Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-20
STATE SECRETS,
AND A FRESH BATCH OF RASCALITY
Connected With the 0dorOus Louisiana
Returning BOard-A Decided and
Vigorous Kick From One
ofthe Members.

. WAsHINGToS, August l0.-On the 7th
day OF the present month the following
letter was written to the President
Of the United States, and was
received by him, in due course of mail,
the day following:
WASHINGTON, August I, 1879.
"MR. PREsIDENT:-I have the honor
to invite your attention to the following
acts upon which l respectfully solicit
such relief as you may be able to offer
me. In 1872 was elected by the State
Senate OF Louisiana a member OF the
Returning Board Of that State. did not
desire or solicit the Office, and L
accepted it with reluctance. In 1876
the grave and responsible duty of de-
termining the result OF the election Tor
President of the United States devolved
upon that Board. Its deliberations were
watched with profound solicitude blythe
whole country, while the leaders of two
great political parties hOvered around 1t,
awaiting the result of its deliberations
with that intense anxiety only known
10 expectants OF the spoils OF public Of
flee. The Board found for the Repub-
licans, and the Democrats, disappointed
and chagrined, at once commenced
criminal proceedings against its MEM
bers. Counsel were employed to de-
fend, at a stipulated fee OF $1,000, which
Mr.. T. c.. Anderson assured me would
be paid out of funds to be sent from
Washington.
AT the conclusion Of the prosecution,
counsel demanded their fee, which, not
being paid, they instituted suit, and
after a hearing in court, obtained judg-
ment against all the members OF the
Board. \ writ of feri fdcjas copy here
with inclosed) issued, directing the
sheriff to seize and sell sufficient prop
erty Of defendants to satisfy the Judg-
ment OF =, 1000, less 81 ,S75. The sheriff,
finding no property belonging to Ander-
son, Wells and Kenner, seized my prop
ertv, and now holds the same subject to
sale under his writ. If my property is
sacrificed under that execution 1t Will
render me bankrupt. am apOor man,
and am unable to sustain such loss.
81 have always assumed full share
OF the responsibility attaching to the
official acts OF the Returning Board, al
though | have never enjoyed any OF the
fruits resulting from its findings; and in
this connection | respectfully remind
YOU that | hold no office under your
Administration, and derived no pc
euniarv benefits whatsoever therefrom,
but on the contrary, have sustained
considerable loss in my business on ac-
count of my identity with the Board.
Messrs. Anderson, Wells and Ken
ner, the other three members,
and their numerous family con-
nections, are enjoying lucra-
tive positions in the employ OF the Gov
ernment. protest against belngmulct
for the cost of the criminal proceedings
against the Returning Board while
others enjoy the honor and emOluments
resulting from its decision. IL is neither
Just nor honorable to impose this heavy
burden upon me. Ii would be more
becoming to the beneticiaries of our acts
to discharge this debt.
"UpOn my arrival in Washington,
two weeks ago, | was assured, upon the
promise of Assistant Secretary Hawly.
that the amount required to satisfy the
Judgment would be raised as soon
as the Secretary returned.
| called upon Mr.. Sher-
man Yesterday, and he proiIerred con-
tribution of Sl0O as the only relief he
could offer me, which | was compelled
TO decline out of respect for the great
Finance Minister of our Government. |
expect to take my departure for Loulsl-
ana in a few days, and if any arrange
ment can be made OF this matter TO offer
me relief-to which, under these circum-
stances, | believe | am justly and hon
orably entitled will be under obliga-
ton to those through whose influence it
may be accomplished. | am, very re-
spectfully, SCI. CAsANAVE.