The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-27

into the room on O sofa. She was very weak, |
and several Democratic visitors expressed
their sympathy, among them Gov. Palmer.
In the election there was very great dlSSaC-
isfaction among Republicans regarding the
nominations, so much so as to debate the
question whether 1t would not be best to pro-
test against Packard's nomination, and sup
port the national ticket alone. believe that
# some one else than Packard had been nomi-
mated, he would have brought out much
larger white vote.
Was in New Orleans when the Sherman
committee arrived. The interrogations to
ness or Gen. White, who, he believed, first
suggested the idea of bringing her to New
Orleans before the Returning Board; Was
also in Louisiana when Mr. McVeigh's
commissioners were down there.
To Mr.. Butler-Am O. lawyer by profession,
but not practicing. Went to Louisiana In
1863. Have been member of the State com
mittee generally. There Is no statute OF lin
itation in the State limiting the time when
man can be prosecuted for murder. In 1869
there were number OF murders committed
in the neighborhood of 1000. Witness how
ever, had no knowledge of but few.
AS general thing, the Republicans had
charge of about twO-thirds of the parishes
under Gov. Kellogg and Warmoth. Don't
think I ever heard OF any conviction for muir
der and the same is true OF the Nichols gov
eminent since the Democrats have been in
Am referring to murders that grew out OF pol
absence of any law, the people took the law
into their own hands.
Called on the visiting statesmen on the day
of their arrival, and saw one or more OF them
every day, they addressed themselves to pre-
pairing evidence within day or two after ar
| rival, in a general way Witness felt that
they were going to make their case according
to law. The result Of the Returning Board
was prOgnOsticated; knew that Packard was
running ahead of the Hayes electors when
we received information from West Baton
Rouge and Iberville. The returns from Iber-
| vile were opened November %.
Mr.. Butler then called attention to the
electoral vote, and attempted to discover
whether, If Kayes was elected, Packard was
not. Nothing, however, but what has already
been printed on the subject was elected
| Witness understood that the visiting states
men went to New Orleans to witness the
count.
By Mr.. Butler-Dont you know that the
matter of these results were figured up and
| communicated to Florida?
| Mr. Morey-NO, sir; not as a matter of
fact Witness did not believe that the results
| from time to time were communicated, but
believed that the general result was COM
muniCated.
To Mr.. Potter-If Florida went against us
the vote Of Louisiana would not have elected
Mr. Hayes.
To Mr.. Butler-And If the vote of Louisi-
ana went against us the vote of Florida would
not have elected him.
Mr. Morey knew that the report of the Re-
turning Board would be as it was, from the
fact that the board looked upon the law as his
colleagues did.
Knew E. L. Weber, but did not remember
where he saw him.
By Butler-If the Hayes electors were
elected, was not Packard elected?
Morey-The count showed that both were
elected. It might have been found that Pack
ard was elected and Hayes not. The Return
ing Board compiled votes for Governor, and
returned them to the Secretary OF State, who
returned them to the General Assembly.
The law regulating the count and return
ing of the several State officials was then
gone over by witness
There is no provision in the laws of Louis
lana to try the question as to who is COVER
nor, except merely by impeachment. No at
tempt was made to impeach Packard. Wit
ness was in New Orleans when the McVe1gh
committee came there. Their instructions
were to preserve the public peace. The COM
mittee expressed great deal OF sympathy
for the Packard government.
The Supreme Court in session on the eighth
of January was appointed by Gov. Kellogg
and confirmed by the State Senate. They
met, In pursuance of law, on the eighth OF
January, and adjourned, out of respect to the
memory of one Of the city judges, and never
came together again, as the courtroom was
taken possession of by a mob that same day.
| None of the members expressed themselves
| that Packard had no legal title as Governor.
The committee wished to get together q
Legislature which in some way would end the
contention or effect some compromise.
Mr. Butler-Are you sure that a commits
sion sent by the authority of the United States
to a sovereign State would compromise with
| a mob?
| Mr. Morey-The commission disclaimed
any special authority, except "advisory."
There were rumOrs about that the members
of the Packard Legislature were being bribed
| to desert to the Nichols government.
The committee adjourned at 4 o'clock, to
meet again tomorrow morning.