The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-08-15

ficates of louisiana In conversation with
Foster he said it was strange that not Repub.
lican vote was cast 10 East Feliciana, In my
conversation with Senator Conkling L told him
1 thought hayes a very fair man and that he
bad told me he would be President of all the
United States or not at all. l detailed to the
Senator all my conversation with Hayes.
Conklipg replied, 81 am opposed to all this
sort of thing. Ii Hayes is elected he should
get it without any concessions to Louisiana,
and if he is not elected he should not get in at
ALL" In conversation will several gentlemen,
1 remarked that the cTookedness of the Return
ing Board in Louisiana was go bad and glazing
that even Republicans had to disavow all con-
nection with This applied to the previous
elections. We understood the military were
to be withdrawn after the 4th of March and
that they would be let down easily bnt they
wonld bs let down.
General Butler-Who do YOU mean by
"they?'
Ans.-The Packard government. There was
committee appointed to go down to Louisiana
and we all knew very we'll they were intended
simply to let the Packard government down
easily. 1t looked better, you know.
This ended Roberts testimony.
Tesiimsny of Reporter.
John E. Leet, reporter of the New Orleans
Times, testified About 1872 he was engaged
in getting up facts and evidence in support of
the Kellogg government to lay before Congr So.
Other people made affidavits and witness COM
piled them. There were endless commissions
and committees and calls for more evidence
Democrats with Warmoth had swindled us
Republicans out of all the bast offices and then
traded off to the Returning Board in 1872 to
get them to count in Kellogg. Witness was to
get the best office not traded off already. and
picked out the Office of harbor master. Never
went near the office except to draw the pay
Was constantly associated with Kellogg. Lost
confidence in Gov Kellogg when 1 was re-
moved. then got a position in the State
Senate as clerk. Kellogg's excuse for all his
raised, and could not do what he wanted with
his patronage. He was situated just as Hayes
is now. The Returning Board of 1872 was not
the same as the board of 1876 Witness be-
lieves Anderson was on both Witness was af-
forwards tax collector in small town, which
he traded off for seat in the convention that
nominated Packard in 1876 The convention
was held after the Cincinnati convention that
nominated Hayes Witness was opposed to
Packard, and Kellogg wanted him to spring
the nomination of Williamson. Kellogg pre-.
tended to support Packard before the conven-
ton, but he never intended for him to be nom
mated.
Roberts Recalled.
Roberts was recalled and Butler said. When
did you hear of the appointment of the
McVeagh commission?
A-About the Goth of February 1 think L
others, and the question of letting down Packard
people easily came up. Then a committee with
q majority of Republicans on it was suggested.
Major Irving and others said it was capital
idea. The idea was thatia committee sanction
ed by the President and secretary of states
would make the Republicans in Louisiana
yield and and give the State to the Nichols
government 1t was we II understood that the
committee was under official instructions.
Q-By Butler-Then you looked on the COM
mil ion fhnrn n fopo
A-Well not exactly.
Q-But no matter what the evidence and
state of facts were the commission had come
to predetermined conclusion?
Ayes sir we understood it so.
CIT was predetermined that one govern
ment was to be let down easy?
A-That's it.
Q-Then Democrat was put on the conn
n a ss-es s. We Nv wanted cool and collected
nen on the commission, who would let US
now how they were doing.
Witness said he supposed that the President
II secretary of state was aware of the objects
md instructions of the commission.
Q-Then on your own showing and on
evidence that Nichols was elected and
Packard was not, and on the decision of the
commission should it not have been decided by
hem, also, that Tilden was elected and Hayes
not?
A-Undoubtedly as Tilden got nearly theS
same majority as Nichols
Witness said he understood that after
Hayes Inauguration this commission would be
sent down to break up the Packard govern
ment.
Witness said: We were well prepared for
trouble. We had determined that come what
might we would have no collision with the
United States troops. 1t was determined not
to recognize the Packard government at all.
There Is no doubt in the mind of the people of
Louisiana that neither Packard nor Kellogg
were elected governors, although Kellogg
served as governor for four years. We had
determined to take the state government by an
armed force from those who held it by forms of
law. We did not contemplate any conflict
with the federal power. The people of the
state and the courts recognized on the 4th of
March, 1876, the Nichols government. The
the state house and some six acres in the vicin-
lty thereof. The militia amounted to 5000, all
OF whom were true to Nichols.
Question by Gene Butler-Then with Pack
ard with only 70 men and Nichols 5000 to OPP
pose him, it took the solemn commission COM
posed OF four prominent Republicans and one
prominent Democrat fifteen days to break him
down?
Ayes sir. I understand that Kelloge's
credentials for the Senate were laid on the
table by Messrs. Hoar, Dawes and Burnside
voting with the Democrats. Witness said the
only assurances he received lat the Packard
government would be let down easy were from
Messrs. Matthews, Foster, Garfield and Denni-
SUI, ana ne tnought Mr.. Evarts.
Leet Recalled.
Mr.: Leet was sthen recalled and said the
members OF the returning board in 1876 were
lne same as In 1874 with one exception. In the
census of 1875 it was deemed advisable to
swell the census of the colored people as high
as possible SO that the basis of registration
;ould singh az every colOred man was I'M
ierstood to be Republican. The Democrats
gn0re that census as a fraud.
Witness w fol RI nd 1orc
census, meaning the large colored contingent.
they told me, said witness, to find them no
natter how did it. 1 refused to do so. The
'nly honest count was taken in my parish
Y hich showed an increase of whites and de- |
'rease of colored people.
J.E. Anderson Called.
Here j. E. Anderson, who was on the stand |
llready, was recalled by Mr.. Potter, who hand.
I'd him the following letter which he ide ntified
IS having been received from P. B. Darrell.
The letters IS. M. and H." in the letter he
aid meant Sherman, Matthews and Harlan.
MORGAN CITY, La May -.
(Private)
My Dear Sir.-I have your favor of a late date
nd am pleased to hear from you. Marks has INV
asses to use coming home, but will send them as
DON as get them. hone he will be appointed but
6p III nor anything else that is decent from
end Packard away and turn over everything else to
ur enemies in the party which will ensure Demo-
refer to have such people against me. If conclude
run =! can be elected without patronage and pre-
9r it. 1 suppose M. did what he could, but thew
vidently don't think you will do anything. Your
,tter taken with your sworn evidence directly i'm
Heating 5. M. d FL. is valuable Use it discreetIy
ut don't spare them, as except NJ they are the most
nmitigated sconndrelsI ever met miserable
ypocritical psalm-sayng cold-blooded set, whom it
ouid be doing the country service to expose
Write me fully, but be discreet. Send papers to
lrs. ID. if you can without trouble Am glad Laura
better. We both send love to her. Write often
Truly, &C., &C.,
(SignedD g. DARRELL
James e. Anderson, Philadelphia, Pa.
The committee then adjourned.