Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-02

get the rest bee suse The parties had scattered in
various directions but came near il as to
make impossible the democratic theory that 2l9
votes had been added. That satisfied me, and
seemed to sati,fy the Canvassing Board. | wish
10 say that no mortal man ever told me while
was in Florida that there was anything irsudu-
lent about that return, except what was sworn to
before the Csnvasslng Board and was made pub
lie. ! mean had no private information derived
ftom any source whatever.
z DO you in that matter honestly ami con-
scIeDtously believe that the return made and ar
gued for by YOU was righ Al believe il
thoroughly, aud say that we made case
which would satisfy any unprejudced court in
Chrislendom.
WHY DENNIS WOULDN'T SWEAR.
OF Dennis's refusal to testify, Mr. Moves gave
the following account:
had already learned that Dennis's life had
been threatened, and that he considered himself
in very great danger. lie had related TO me on
one occasion that when his life threatened be
had called together in church here all the
coiored people IN the vicinity, and he had made
them kneel down and swear that If he was killed
they would lay waste and avenge his death. Re
memberlng what he hat said received the I'M
preston on this occasion that the reason that he
did not testify WAS that he did not want to
bling himself into couhict with those people any
more, especially rs he was himself a candidate
tor the Senate, aud bis own election wa, at stake
That IS the only impression got from him.
THE PROMISES TO Min.
NV Noyes denied emphatically that he I'd ever
made to memoels Of the Return X Board a rom
LIST, OF had ever lntimaled To them a promise, OF
held out Bny inducenlent to have them declare the
State tor Governor HAYES rather than Governor
Illden before the decision had been made
Q.-Did you atterwaidi A.-Yes sir. After
the vote oil flolda had been cast, Mr.. McLin
came 10 me greatly depre ssed, and said that he
did not know what would become of hi IN that he
had 50 excited the hostility OF the democrats that
he could not any longer live in Florida in peace
that he poor and sick and almost IN d,spair
said to him: mi. McLin, you have done your
duty honestly anu fairly, AS | think, and | shall
lake great pleasure IN saying to Governor
Hayes If he shall he declared President of the
United states, and viii take pleasure also iu
recommending you Tor some posltloa where you
can take care of yourself and family" ABOUT
the time was gong away also said to DIR. Cow
gIll. the other member OF the Returning Board
that had been greatly impressed with the hon
esty OF his purpose and manly beariug during the
canvass, ana If could ever be OF any use to him
he could command me freely. | will add that did
more than some politlcians dol kept my word
aud DID recommend both these gentlemen to the
President ana | am sorry they were not appoint
ed to good places. Ii had influence win the
Admiplsti alton, they certainly would have been
appointed.
Q-ENcept as you have stated did not have any
conversation with them at all
A-Nobe, never SAW Mr.. McLin one minute
alone to talk with him on any subject until the
Odd you ever present yourself to either of
these genlemen as the special friend of President
Hayes or seem to convey the impre. SION that
they would be taken care of IN case Hayes wa.
elected previous 10 the canvass be my announced
and finished 7
A-Never
Q-Judge Cooke has stated that on two occa-
sioDs lie went 10 the office of the secretary of
state, found toe door locked, aud after waiting
some time the door Was opened and he discovered
within the room Me,sfs. Dennis and MeI,iu and
that you and Governor otearns were there, and
that rs the door opened GU aud Governor SIearns
lelt tue room.
Al pronounce that an absolute and unaual6
ed school. Mr.. Cooke never waited one min.
ute GU me when the door WAS locked.
Q-Nere you ever IN that room with either of
these gentlemen when tue door was locked,
A-Never. II the door was ever locked when
| WAS II there it Vas locked without nv knowledge
and without any occasion Tor II, for | had no
private conversatloDs which required lock- ed doors
never was alone With Mr.. McLIn or Dr. Cowgirl
III my lille, and never have talked with them about
matters to affect their Judgment.
The witness then produced the original letter
which he received from McLn nearly two months
after the close of the canvass.
Mr.. MOVES Cross EXAMINED.
The cross examination of MIR. Noyes was tn en-
undertaken by the democrats. 1t took place sub.
stantlaily as follows:
BY Mr.. Morrison-In your connection with the
Florida case, you were acting as attorney in
tue interests OF your party and not rs an employ
ed attorney
A-Oh no, sir.
Q-What was the danger you spprehended
when you went
Alt was said that prominent democrats were
gathering III Louisiana, and therefore, promine at
republicans should be sent there To watch what
they old. We were afraid that they were going
to influence the returning board to declare the
count different from what 1t was; Of course, | do
not apply this remark to honorable gentlemen like
yourself CHR. Mo1lson), Judge 1rumbull, Mr..
stevenson, and other gentlemen of 2h char cter.
Q-Didut you remember that on former occa-
slons the same returning board had given evil
dence of It's ability to take of the repubica
psrtyi
Al did not remember it.
Q-When you heard of contests over re turns IL
never raised doubt in your mind hut what Flor
Ida had declared IN favor of the republican ma
tIonal and state ticket
Al believed it had cast its vote for Hayes, and
| believe so still.
Q-And the statements YOU have heard here
before the committee under oath have not shaken
your 0pIuonI
Alt has shaken my opinion as to certain spe-
cine facts IN connection with the election but not
as to the general results in that State. For in
stance, know OF one county where three or four
coloted men bad been seized by the democrats
ropes put around their necks and they were taken
out IN the woods and preparations made TO hang
them up; and finally, upon their kneeliny down
and swearing they would go back and vote the
democratic ticket and electoneer for it, and get
all their friends to do 80, the ropes were taken OF
their necks, and they were permitted to 90 back.
| tried to have the csnvassing board throw out
that county, for It turned out that these men did
their Influence with their colored brethren,
but the board, with the republicans on it, over
ruled me, and it was counted,
Q-Where did you get your information
A-From atfidavits that were made there
Ok parte atidavtsf
Ayes, sir; everything was ex parte down
there. do not mean to say | was present and
the occurrence. Our friends ALWAYS told ne |
that il there had been an honest and fair return
of The votes actually cast, or a fair and free cleo
ton IN Florida the result would have been larg-
majority in favor of Mr.. Hsve4 some of them
stating it as high as 5000 or 5000 majority. |
satisfied myself that MIR. Hsyes had carried the |
State on the face of the returns and was salts
fled by the evidence that those returns were cor |
rect SO far AS the republican vote was concerned
BY Mr. springer-Don't you know that the Wis
iting statesmen impressed the people of Florida
with the idea that tue lace of the returns must
show that tact IN order to have the moral effect
thai was necessary on the country?
A-No, sir. No snch fact came to nv kpowl- |
edge from any source whatever We congratu-
lated ourselves very much that on the face OF the