The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-08-26
STATE SECRETS,
AND A FRESH BATCH OF RAS-
j srl'itg qiad CALITY c@ ~

Connected With the OdorOus L0ui-
siana Returning BOard--A Deci-
ded and Vigorous Kick From
One of the Members.
NAsHINaros, August 19.-On the 7th
day of the present month the following
letter was written to the President OF the
United States, and was received by Aim,
lin due course OF mail, the day following
II @ WASHINGTON, August Z, 1879.
"MR. PREsIDENr IL have the honor to
invite your att,,tion to the following
acts upon which / respectfully solicit
such relief as you. may be able to Offer
me. In 1872 / was elected by the State
Senatoe of louisiana member Of, the
Returning Board Of that State. I did
not desire OF solicit the Office, and I &C.
cept,d it With reluctance. In 1875 the
grave and responsible duty of det.rmi-
ming the result Of the election for Presi-
dent Of the United Statss devolved upon
that Board. Its deliberations were
watched With profound solicit lde by the
whole country, while the leaders OF two
great political pal les hovered around it
awaiting the resu of its deliberations
with that intense anxiety only known to
expectsnts OF the spoils OF public office.
The Board found for ths, Republicans.
and the Democrats, disappointed and
chagrined, at once comm anced criminal
proceedings against its members
Counsel we're employed to defend, at q
stipulated fee Of $4,000, which Mr.. T
G. Anderson assured me would be paid
outof funds to he sent from Washing
ton. ~
"As the conclusion Of the prosecution /;
counsel demanded their fee, which. moi
being paid, they instituted suit, and after
q hearing ID court, obtained judgment
against all the members Of the Board. A
writ Of feri facias (copy herewith inclo-
sed) issued, directing the sheriff to seize
and sell sufficient property Of defendants
to satisfy the Judgment Of $1,000, less
S1,S75 The sheriff, finding no proper
" belonging to Anderson, Wells and
Kenner, seized my property, and now
holds the came subject to sale under his
writ II my property is sacrificed under
that execution it will render me bank
rupt. am poor man, and am unable
to sustain such loss. g, ~ t
81 have always assumed full share
of the responsibility attaching to the
Official acts OF the Returning Board, al
Though I have never enjoyed any Of the
fruits resulting from its findings; and in
this connection I respectfully remind
you that hold no Office under your Ad-
ministration, and derived no pecuniary
benefits whatsoever therefrom, but on the
contrary, I have sustained considerable
loss in my business on account OF my
Identity with the Board. Messrs An.
derson, Wells and Kenner, the othel
three members, and their numerous Fam,
lily connections. are enjoying lucrative
positions IN the employ OF the Govern
ment. Ipr0test against being mulct fol
the cost OF the criminal proceeding.
against the Returning Board while Others
enjoy the honor and emolnments result
ing from its decision. It is neither JUS
nor honorable to impose this heavy bur.
den upon me. 1t would be more becom
i ing to the bene6ciafies Of our acts to dis
charge this debt. sii 2 70 s7.''
4 s"Upon my arrival in Washington, two
\ weeks ago, I was assured, upon tn,
promise of Assistant Secretary Hawley
thatthe amount required to satisfy th,
Judgment would be raised as soon as I'll,
i Secretary returned. I called upon Mr.
4 Sherman yesterday. and be preferred
j contribution Of 800 as the only relief h,
could offer me, which I was compelled t.
| decline out Of respect for the great Fl
nance Minister OF our Government.
expect TO take my departure for Louisi
ana IN 4 few days, and II any arrange,
a ment can be made of this matter to ofiel
j merelief-to which, under these circum
j stapoes,I 4 believeI I am Justly aud hon
torably ent tled-I will be under obliga
i ton to those through whose influence i
may be accomplished. am, very re
spettsuily, dsS6i1g "G. CAsANAvE."