Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-02-07
rHE CONSPIRACY AGAINST WELLS.

accorded the privilege Of appearing be-
fore the Committee on the Powers and
Privileges Of the House. and giving t,s-
tinony In bis own behalf. David bud.
Icy Field has exercised his bulldosinc
propsnstiss on him. and failed either to
fhghtsn OF confuse him into making q
single contradictory statement. His
story II . plain. unvarnishsd one. Hs
denies the statement Of Maddox, that he
authorized him to negotiate with either
party for the sale Of the Returning
Board. or nxsd the price Of his trsach-
cry at n million dollars. He denies
the story Of Li,tlshsld. that he requested
that immaculate individual to falsify the
returns from Vernon Parish. And his
dsnials are made 90 explicitly. and in
such . straightforward manner. that
they bear the impress Of truth ON their
face. and must carry conviction to the
mind Of any unprsjudicsd man who
reads or hears them. They are the
statements Of . man whom all the world
has hitherto regarded as Venerable.
against those Of a confessed forgsr Tilt.
tlshsld). and a convicted swindler and
perjursr In the past, (Maddox).
The letter. which have been produced
a. evidence to prove that Wells was en-.
gagged In q conspiracy to sell the vote Of
Louisiana. would seem to require no
explanation, as by tho most strained
construction possible to give them, they
have no bearing whatever on the ques-
ton. stil. Governor Wells does sx-
plain them. and tells how aud why he
came to write them. This man, Mad
dor. Il seems. presented himself to him
as . Government agent, and rs Wells
wished somebody TO 60 TO Washington
and represent the condition Of affairs in
Louisiana to the President. he fixed upon
Maddox as q proper and available per.
son. Accordingly. he addressed the fol-
lowing very harmless letter to Maddox /:
NEW 0nLxAss. November 20. is7G.-Mr.
J.. II. Maddox. New Orleans-Dear Sir /: |
Understanding the political condition Of
matters here from association with both
political parties. and being . friend OF the
President and Government officers, would
10 not DO considered ~ part Of your duty
10 60 at once to Washington, with a. little
delay a. possible. and place before tho
President the condition and impending
danger Of the situationp should you con-
clude on prompt action in the premises,
allow me 10 commsndyo W toSenator West,
Who 10 my friend, and with whom you will
freely communicate. Yours, very truly. |
J.. MADISON WILLS.
What there II in the above note tend
ing to implicate Governor Wells in a
conspiracy OF the kind charged against
him by Maddox. we fsilto see. In order
to aid him in approaching the President,
and facilitate the business on which he
was going. Wells also gave to Maddox n
letter Of introduction to Senator West
Of Louisiana. Here Is that famous let
ter in which Democratic rsforusrs have
been 80 quick to fnd evidence Of
Governor Wells corruption. Can any
man read 1t in the light Of CON-
mon sense. and see in 1t anything
but the production Of a pure patriot,
bent on seeing TO II that the people Of
his State were not cheated out Of their
rights by the use OF Democratic money!
NEw ORLEANS. Nov. 81. 1s7G.-My Dear
senator: I regret much moi seeing you
when here. I wanted TO say much TO You
which would be at least imprudsnt 10 put
on paper. I trust, however, to meet you
In Washington a. soon rs tho canvass is
over which IL upon US. Our duties ~
Returning Officers have augmented with
the magnitude of the destiny VI the two
great parties--may I not say tho nation ,
I fully comprehend the situation. a. well
- my duty 10 the greatest living General
u. y. Grant-and not with my consent
shall this oppressed people be governed by
his paroled prisoners. aided by the white
livsrsd towards Of the North. Let me,
my esteemed sir. warn you Of the danger.
Millions have been sent here and will be
used In tho interest Of Tilden. and unless
. COUNTER movement IL made II will be Inn
possible for me-. or any other individual, to
arrest Ito productive results. The gentle
man presenting this letter II fully aware
Of the moves. and. II you allow. will COM
municate freely 10 our friends. Act
promptly or the results will be disastrous.
A word to the wise. istrictly private and
confidential.) Yours very truly,
j. MADISON WELLS.
To Hon. J. II. West, Washington.
That Maddox took advantage OF being
in possession Of these two letters, be-
-tIayed the trust reposed in him. and did
attempt to make money for himself.
by negotiating the sale Of the State,
there is no doubt. Such proceedings
are perfectly in harmony with the mans
character, as developed during q life
time Of fraud and deception. lie be-
t.ayed his friends in the rebel army
for money. Why should he deal
more lsnisutly with Governor Wells,
q man who was always true TO
the Union. aud n bitter and
avowed enemy Of the rebel aase. which
he had followed But the fact that he
tried to get money on the strensth OF
Governor Wells name, Is by no means
to be taken rs duplicating the latter in
his movements. Indeed, Senator West
declared in the Senate yesterday that he
autographed to Wells. asking what
authority this man had, and the answer
came back as quickly as the wires could
bring IL: "He has no authority what:
ever" This evidence alone should at
once explode the charge that Wells was
In collision with Maddox to sell the
vote Of Louisiana.
The whole matter, sifted down. is
reduced to this: Maddox saw a chance.
or thought he saw one. to make money.
Hs npproached both parties, and exhib-