Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-30
The Outrageous Investigation


The Outrageous Investigation
The Teller committee to inyestigate ih,.
"Sou.bern Outreges" uIder the Blaine reaoyu.
ton, met on Saturday evening, under call is.
sued BY the Chairman, in The expectation that
communication would be received from Com.
rtrocr Porter, reviewing aud reversing his ro-
cent opinion as to the availability ci the 800.
900 appropriation Of last session. There were
present Senator's Taller, Cameron. CT Wiscop
slt; Kirkwoot, Garland ard Bailey. The
Chairman laid before the committee COPY of .
letter addressed By him to tho COMPTROLLER on
the subject Of the difficulty which has arisen
from the use CT the word said" il The second
section Ct The act Of June l9, 1878, whoa
limits the uso Of the appropriation to deira3ire
the expenses CT said Investigations and isquiries
as have already been or Ecy hereafter be dir:ct
ed by the Senate Sir. Teller coatends that
said was an er1or f.r 'lucb," SIS written by
Senator Ednun3s, and has urged the poirt
upon Comptroller Porter. Secretary Shermav,
in order to ascertain his duty in tic :ramises
consulted the Attorney GeIcrs,,'s ofFc,, and
has had reply from Acting Attorney S. l..
Phillips. Attorney General Da7eus being al
sert ia Boston. Mr.. Phillips contends that a.
the word said" followed as it is by the word
as" is solecisn, the said" should be con.
s,ruad tc mean ''sueh.' and that, therefore,
the appropriation 10 question IS available for
auy purpos, to Ehi,h the Senate mag choose 70
apply it.
Although Tho letter Ct Judge Porter, Ers,
Comptroller CT the Treasury, Wss not received
by the committee 10 to the time ct ia aCiouca.
neot, it was written o. Saturday. 10 1t he
adheres to his former opiGjoD ibet the $4,000,
approximation Garnet be used hy the Teller
courlttee.
MI. Phillips decision viii oos5ia the commit.
tee, however, 10 use The $4,000, notWith~
ssaoing the opinion Of lho E!rst Comptroller.
hir. Teller also laid before lie committee the
letter received By him from Senator BIaioe III
response 70 their recent resolution ard it was
placed CD file without action for the present
The Chairman stated 10 reply to an Inquiry CT
yet been rec; ivtd fyom Secator Thurman. 10
WHOM a sni!ar resolution (ceferliog to HI,
amea dmsut) Vas colnmUnic.!ea q. tie same
time.
The following IS copy Of Mr.. Bsiue's
letter:
WASHINGTON, D: G., 23d Dec, 1873.
Hon. H. u Teller, United States Senate,
Chairman Select Committee. DC:
Dear Sir: | have this mora:ng received your
favor enclosing the following resolution adopted
by your committee, VIZ:
Resolved, Thst Hoe. JANIS G. E!aiue,
tic mover e t5e resolution, bs requested 10
specify il wiring the particular class or tfauis,
outragea AMI Vl0.eDGo committed as the rcc3Gt
cleciioCs. which tie coin: icice is expected 10
Investigate, aal 10 furnish such iotorLn atlcu
and cvidcyce as 1Day b. in ka possession, aud
the nancs G. w:;ucSsta lie .aay wish to b. *
aUiGe1.
Ii csonot, OF c;u1se, be the purpose of your
bonurabIe com nitter TO limit &c Investigation
to any particular cic:s c? frauds, cu:raacs and
yioleoce c5Driteti ia tie rec,u5 c:ec.i3Gs that
msy bc "spccli,li' bT tue. The resolution Is
the action CT the Senate, sp'Gkln2 almost
unanimously. AID it IS oct ter ne 10 say
| what your conn,ttoo is 'sxpccfed to lnTe7u
gate beyocd wH=t i: expressed II inc Ees2'u
tiol itself IL very explicit terms. ~ would Dc
gross assumption in Ec to '5p:ctJ where inc
Seoato itself has directed Bat anxioa5 10 IddI'
cate aoy details that may expedite the labor;
of the COMMITTEE will cai! your attebtoa
especialIy to be tissue ballot frauds ia South
carolina 10 the awi Of that State which made
free vo.Dg imposs:5a 10 ceTtaio countics; 10
tic practice in that State o! breaking W oil
meetings held to oppose tie democratic party,
unless democratic speakers we're allowed to
take part io the discrS>ioa:; end to all the meth
obs By which in Sumter and other counties
fail and free election vas prevented. in LJC-
isieaa invite yGuF altcut!on tO;h2 murders 10
Teusss Paris, ca election day, and TO the
frauds committed 10 the SAGE ; % the frauds
aud outrages upon tiia ballot ia the city or New
Orleans and evan While l Wtiic, to tie alleged
assassination Of Two WITNESSES ca their way TO
the U1itcd States Ccur. TO testify against those
uho had robbed them 0t thcir rights On the
Gsy ct election.
| could make further specification IN these
two Stats, nDI IN other southern States, tut
| hava not time. | EN- jus: leaving for New
Eoglald, ard al c;mpci!ci 10 postpone fuller
details until attcr 10Y return. Among the VII
rcsscs | wcuid Iamo ere jag. b. Campbell, T..
w. ii. Mackey and G. 6. MeumingcT, 0!
South Caroiioa Gov. Nichols, bis agent. COL
Zachary CO Chet justice Ludelirg, OF Lou
isans Hon. Rcrbia Davis. or Missssppl;J },
Cole Davis. Of Helena, AK, a1d the editor
Of the A7alsachc democratic paper publish
cd il Memphis, 1cla. But bag especially 10
refer ytu to large nass cf valuable iutOrma
ton in the chic, c" tie Attorney General o!
the United States. already called Tor b7 tie
Senate. and econ, / prcsrnc. to be laid before
ycur committee. rhis ia official 10 its ehara'
ter, and, in macy c.,ca. his he weight cad
value Ct legal csiGence. oct rGquiTiog further
examination ii witnesses to authenticate and
co16lm it. Ia c!icribg the resolution in to-
Senate / di! DO: assume the part ct pubic
prosecutor, but especial; dcc'iaea ary sutl
service. The Invitation CT your ;lonorah!e
committee, horc7er, Is olo w:.ic1 | can1o:
disregard, au! on he re2slemhllGg ci CoogIsGss
shall from tine TO tine lag such toci5 before
you aud make such Suggestions IS D5y seal,
10 constitute full end far c2u2lianca win ai
the requirements c! ycur resolution. Nl'h
great respect, YOUR otrdien! servant.
}. G. BLAINE
Tia The digit cod f!equertiy coHtraced
that fioa.;y uude:mincs !be system. U5e bf;