The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-02-14
O'COnnOr and Grant Burying
the Hatchet.
Lively Passage Between Field
and Buchard,

the Hatchet.
Lively Passage Between Fiel
and Buchard.
WAsHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The Con
mittee or Powers Privileges and Du
ties Of the House in counting thr
electoral votes met this morning
The room was crowded, owing t.
the expectation that GOV. Well
would take the stand first. as agreed
upon Saturday. G.. Cassanave, o
the Returning Board, was, however
! called and testified that he had nc
knowledge Of any alteration of the
returns from Vernon parish and had
seen none on any paper laid before
! the Board. He had no acquaintance
with Maddox and ha no knowledge
Of his having any conversation with
Gov. Wells in regard to the election,
Gov. Wells never suggested TO wit
ness to take any money or other
valuable consideration to effect the
result of the election. Did not
know about Maddox having any con-
versation on that subject with Wells.
Had no knowledge Of the returns of
precinct No. ? from Vernon parish
being burned. Had no knowledge
of the result Of the election until az
ter the returns had been canvassed.
Mr.. Field subjected the witness to
a long cfOss-eXamination, during
which Cassanave insisted that the
Returning Board, in rejecting any
precinct or poll, acted upon the evi-
dence before them, and that the
afI1davits were before the Board in
executive session.
WELLS UNDER EXAMINATION.
The committee went into consul
tation, and when the doors were re-
opened Gov. Wells took the stand
and was examined by Judge Law
renee. who handed Wells the brief
note to Maddox. of Nov. 20, and
asked him to state what led TO the
writing of this note. Gov. Wells
said:
Before answering this letter l
should like to ask the committee
that the letter. or about four pages.
written By Maddox himself con-
Of his conduct as an otii-
Ger, addressed to the President Of
the United States and signed by
me, be produced, because this note
stands in connection with that. -
Mr.. Lawrence then handed witness Z
the letter written by the latter to
and one to Senator West, 1.
and requested him to make any eX-
Dlanation he might desire to make
them. At this point /
Maddox entered the room and was /
asked to produce the letter referred .
o by Wells rs being written by .
Maddox himself. but denied having
;uch letter or having ever written
such one. Gov. Wells then said
met with Maddox in this city
.bout two or three years ago. Ibid
rot meet him again until Nov. 18,
when he came to my room in New
Orleans, and told me he was an
agent of the Government and sent
lown there to look into the political
;ituation. He asked me for my
-iews. lie said lie had had a good
leal of conversation with persons Of
10Th parties; that people were
rood deal exasperated against me
Ind against the Packard govern
nent, and would not submit to its
uIing if it were sustained. | told
lin if that were so he ought to 60
It once to Washington and make
corresponding report. On Monday
morning, before the meeting of the
Board. he came to my office and said
le was going TO Washington. | tod
lim / was glad Of it. He then laid
lown before me a long letter al
dressed TO the President, commend
ltOry Of his conduct as an officer,
which he requested me to sign. and
did So He then asked me 10
write further letters giving a de-
cription Of the condition Of affairs.
This | declined to do, but told him |
would give him one giving him the
ntree in Washington. This did not
atisfv him, and then | wrote anoth-
# letter Of credentials. He then
withdrew from the room, saying lie
vas going that afternoon at five
iclock. The next morning Maddox
tered my room, and when l eX-
,ressed my surprise at seeing him
Ie said that he had hot been able to
ret eff the afternoon previous. l
hen wrote the letter to Senator
Vest and gave 1t to him, saying L
lad intended to send it by mail.
Q.-State what you said to Mad
.ox about money to effect the declar-
tion of the result of the election in
avor of either the Republicans or
Democrats!
Al never had any conversation
nth him on the subject.
Odd he ever say anything TO
ou about money or anything else Of
alue for you or any other member
f the Board TO effect the result of
be election?
Ale rever did.
Odd he say anything to you
bout the Democrats using money?
Ale did not.
Q.-What did he say was his OBJ
,ct in procuring the letters given in
whence?
Ale desired to be transferred
rom Washington TO New Orleans
nd desired to use these letters for
hat purpose.
Q-Are you acquainted with Mr..
,alvert?
Al am. He aided me once in