Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-06
Louisiana,

When Gov. Wells, OF Louisiana, president
Of the returning board Of that State, had been
for some time before the committee On the
powers and privileges OF the House, yesterday,
Mr.. David Dudley Field cross examined him as
follows:
Question. Look at the letter TO Senator
West and say whether this is your handwrlt-
ing? Answer. Yes, sir That is 10 my
writing.
Q. Where did you write it: A. wrote 1t
in the city OF New Orleans.
@. In what part Of it? a. In the custom
house, in my office.
Q. Was it dictated to you by anybody? y.
NOBODY sir. ,
Q. Was it suggested to you by anybody ?
y. 1t was not, sir.
MIR. Field. Look at it il you please, and d.
rect your attention to the first paragraph: i
rceret much not seeing you when here. /
wanted to say much to you which would be at
ras. imprudent 10 put upon paper. What
was it that you wished to say which would be
imprudent to pnt upon paper? \. Nothing
pertaining TO the sub ect. matter before this
committee.
o. What was it? a. 1t was this: was q
friend Of Senator West, and | was anxious to
have him reelected to the Senate, and there
was combination OF my own party to defeat
him, and | did not propose to insert in that
letter The names Of parties who were opposed
to him.
@. And that paragraph had reference solely?
A. Qnterruptng) solely.
Mr.. Field. You had better hear my question
unless you can divine my thoughts.
The witness. Go on, sir; | don't want to
bother your thoughts. Go right ahead.
Laughter.
Q. Your first paragraph, then, had relation
| to nothing but Senator Vests reelection ? n.
Yes, sir.
O. Our duties as returning officers have
| augmented to the magnitude OF the destiny oil
the two great partes-may | not say the M
ton" What did you mean by that? \.
meant by that that the presidential election
hinged upon the result Of the election in Lou
isana.
@. (Referring to the former testimony OF the
| witness before the committee.) Have you no.
stated repeatedly in this examination that yor
did not know what parties had secured tht
State 10 the first instance? a. l did,
O. Have you stated that you did not know
what parties had carried the State at last unit
you actually made the returns? \. But J.
MIR. Field You had better answer the qucs
| ton.
The witness. l will answer your question
| but will answer it 10 my way.
Mr.. Field. Well, DON answer aCy more thar
my question.
| The chairman. Answer tie question.
The witness will answer the question, Blu
I must answer it in my commoo, plain style.
The chairman. Yes, that is the kind OF syI
We want.
MIR. Field. Have you stated that you did no
know what parties had carried the State at Ia
until you actually made the returns?
The witness. l have said 50. will explain
The results throughout the States had not bee!
known so far as those States were eOnccruc,
where there was no trouble or difficulty; n
numbering OF people because they had attempt
cd to vote, and the whole matter 10 regard L
those three Southern States was in doubt.
Mr.. Field here made an inquiry Of the stcu
ographer. The witness Interrupted, upon whc
Mr.. Field reprimandcd him.
The witness. have right to speak i'll dc
Tense Of myself.
The chairman Ito the wtncss). Keep Coo!
The witness Well, protect me or | vii! pro
tect myself, and that very quick.
By Mr.. Field: Z. DO you now mean tina
the result Of the presidential election h!ngct
on the result in three Southern States? y.
mean Louisiana, together with the other tw
Southern States.
MIR. Field. All, yes.
The witness Gnterruptng) Mr.. Chairman
| am not lawyer, and DO not wish gentle
man TO say for me what did not want to Sal
myself. | am no sharp practitioner, and wan
90 sharp practice upon me in this committee
[ ask to be protected, and (c2cited) if the com
mittee does not protect me will protect my
self.
The Chairman. Just answer the question.
| q. Do you mean that the answer which yol
gave while ago that the election hlogca upol
| the result 10 Louisiana was true or not? y.
mean thatthc result Of the presidential election
| hinged upon Louisiana with other Snrthcrl
States.
Q. Which others? A. Florida is one, sir
and at that time South Carolina WAS one also
@. Then whcu you said in this letter, "Ou
duties as returning officers have augmented tt
the magnitude OF the destiny OF the two grea
parties, may not say the nation, did yoi
mean that the destiny ofthc two great parties
| The witness (interrupliDg.) Stop, sir; Ito no
| put your meaning upon what l. write.
| The Chairman. Witness, you must not inter
rupt the examiner. Just answer his questions
and if you object 10 any one Of them ask til,
committee if you are obliged to answer.
g. When you wrote what | have just real
did you mean that the destiny OF the two grea
parties, not to say the natou,' depended upor
| Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina? a. Sc
| far as had been ascertained.
g. How did your duties as returning officers
augment to any magnitude. A. There was very
great question before US that we had to decide
as TO the result Of the vote Of Louisiana.
| q. But you decided according to the law and
justice of the case, without reference to its el
ect upon parties, did you not? y. Most as
suredly.
Q. Then will YOU tell us how your dutic.
we're augmented to the destiny Of the nation
A. As responsible men for the result Of our
finding we were responsible to the nation and
to the people Of Louisiana, and VIC felt our.
selves so.
@. Responsible for what? A. Responsible
for an honest, fair and upright decision upon
the result Of the election in Louisiana.
Q. Then you meant merely that; that the