The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-02

! expectation that q communication
would be received from Comptroller
Porter, reviewing aud reversing his
recent opinion rs O., ta1 availability.
Tor the purposes Of The eomAiitec, Of
the $50 900 appropriation u last ses-
sion. Mr.. Teller read before the cou.-
/ mittce copy Of letter addressed by
him to the Comptroller yesterday OF -
I difficulty which has arisen from the use
! Of the word "said" IN the second sec
ton Of the act Of June ~, 1878. which
limits the use Of the appropriation TO
defraying the expenses Of said investj-
cations and inquiries as have already
been or may hereafter be directed by
the Senate. Teller says thatthe clause
in question was reported by Ell
munds, from the Judiciary Committee,
on the fourth Of June, when no inTes-
| tigatiOn of the description mentioned
by the first section OF the sct-namelY,
the House investigation OF alleged
frauds in the presidential elec.ion-had-
been ordered by the Senate. aud that
| word printed ''said' was In l. iwards's
manuscript ''such. tie, therefore,
argues that the printed word, taken IN
|
| follow5 1t, must be construed us If read
"such." The two words be says are
| frequently taken 10 mean substantially
the same thing, and concludes his let-
ter as follows:
In view Of these circumstances,
and 10 order to give any effect TO the
section at all, it appears 10 me that
there can be little difficulty in holding
that this construction is the true one,
especially so in aid of Investigations
voted for almost unanimously by both
| political parties in the Senate, and one
| of great interest to the public, either
as exposing wrongs committed against
the whole people or as vlndicaling the
people of several of the States from I'M
just suspicion"
The chairman also laid before the
committee letter received by him
from Senator Blaine in response to their
recent resolution, and it was placed on
file without action for the present.
The chairman stated, in reply to an
inquiry, that no reply had been re-
ceived from Senator Thurman, to
whom a similar resolution referring to
his amendment was communicated
some time since.
The ComptroIer's letter not being
received up to 3 O'clock, the commit
tee adjourned until Monday.
The following is Blaine's letter:
Washington. December %, 1875
To Hon. II. W. Teller, United States
Senate, chairman select committee,
ETC.. Dear SRI have this morning
received your favor inclosing the fol-
lowing resolution, adopted by your
committee, viz:
''LieS0ieeI, That Hon. !. G. Blaine,
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 in
vestigate, and to furnish such informa-
| ton and evidence as may be in his
possession and names of the witnesses
he may wish to be examined.
at cannot, of course, be the purpose
of your honorable committee to limit
the investigation to any particular class
of frauds, Outrages and violence COM
mitted in the recent elections that may
be specified by me. The resolution is
the action of the Senate, speaking al
most unanimously, and it is not for me
to say what your committee is eX-
pected to investigate beyond what is
expressed in the resolution it.
self is very explicit terms. It would
be gross assumption in me to specify
where the Senate has directed, but, be
ing anxious to indicate details that
may expedite the labors of the CON-
mittee, L will call your attention to the
tissue ballot frauds in South Carolina,
to the laws of that State, which make
free voting impossible in certain coun-
ties, to the practice in that State OF
breaking up all meetings to oppose
the Democratic party unless the Deu-
ocratic speakers have been allowed to
take part in the discussion, and to all
the methods by which. in Sumpter and
other counties, full and free election
was perverted. In Louisiana | invite
| your attention to murders in Tensas
| parish on election day and frauds com
united In the same parish, to frauds
| and outrages in the ballot in the city
of New Orleans and, even while l
write, to an alleged assassination of
two witnesses on their way 10 the
United STATES Court to testify
against those who had robbed them of
their rights on the day of election. l
could make further specifications IN
these two States. and in other Sga.~V'r-u
States, but have not the time. &lnt
just leaving for New England, and am
compelled to postpone further details
until after nay return. Among the
witnesses | would name are james i.
Campbell, f. w. NJ. Mackey and G.
G. Memminger, of South Carolina
Governor Nichols, his agent, Col.
ZacharIe, ex-Chief Justice Ludeliug, of
Louisiana; Hon. Reuben Davis, of
Mississippi; J. Cole Davis, of Arkan-
sas, and the editor of the AcalaacLe, a
Democratic paper, published in Mem
phis, Tennessee. But l beg especial
ly to refer you to large mass
of valuable information in the Office
of the Attorney General of the
United States already called for by
the Senate, and soon, l presume, to
be laid before your committee. This
is official in its character, ana in many
cases has the weight and value of i
ANSoA NNi1NhCO NV lNNiNiAAne tnCA
examination of witnesses to authentic
cate and confirm 1t. In Offering the
resolution in the Senate I did not as
sumo the part of public prosecutor,
but especially declined any such ser
vice. The invitation of your honora-
BILE committee, however, l cannot
disregard, and on the reassembling
of Congress 1 shall, from time to
time, lay such facts before you and
make such suggestions as may seem
to constitute a full and fair compli-
ance with all the requirements of your
resolution. With great respect, your
obedient servant,
-. G.. BLAINE"
The First Comptroller of the Treas
ury, after conference with Senator
Teller, chairman of the Blaine inves-
tigating committee, and Senator Ed
munds, chairman of the Senate Judi
ciary Committee, who framed the law
of last session, appropriating $50, 600
70 be used for investigations ordered |