Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-30
The presidential Fraud.

ed before the Potter investigating committee,
10 New York, yesterday. Hc testified that on
the 18Th Of November, 1876, he went to New
Orleans, and was chairman OF the democratic
visiting committee. Alter their organization
he called on Governor kellogg. He also called
on General Wells, and had full and free con-
versation With him. He urged the necessity
for filing the vacancy in the returning board.
lie talked with Gov. Wells and Gen. Thos. G.
Anderson. CIV. Wells protested and felt great
dislike for local Louisiana politicians Of the
democratic party and unwiDgness to filing
the vacancy in the returning board, and the
witness stated to him that the feeling held 10
the States was that the returning board should
be ORGANIZED. Witness then saw Anderson,
and be told witness that the board was unable
to agree. Witness met Anderson on the street
shortly after his arrival, and he always ex.
pressed his desire to fill the vacancy, tut that
be was unable to agree with other members as
to who should fill the vacar Democrats of
New Orleans claimed the right to name the
party for the vacancy in the board. lie thought
be had conferred with probably one hundred
colorcd men, aud his belief was that the ne.
eroes were being disregarded in the politics of
louisiana. Some of these conferences were 10
the presence Of his conferrecs. Witness found
that from statements of some colored men that
many CT the parishes had been good deal
disturbed. Their school money had been used
up, aud democratic politicians had made many
promises TO induce them to vote the democrat
ic ticket. Democrats had made extraordinary
efforts to capture the colored vote. Governor
Nichols had obtained the respect OF the color
ed people down there more than any other
Governor he knew Of and more than Governor
Packard. Witness had conferences with Gen.
Garfield 10 which he urged the coalition OF the
two delegations. so as to lay the facts before
the country. % onc occasion Gen. Garfield
was present when the witneo7 had interviews
with coored people from Washington.
MIR. Joseph Stevenson was present with
witness during some Of these conferences.
Witness was present at the sessions Of the re.
turning boarG-al Of them that were Open. The
plan OF the board was to lay aside all disputed
parishes and take UP uadisputel oncs. %
tho 2S:h Of November the witness a! KID the
board Ihtu the returns from any parish were
pocl that he he given the result, but they
would not do 30 until they were all completed.
Protests that were entered after The returns
were filed the democrats claimed should not be
c1nsidercl Gov. Packard filed protest which
embraced sixteen parishes. Witness asked p,r-
mission from Gov. Wells to enter the compiling
room, Witness thought some republicans had
access to that room. lie thought he saw MIR.
Hale coming out Of there. There were several
complaints made to the board about the manner
in which their proceedings were carried 90, but
this produced % effect. H. was on Sunday
evening witness heard az matter Of rum1r
that the Hayes electors had been chosen. lie
did not remember that the result OF the Gubhr.
material election was announced. lie saw EI2a
Pinkston when she was brought into the room
by Two men. and her condition certainly was
horrible. Witness then went to the democratic
board room, and saw some OF the persons there
whom she had accused in her charges. They
said that it they were given opportunity before
the board they would prove Their Innocence.
the witness otter. They were generally at the
returning board when witness was there. Wit
ness was not where aflidaVits were prepared or
drafted. They were lodged with Uoited States
Commissioner Weolfley. 1t was about the Ith
of December when witness left Louisiana. lie
had heard Mr.. Ascher cay that Judge LaVlsce
had stated that the election was fraud, and
that if he could have 500, 900 he would give
his vote 10 Tilden. Witness had conversation
with Cazanave and kerner, two colored men on
tho returniog board. MIR. Palmer gave it as
his opinion that the people in Louisiana took
less interest 10 the Presidential election than in
their own affairs. lie had talked with all
classes on the subject. 1lo thought the white
pooplc were q unit 10 favor of the Nichols
government. Outside Of New Orleans there
Was no organization among the colored
men, and they could not be relied 90 to
furnish physical support TO anybody. Wit.
ness understood that there WAS skeleton OF 3
military organization down there which could
have beon brought 10 full effort by the beat of
3 drum. His belief WAS that they meant to resist
enough to compel the military government to
take control of tho State The general expires.
sion of opinion was that tho returning board
could have understsndngly and conscientiously
thew spent on it. His impression was that if the
board had taken the report of parish and pass
cd on it and laid it by, they would have saved o
little time, but tho duties they had discharged
required al the time they had. Witness said
that Packard on account OF his previous career
in Louisiana, had made himself obnoxious 10
many public men. If witness was asked If the
election in Louisian wss fair. he would say not
The sense of the people there was that Tilden
and Nichols wero elected. He had heard of no
prosecutions against parties charged with COM
hitting tho Pinkston outrage. he said to Gov.
eruor Wells and General Anderson that the
Tilden electors were chosen. but that they might
on q fair consideration Of the question come to
\ different conclusion, but that this conclu.
sion should be arrived at on EVIDENCE that could
be clearly put before the public. Witness testi-
fed himself as to the preparation OF the Pink
the The political parties there, BY taking the same
measures of inquiry that he did, could have al
80 satisfied themselves as to its preparation. dc
told Governor Kellogg that if these things hap
pened in Illinois, he, witness, would bring the
parties to punishment. or he would leave the
State. He believed that the people would have
been satisfied with the Packard government if
they thought he had been fairly elected
After few unimportant questions Governor
Palmer's testimoney WAS closed, and the com.
less sooner called together by the chair, and Mr.
Potter said he was not sure yet but in all probS-