The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-09
THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.
Responses of Senators Blaine and Thurman
to the Call of the Committee for Evidence.

Responses of Senators Blaine and Thurman
to the Call of the Committee for Evidence.
Mr.. H. Nj Teller, United States Senate Chairman of
Senate Committee, etc.
DEAR SIR: / have this morning received your
favor nclosing the following resolution adopted
by your committee:
Resolued That the Hon. James G. Blaine, the
mover of the resolution, be requested to specify in
writing the particular class of frauds outrages,
and violence committed in the recent elections
which the committee is expected to investigate, and
to furnish such information and evidence as may be
in his possession, and the names of witnesses he
may wish to be examined.
It cannot, of course, be the purpose of your
honorable committee to limit the investigation
to any particular class of frauds, outrages and
violence committed IN the recent elections that
may be "specifed by me. The resolution is
the action Of the Senate, speaking almost unan-
imously, and it is not for me to say what your
committee is expected" to investigate beyond
what is expressed in the resolution itself in very
explicit terms. It would be gross assumption
in me to sspecify" where the Senate itself has
directed.
But, anxious to indicate anv details that NAV
expedite the labors of the committee, will call
your attention specially to the tissue-ballot
frauds in South Carolina; to the laws of that
State, which made free voting impossible in GER
tain counties; to the practice in that State Of
breaking up all meetings held to oppose the
Democratic party unless Democratic speakers
were allowed to take part in the discussions,
and to all the methods by which in Sumter and
other counties full and free election was pre-
vented
In Louisiana [ invite your attention to the
murders in Tensas parish on election day, and
to the frauds committed in the same; to the
frauds and outrages upon the ballot in the city
of New Orleans, and, even while write. to the
allege dassassiDations Of two witnesses while on
their way to the United States Court to testify
against those who had robbed them of their
rights on the day of election [ could make
further specifications in these two States and
in other Southern States, but have not time
I am justleaving for New England, and am COM
PEELED to postpone further details until after my
return
Among the witnesses would name are James
B. Campbell, E. ". M. Mackey, and G. G. MINI
minyer of South Carolina Gov. Nichols; his
agent, Col. Zachary; ex-Chief Justice Ludeling,
of Louisiana; the Hon. Reuben Davis of Mis-
sissippi; J. Cole Davis, of Helena, Ark. !; and
the editor of the AvaIanche, Democratic paper
published in Memphis, Tenn. But beg espe-
cially to refer you to large mass Of valuable
information in the office Of the Attorney Gen
eral of the United States, already called for by
the Senate, and soon, presume, to be laid be-
fore your committee. This is official in It's
character, and in many cases has the weight
and value of legal evidence, not requiring fur
Their examination of witnesses to authenticate
and confirm it.
In offering the resolution in the Senate I did
not assume the part of Public Prosecutor but
especially declined any such service. The in
vitation of your honorable committee, however,
is one which cannot disregard, and on the re-
assembling of Congress / shall from time to
time lay such facts before you and make such
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and fair compliance with all the requirements
of your resolution. "
With great respect, your obedient servant,
j. G.. BLAINE.