Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-30
MIX. JOHN RAY TELLS HIS LITTLE
STORY.
CLERk LrrTLEFsILD EXAMINED.
The com MITTEE ADJOURN TO
AUGUST 18th.

After being sworn Palmer testified that on The
Is Ia of November 1876, he went to New Orleans
aud Was chairman OF the visiting committee.
After their organization be called on Governor
Kellogg, also on Governor Wells, and had full
aud lee conversations with him. He talked with
Kellogg on the state OF affairs. Knew seversl
colored people in New ORR, ans, whom he saw
when there aud explained to them the reason for
his visit He urged them the necessity for filing
the vacancy 10 the returning board.
lie talked with Governor Wells and General
Anderson and urAed on them that a civil war
might f. lie W this matter OF the presidential cleo
uon Governor Wells professed and felt great
dislike for the local louisiana politicians of the
democratic parry, and his urwilngness to nil the
vacancy IN the returning board. The witness
stated to bin thai the feeling IN the northern
states was that the returning board should be
gained.
Win, - then saw Anderson, and he told him
(falmerl the board WAS unable 10 agree. w ltness
met Andeson on the street shortly after his arri-
val ami he always expressed desire TO i'll The va
caby, but that he was unable to agree with the
other members ~ to who should ill the vacancy.
The democrats Of New Orleans claimed the right
TO name the party for The vacancy on the board.
Witness urged on Governor Wells that It WAS n
duty owed 10 the county that the vacancy should
be filed
lie devoted a good deal of his time to the color
ed people III different portions Of the state. Some
OF theL. were brought 10 him from Washington
and Louisiana and other states. lie usually had
conversations nth them alone. lie thought he
had conferred with probably one hundred color ell
men. and his belief that the negroes were be-
ing disregarded IN the politics OF Louisiana Some
oil these conferences were IN the presence of his
conieIes and others were alone.
Witness found that IRON tue statements of some
OF the colored men that many of the parishes had
been good deal Disturbed. Their school money
had been used up and the democratic politicians
had made many prom se- TO them il they would
vote the democratic ticket, The democrats had
made extraordinary efforts TO capture the colored
vote.
Governor Nichols had obtained the respect of
the colored people down there III ,re than any 9th
er governor be knew of and more than Governor
Packard.
Witness had conference with Gen. Garfield, in
which ne urged the coalition of the two delega
tons rs to lay the facts before the country.
Gen. CARTEL was present on one occasion when
the witness had interviews with the colored PEG
pie from Washington. Joseph otevensen was
present with witness during some of these confer
ences.
Witness was present at the sessions of the re-
turning board, all that were open. The plan OF
the board was to lay aside ali disputed parishes
and take up the undisputed ones.
On he 20 of November, witness asked the
boa when the returns from any parish were
polled that he be given the result but they would
not do 50 until they were all completed.
The protests that were entered after the returns
were fled the democrats claimed shou Id not be
considered. Governor Packard filed protest
which embraced sixteen parishes.
Witness asked permission from Gov. Wells to
enter the compiling room. Witness thought some
republicans had access to that room. He thought
he saw Mr.. Hale coming out of there.
John Kay, official counsel for the board. Wit
ness was shown the consolidated returns. Was
lawyer by proiessisn and lis opinion of the pro-
ceedings of the board was that very little was
done lie thought the work of the board was to
receive the returns, ahidsvits and protests There
were Lo arguments. They would not have the
papers read to them but required them to be filed
..l aIa tha h,u
about the mamie in which their proceedings were
carried on. but this produced no effect.
1t was on Sunday evening witness heard az
matter of Iumor that the HAYS electors had been
chosen. lie did not remember that the result OF
the gubetnAtorial election was announced
lie saw Eliza Pinkston wnen she brought
into the room by two men. and her condition was
horrible. The witness then went to the democrat
&c hoard room. ami some of the persons there
whom she had accused IN her charges. They said
If they given an opportunity before the board
they would Prove taeit innocence.
Littleheld testified that he was the clerk in the
returning baarl Was second clerk and also ex-
amt er of returns. The republican visiting |
statesmen were seen by the witness often. They
were generally at the returning board when the
witness was there.
Witness not where the afiidsvits were pre- |
pared or d. aited. They were lodged with nlted |
States Comm ssIOnei " ooltiey.
1t WAS about the seventh Of December when the |
witness lefi Louisiana He had heard Nj. Arch |
say that Judge Levisse had stated that the
election was fraud, and that if he could have |
500 900 he would give his vote TO Iilden
Palmer of the opinion that the people of
Louisiana took less interest in the presidential
election than IN their own affairs. lie had talked
with all clsss e. on The subject. He thought the |
white people were unn in favor of the Nichols |
government, outside of New Orlt ans. There was
DO organization among the colorod people, aud
they could not be relied ON TO furnish physical |
supDort TO any party.
Witness unde stood there was a skeleton. mil |
lily organization down there which could have |
been broug ht to fu etioit by the beat Of drum
His bt lief that they meant to resist enough to
compel the military govern ment to take control OF
the state.
The general expression of opinion WAS that the
returning board could have unner-l audlngly and
bobsistebty passed on the work before them in
the time they had spent on 1t. His impression was |
that If the board had taken the report Of parish |
and passed on it and laid il by they would have |
saved Ii tie time but the dut es they discharged
required all the time they had The members of
the board were republicans. OF their party con |
necton wltues. said that Packard on account of
his previous career had in Louisiana had made |
himself obnoxious to many public men.
Ii the witness we're a-ked If the election in |
Louisiana was fair he would say The sense
OF the people there WAS that TI,den and Nichols |
were elected.
He had heard Of prosecutions against the
parties charged with committing the Pinkston
outage. lie said to Gov. Wells aud Gen. Ander- |
son that the Tiden electors were chosen, but |
that they might on a fair consideration of the |
question come to ad II rent conclusion, but that
tins conclusion should he arrived at evidence |
that could be cl arly brought before the public.
Witness satisfied himself to the perpetrs'ion |
of the Plnkston outrage ny inquiries, aud he sup
posed that the political parties ny taking the same
means ot inquiry that he did could also have sat
i,hed themselves as to its perpetrators.
lie told Gov. Kellogg that If these t.ings hap |
pened IN Illinois he (wtness) would bring the |
parties to justice or he would leave the State. He
believed the people would have been satisfied with
the Packard government if they thought be had
been fairly ected.
After few unimportant questions, Gov. Palm
er testimony WAS closed and the committee ad- |
juurned to Aug. IL, unless sooner called together
by The chairman, and Mr.. Potter said he WAS not
yet certain but that in all probability the next
ssion of the committee W i'll be held here 10 this
n.tr