The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-01
YORK HERALD THURSDAY FEBRUARY

4G4OAAb, IL ~ 1OhODA
for several days OF fearful explosion that going
to take place at the Capitol Which would shater every
vcst,c OF claim Hayes could possibly have to the
Presidency. There going to be dreadful ex-
posture Of something which would settle the republi
party When heard Of the Pickett testi-
mony to-day could not persuade myself that any
was going DO LAID upon tho sale Louisiana
for only 81. 100000 But when l founa the COM
mittec really treating the story resting
a good foundation could only laugh at its absurd
Ivy, while wondered that tho democratic members OF
the committee could be SO easily imposed upon. Lot
US for moment suppose the proposition TO have been
made and It will readily appear that neither Wells nor
any other mcmber of board could been party
TO it For It's consummation tho first step TO pay
$3.50 900 when the the nth member Of the Board
elected; that member was DO democrat OF course.
THE VACANCY IN THE BOARD.
snow the only reason tho vacancy was not fled In
tho beginning that the democrats had resolved
should have the ofco but DR.. Kennedy, and he
was personally Objectionable to Wells who opposed
his election. told the democrats II thcy would pre-
sent the names of four or five good men ono OF the
number would DO selected. But Kennedy
nobody was their motto. and so tho matter
rested. For $3.50, 600 thon, according TO
Pickett and Maddox, Wells would have with
drawn his opposition, Kennedy would havo
become the hfth member, and who would have been
tho wiser? The other part Of the contract, however,
Il would have been impossible for Wells anybody
else 10 have carried out Being then Governor OF
Louisiana. and by law alone invested with authority
TO commission members OF tho Returning Board,
should have emphatcay opposed the political change
contemplated In this cool million proposition To
mako tho treaty at least plausible, where was to
nothing for the electors certificate, or was it pre-
sumed that would blindiy obey the bchests OF the
Returning Board?"
Governor kellogg said he had received a telegram
stating that a dozen witnesses left New Orleans to-
night most Of them clerks of the Returning Board,
whose evidence would be in rcbutal OF Lttlencld He
confident the Returning Board had done ling but
what they clearly authorized to do under the law
Louisiana and IL they had not exceeded their judicial
or administrative duties or II what they did was under
authority OF law precisely what business 1t of the
House Committee he had not been able to discover
Kellogg's admission that he knew something OF tho
0OO.O 900 offer curious, but not less the questions
he asks :--"where was 10 como IMP What was l to
get for giving the certificates"
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON JAM 81 1877.
mo select COmmLtee on tue rTlVleRc6 OF the house
had before 1t to-day witnesses who gave testimony
OF highly important character affecting the nteg-
rty Of the Louisiana Returning Board. The following
Is full report OF the most important Of tho testi
mouy:-
TESTIMONY JOHN 7. PICKETT
John r. Pickett, sworn and examined by Nj.
Field.
Q. State your age, residence and occupationP A. I
litythr years OF age; am m attorney.at law
l am resident Of Washington, d. q.
z. Have you in your possession a letter from Mr.
Wells, OF the Louisiana Returning BoardS A. have.
q. VIII you produce ns A. (Handing II to Mr.
Ficldl 1t Is what purports to be his handwriting; 1
am not familiar with it,
Mr. Field road the letter as follows
NEw ORLEANS, Nov 90 1875
To tnnme cut outs New Orleans LA. =:
~, wit, Ss.so the .
you "0' "''''' WV" j. MADISON Wills .''
O. State the circumstances OF your receiving this
letter and what done In relation 10 IT, A. II viii
rather long story. but shall begin ut the begin
mig
MIR. Fied-Do So
wltuess-on tho Thursday preceding tho last SUM-
day OF November, tho 23I, gentleman with whom
have been acquainted for than quarter u GEN.
fury came 10 my oiicc In tho city, no having just
arrived from Louisiana, where had known him quite
Intimately u quarter OF a century ago. and gave me
full history the state Of affairs there arising OF
The late PRESIDENTIAL election. He Said
Mr. Lawrenco-l object 10 your stating what this
stranger SAID.
The wltness-Then my story will be nearly at end.
Mr.. Field to witness ask you to say how tho letter
into yoar hands and what you did under It. You
may 80 on and state anything Of that Sort
The Wnness-The person referred 10 Is subpDnaed
and IS now In this building
Mr. Fleld--Go on and connect all the circumstances
OF your receiving that letter and what you did reIa
ton to IL
The witness-He stated that he had been spending,
as already knew, week or ten days in New Orleans.
(UbJcctcd 10 by Mr.. Lawrence
The room was cleared Tor consultation. and the oh.
lection WAS Overruled.
The Witness contlsuing.-This gentleman delivered
days in New Orleans knew that Tor had notified my
friends there of the OF his hay ing
gone lhither, aud that he exceedingly danger.
TO our people, meaning tho democratic party.
nasmuch as ho had been Resilient OF New Orleans
former years and had hold high position there,
ciay and otherwise, they might not Eavo known that
he now member OF the republican
party, and an emissary, as l believed, from
The govern here touching how the vote OF ous,.
should be counted; and stating that from my per-
sonal friendship for hun Of long standing l hoped
that II there should be disturbance there, as mad
occurred previous OCCASIONS harm should bcfaIl
HIM; by some means ho Obtained Information OF my
having written such letter, and when he back
to Washington he repaired TO my Office on Thursday,
the I'D OF November and stated TO fully the condl
ton OF affairs In Louisiana; no said that he believed
and that others believed, that louisiana was
democrat by frtm 900 TO 1000 majority but that
money would decide how her electoral vote would DO
thrown; that his sympa.hies were with the South
and with what was rIght and that he had in his pos
session (which lie exhibited to me sealed letter pur.
porting 10 be from Mr. Wells TO Senator West; my
informant SAID - nave read this letter II Is sealed
l cannot open H. Of course, nor would have you do
It II you would; but II informs Senator West that
tho democrats have put mp a million OF money aud
that (meaning tho repubcans) would need million
down there to settle this thing to cOuntcract that
lie said he did not ice disposed to deliver that let.
ter; that Il was not obligatory him. aud that II he
followed the wishes Of hts heart and the uelates OF his
judgment, he would cndcavor 10 have these gentlemen
supplied with what they needed, SO as to determine
the result, and he asked me whether mad any obcc
ton TO cooperate with him sud :"ProiessIonally
| cannot but IL view vi tho agnude vi the interests
at stake have no hesitation 10 do ali that Is IN my
little power"
TO
The result that after long conversa-
t0ns, extending over portion OF the next day, and
after some preliminary reduction OF points to writing,
repaired to New York, and there mad interviews with
several gentlemen eminent the democratic party, TO
related nil those flcl am