The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-06
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.
Evidence of Ex-Supervisor Anderson
Touching the Alleged Louisiana Election
Frauds.

Evidence of Ex-Supervisor Anderson
Touching the Alleged Louisiana Election
Frauds.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The Select Com.
mittee of the House of Representatives to in
vesffgate the alleged frauds in Florida anc
Louisiana In the late Presidential election be.
gan its examinations to day. large mum
Der of newspaper men and others were pres
ent. Messrs. Hunton, Springer and HiscocR
were appointed a subcommittee to go t.
Florida Secretary Sherman was represented
by Messrs. Wilson and Shelabarger as coun-
sci. The examination of James E. Anderson
formerly Supervisor of Registration of East
Feliciana Parish, La, occupied the entire
session. The substance of his evidence
was that the election in that parish
was properly conducted and that he for
warded the returns by mail to the Secre-
tary of State at New Orleans, unaccompanied
went to New Orleans and there had an inter-
view with Marshal Pitkin, who expressed sur
prise that he had sent in his returns unaecom-
panied by any protest, and alluded to q con-
versation held with Anderson previous to the
election, in which the latter said he had been
inundated and driven from the parish. To
this Anderson replied that he did not know
whether the intimidation was from the
Democrats or Republicans, but that he was
willing to make IA statement and swear to
what actually occurred. Such a statement
was thereupon prepared and sworn to. 1t
was to the effect that he Anderson) had heard
of several eases of intimidation, but that he
knew of none of his own personal knowledge.
This document, upon being submitted to
Judge Hugh j. Campbell and other
Republicans, was pronounced worth
less, and Judge Campbell there
upon drew up another protest, based
upon the statements made in the first paper,
but containing several blanks, one of which
was in reference to the number of voters who
had been intimidated. This paper Anderson
signed, but did not swear to, the understand
ing being that he should subsequently fill in
the blanks after due consideration of the
facts In the case. The paper closed with the
statement that he (Andersonl did not make
the protest at the time of making up the re-
turns for fear of his life, this being explained
by witness to the committee as meaning that
if the people of East Feliciana knew that he
going to amd them out OF the
er than Hannah. This protest was made
and signed or the 10th of November, and
witness never saw it subsequently, Marshal
Pitkin informing him, when he asked to see
it, that 1t had gone into other hands. An
derson swears that he then and there pro-
tested to Pitkin and others against
a forged protest, as he suspected was in
contemplation. Anderson and Weber, Su-
pervisor of West Feliciana Parish, had va.
rious consultations about this time as TO the
matter of protest. and the result was the
drawing up and signing of the following pc
culiar document:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. IA, 1s76.-The under
signed, James Z. Anderson, Supervisor Of
and d. A Weber, Supervisor tor the Parish
of West Feliciana, Louisiana, have respect
lively refused to sign any protest against
the counting OF the vote OF our parishes cast
of November, 1876, for the reason
that the election held on that day was the
most peaceable and orderly one ever wit
messed by either, and the large gain made by
the Democrats being secured by legitimate
means and was owing in a great measure to
the disquiet and hatred with which large
of the colored people regard the
present State Government But the Electo
raj vote of Louisiana being necessary to Sc
cure the election of Hayes and Wheeler, and
in order to secure such vote it being neces
and enough Democratic votes in West Felici-
ana parish to make the parish Republican,
we have for this reason, and for no other,
consented to protest against the counting
done this at the instigation and request of s.
b. Packard, candidate on the Republican
ticket for Governor; j. G. r.. Pitkin. U. S.
W. p. kellogg, now Governor of
the State, and Chas. E. Nash, Member of Con-
gress from the Sixth District. and others.
JAMES Z. ANDERSON.
This was signed in our presence Nov. Is,
1876.
[signedl GEORGE DICKS,
A. j. WILDER.
Sworn before me this 18th day of Novem-
Der, 1876, by the within mentioned Jas. E. An
derson and d. A. Weber.
WIN. II. SEYMOUR, Notary Public.
The following, bearing date a week later
than the foregoing, is also presented:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 81, 1S76.-By an arrange
ment entered into this day between James K.
Supervisor of Registration for the
parish of East Feliciana, La, and Charles Z.
Nash, Member of Congress from the Sixth
District of Louisiana, it is
agreed that said Anderson shall suppress
evidence showing that the said parish of
East Feliciana was fairly carried by the Dem
Ocratic party at the election held in Novem-
Der, 1876, thereby electing the entire Demo-
cratic State ticket and Congressman; in con-
Sideration of which the said Nash agrees to
secure to the said Anderson the position of
Naval Officer at the port of New Orleans, La
[Signedl JAMES Z. ANDERSON,
@. L. NASH
The above agreement was signed IN our
presence this 21st day of November, 1875.
[Signedl j. y. TOMLINsoN,
o. 3. MORGAN.
Anderson then gave a detailed account of
alleged TO have taken place at
an interview in New Orleans between Sena-
tor Sherman, Weber and himself, in refer
ence to the protests upon which 1t was Pro
posed to throw out the returns OF the Fel1c1-
ana parishes, Mr.. sherman advising them to
stand firm" and they would find no cause to
regret it, as "the Republican party would not
forget the men who stood by it in the hour OF
PERIL" Not satisfied with the result of this
on the next day Anderson and
Weber addressed the following note to Sen
ator Sherman:
Strive have carefully considered the ar
yuments advanced by you in our interview;
Your assurance that we shall be taken care OF
Is scarcely specific enough In case we pur-
sue the course suggested by yon we would be
obliged to leave the State. WIN you, there
ore, state in writing who we shall look to for
,he fufillnent of these promises?
Respectfully, d. A. WEBER,
JAS. E. ANDERSON.
1t was here proposed to put in evidence
copy of Mr.. Sherman's reply to the above
note, the original of which witness stated
was now or had recently been in the posses
sion of Mr. Stanley Matthews. Objection be-
ng made by Mr. Sherman's counsel Secretary
was sent for, and upon being shown
The paper, swore that he had no recollection
Of ever writing such letter, but that il he
had done so it must have been at the time
when the returning officers first convened
20 open the returns, which was on the ZOth
At that time the papers had not been opened
and he knew very little about the transaction.
The alleged copy of the letter is as follows:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov, 20, lS76.-Messrs. d. A.
WEBER and JAMES E. ANDERSON Gentlemen
Your note of even date has Just been re-
;eived. Neither Mr.. Hayes, myself, the gen.
.lemen who accompany me, or the country
70 large can ever forget the obligations I'M
Ter which you Will have placed us should you
stand firm in the position you have taken.
from long and intimate acquaintance with
Iov. Hayes / am justified in assuming the
for promises made, and viii
after the 4th of March as may be practicable
md in such manner as will enable you both
20 leave Louisiana should you deem it neces-
'ary. Very truly yours,
ISignedl JOHN SHERMAN.
Among the documentary evidence present
ID were several letters from Stanley Mat
news to Secretary Evarts, Gen. Harlan and
,thers, urging the appointment to some Office
If James Z. Anderson; and also letters from
Matthews to Anderson in reference to the
anne matter; communications passing be-
ween Anderson and Weber, etc.
Witness gave a long account OF his inter-
Jews with the President, Senator Matthews
md others in reference to his claims for ap-
continent to office. The position of Consul
20 Funchal was rendered him, but not deslr-
ng to be banished to this far away place, he
declined. He was then promised position In
,he Treasury Department, but wheni 1t came TO
naming the position he found he was to be put
off with Custom house Inspectorship, worth
)nly from So to 81 per day. He then became
indignant and in an interview with Senator
Matthews, witness intimated that the Demo-
Gratis were anxious to get up an investigation
INTO the Louisiana election, that he had coz
siderable documentary evidence that would
be valuable to them in such an event, and
gave him to understand that unless his
claims were fully and speedily recognized he
would not be unwilling to dispose of the doc
lments in his possession. He then present.
I'd as his ultimatum that Darrall be appoint
ID Collector at New Orleans, and that he (An-
ierson) would be provided for under DarraH
TO this proposal Senator Matthews agreed,