admit another
person as member of the board.
Q.-Why did you not as the president put
| the proposition to the board?
Al did not propose to have the proposition
acted on Instantly, but asked the question OF
the board, When would they take action?
| Q.-Then no vote was ever taken on the
admission of Kennedy as a member of the
board2
| A.-None 1t was several days after the
| board had commenced examining the returns
that Zacharie, representing the Democrats,
protested against further proceedings unless the
vacancy in the board was filled, but the vacan-
| cy was not filled.
Witness said the result of the canvass was
made matter of record, and the returns show
ed the number Of votes rejected.
Lawrence objected to further questioning on
| this point, as the subject was matter of record
| and as no refusal had been made to inspect the
report of the Returning Board and to take
| copies of the record. Lawrence said the Re
turning Board were held as in contempt of the
House, because they declined to produce the
produce the records, because law required such
archives to be deposited in the office of the Sec
retary of State.
Members of the committee present overruled
Lawreuce's objection. Yeas-Lawrence and
McDlll, 2; Nays-Feld, Marsh, Tucker and
Knott, A. Field asked witness to state whether
the record he refused to produce showed the
whole number of votes cast in Louisiana, and
witness replied he could rot state, or he had not
charged his memory with it.
| Q.-Do you or not know whether the abstrac-
ton of votes made by the Returning Board
changed the result of the election?
Al cannot, without the figures, correctly
answer.
Mr.. Field remarked that the witness refusing
to answer categorical question, he would move
to make the fact known to the house.
Mr.. Fieid-Did you eliminate or abstract
from the total vote as many as 10000 votos.
Al do not know.
| Q-Did you ABSTRACT 100 or 1000 votes?
Al do not know.
Q,-YOu spoke of intimidation and murder
Did any statements to this effect accompany
the returns of the supervisors of elections.
| A.-NO.
| Secretary Chandler Denounces the
Troops" De.patch as Forgery.
Secretary Chandler denounces as deliberate
forgery the following alleged despatch:
NEW York, Nov. s.
To Governor II. L. Stearns:
| Hold Florida for Havas and VhpaIer