West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-09-07
The House Committee on Election
Frauds

Y
the census of 1875 for New Orleans was
fraudulent and in the interest of the Repub.
lican party, by increasing the negro vote
$4,000 and that the State was carried for
Nichols BY 1900 majority and for Tilden
by about 5000.
Witness said unusual pains were taken
by the Democrats to prevent intimidation.
Intimidation Of votes all came on the Re-
publican side.
q. What was the course of the board in
regard to ex parte affidavits? A. They FIRST
d cided not to receive any such, but after
ward changed their opinion and received
ex parte atidavits from the Republican
side of the house; and then again when the
Democratic affidavits were sent IN, they
changed their ruling again, and refused to
receive them. IL was the Odd OF November
before we had any opportunity to receive
| protests. When we handed in large bodies
| of ex parte affidavits the board refused to
receive them, and said witnesses should be
present, and on producing large number
of witnesses, the board only examined
few oil them. This put the Democrats to
great trouble, owing to the distances Of
some of the parishes. The total vote of the
! State of Louisiana in 1876, was 161 l49. or
nearly ninety per cent. of the registered
| voting population. He saw And erson on
Sunday morning, in a restaurant. Witness
was in company with Mr.. Guthro, and
on the other side of the restaurant Mr.
Sherman and Mr.. Stoughton were sit.
ting. Witness spoke TO Anderson for a
moment, but did not see Anderson
speaking to Sherman or Stoughton
Anderson told witness that he had
signed something in the nature of protest,
but he was under the influence of liquor
when he signed it, and could prove that
Anderson told him that in consideration for
what he had done Tor the Republican party,
they had promised him tie naval office. In
an interview with Anderson about the 10th
of November, he stated to witness that he
| was in possession of documentary and
other evidence that would prove
conspiracy by the Republican party
TO throw out the five bulldozed
parishes of East FelicianA, Wachita, Moore.
house, Richland, and Fast Baton Rouge
! lie further said he could secure us the
| parish of East Feliciana, but that he was
poor, and If he did so would probably be
thrown into prison on trumped up charges.
lie agreed, II we paid him four thousand
, dollars, and one thousand dollars after the
count was declared, to recall bis protest.
His proposition was considered and ac-
cepted, as we didn't think there was
any wrong in procuring evidence to
\ show Republican frauds and rascality. The
| proposition would have been carried out
! but for the fact that we had no money
| In answer to a question by Mr.. Stronger
| the witness said he had interviews with
| many other Republicans regarding Louis.
lana matters, besides those mentioned in
/ were Wadleigh, Howe, Frye, West Cam
! eron, and several others. Witness con.
/ tinuing: IL was also communicated 10
| Governor Nichols that there was a deter.
/ mination to exact two Republican United
/ states Senators from the Nichols Leg
| isiature in consideration for the yielding
| mp of the State. This was what chiefly
/ brought him to Washington. IL was learned
/ that leading Republicans close to the
administration in power came 10 the con-
! clusion that bayOnet rule could not be main.
I tanned in Louisiana, and that they were
\ willing TO abandon Packard II they could
strengthen their power in the United states
/ Senate These facts were communicated to
witness on his arrival in Washington.
/ w. +. Horwe was next Examined, but de-.
clined 70 answer questions as TO his con.
terences with Governor Young and HAYES
because he had acted i'm the capacity Of
! legal adviser. A dispatch, by agreement.
was finally sent % Governor Young, asking
him 70 release the witness from his profes.
sional objections OF secrecy.
August 81, Major T.. A. Burke again took
the stand. BY mutual agreement, said the
! witness, friends were to visit Gen. Grant
/ with q view OF asCer aiming what his views
were on the question OF the establish.
ment OF he Nichols government, but there
was nothing said, as lar as ! am aware,
about any comm ssiOu. was assured
by Mr. Hayes and others that all The
I troops would be Withdrawn. Witness read
from some paper, which he had In his pos.
session, lia' here was a letter from Mr..
/ Hayes o Mr. Foster, under da'e Of Febru.
1 airy %, containing the basis oi guarantees
and assurances, and verbal guaran ees Of
| Messrs. Sherman, Mathews, Eos er, Den.
| nisou, and Garfield, both az the interview
| which was held in the committee room
ol the Senate, and at WOrmley's Hotel.
This letter embraced eli the guarantees
and assurances we bad. Said the
| witness, acted az messenger myself. and
| we did not scratch Tilden until The party
shook him. gave the copy intended for Mat.
I thews n Sherman, whom ! met on the stairs
leading 70 the Finance Committee room.
never stated that received any letter of rs.
surances from Sherman and others nj the
conference. Major Burke said fo hia
knowledge, there was no note or
memorandum in writing. DO met
Poster subsequently at bis room hut
there vas nothing OF any conversation com.
United ~ writing. General Butler entered
into cross-eNaminatiOu for the purpose Of
drawing out Of witness the statement that
Mr. Hayes had entered into = personal bar.
gain but witness denied be ever told any
one hr. Hayes DO person had authorized
guarantees Or assurances
J. r. Alcee GraLthreaux, OF New Orleans.
who bad charge OF the Repatriation BBrean
in 1874. was called on August ~ and tsst
fed that his Bureau ascertaiucd that tho
number ~ fraudulent reQisfrafi0ns ia Nee.
. Orleans amounted 20 fhfeteen tbons4,t