The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-30
TIE BLAINE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. BIainc's Reply TO the Committees
Request for Witnesses

Mr. Biainc's Reply TO the Committees
Request for Witnesses.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-At a meeting of the
Teller Blaine Committee to day, letter from Mr..
Blame was laid before the members 1t was address
ed to Chairman Teller, and is as follows:
Dear Sir:-I have this morning received your favor
enclosing the following resolution adopted by your
committee, viz:
Resotoed, That Hon. James G. Blaine the mover
OF tue resolution be requested to specify in writing
the particular class OF frauds outrages and violence
committed in the recent eections which the mmit-
tee is expected to investigate. and to furnish such
Information and evidence as may be in his possession
AMI th- names of the Witnesses he may wish to be
examined.
1t cannot Of course be the purpose of your honora
BILE committee to limit the investigation to any par
tcuar class of frauds, outrages and violence commit
ted in the recent elections which may be specified by
me- The resolution is the action of the Senate,
speaking almost unanimously and it is not for me to
say what your committee is expected" to inyesti-
gate, beyond what is expressed in the resolution il.
self in very explicit terms. 1t would be gross as
sumption in me to specify' where the Senate itself
has directed but anxious to indicate any details
which may expedite the labors of the committee, 1
will call your atteL ton specially to the tissue ballot
frauds in South Carolina; to the laws of that State
which made free voting impossible in certain coun-
ties; to tue practice that State of breaking up all
meetings held to oppose the Democratic party, un'
less Democratic speakers allowed to take part in
the discu sion; and to all methods by which in Sum-
ter and other counties full and free election was
prevented.
In Louisiana invite your attention to the MUIR
ders in the Tensas parish election day, and to
the frauds committed the same day. to the frau is
and outrages upon the ballot in New Orleans, and
w 7 prifof 70 aa1Iau ~
two win sses on their way to the United States
Court to testify against those who had robbed them
of their rights on the day of election.
I could make further specifications in these two
States and in other Southern States, but have not
time. am just leaving for New England, and am
compelled to postpone further details until after my
return.
Among the witnesses would name are James B.
Campbell, E. W. M. Mackey and G. G. Memminger
of South Carolina; Gov. Nichols his agent, Col.
-zaasasyyex- ehief Justfce Ludeing of Louisiana
Hon. Reuben Davis of Mississippi; j. Cole Davis of
Helena, Ark and the editor of the Avalanche, a
Democratic paper published in Memphis Tenn. but
beg specially to refer you TO the large of valu-
able information in the Office of the Attorney Gen.
eral of the Uni'ed States, Already called for by the
Senate. and soon 1 presume to be laid before your
committee This is official in it's character, in many
CdcoS having the WelgnG anu value or legal evidence,
and requiiug no further examination Of witnesses to
authenticate and confirm it.
In Offering the resolution to the Senate l did not
assume the part of public Prosecutor but especial
ly declined any such service, The invitation OF your
honorable committee, however, is one which 1 can
not dsreg ard, and on the re-assembing of Congress
shall fiom time to time lay such facts before you
and make such suggestions as mayseem to constitute
full and fair compliance wi all the requirements Of
your resolution JAMES u BLAINE.
The Question Of Expenses.
Acting Attorney G neral Phillips decides that the
word said" in the second section of the act appro-
pIating 500 600 for nvesgati OF frauds, Etc., is
solecism, and is intended to mean "such :" Conse-
quently the act empowers the Blame com mittee to
use the $4,000 for its expenses.