Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-02
BLAINE,S COMMITTEE.

Senator Teller, chairman OF the 1nVeStlga-
ting committee on frauds in the recent Con-
gressional elections, wrote to the comptroller
of the treasury, asking a reconsideration OF
his decision in regard to the committee not be-
ing entitled to use the $4,000 appropriated at
the last session. The comptroller declined to
reverse his decision, but agreed to submit the
matter to the attorney general. The latter Of
ficer thereupon decided that the committee
can use the $40, 900, and they will now 60 to
work. '' -
The committee has received the following
letter from Senator Blaine: lr"..
.. g.. WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. %, 1878.
To the Hon. HI M. Teller, United States Senate,
Chairman Select Committee, de-, dc. ii
DEAR SIR have this morning received
your favor inclosing the following resolution
adopted by your committee, viz. .''
Resolved, That the Hon. James G. Blaine,
mover of the resolution, be requested to specify
in writing the particular class of frauds, out
RACES 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 the witnesses he may wish to be
examined. ''"t
1t cannot, of course, be the purpose Of your
honorable committee to limit the investigation
to any particular class of frauds, outrages
and violence cefaftiitt tho recent elections
that may be specified by me. The resolution
is the action of the Senate speaking almost
unanimously, and it iS not for me to say what
your committee is expected to investigate, be-
yond what is expressed in the resolution itself
in very explicit terms. 1t would be gross as
sumption in me to specify where the Senate it.
self has directed, but anxious to indicate any
details that may 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 certain counties, to the
practice in that State of breaking up all meet
ings held to oppose the Democratic party un-
less Democratic speakers were allowed to take
part in the discussion, and to all methods by
which in Sumter and other counties a full and
free election was prevented.
In Louisiana, I invite your attention to the
murders in Tensas Parish on election day and
to the frauds committed in the same ; to frauds
and outrages upon the ballot in the city of
New Orleans and even while write, to the
alleged assassination of two witnesses on their
way to 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 Southern States, but have not time.
am just leaving for New England, and am
compelled to postpone further details until at
ter nv return Among the witnesses would
name are James B. Campbell, E. W. N. Mack
ey and C. G. Memiuger, Of South Carolina,
Governor Nichols, his agent, Col. Zachary,
ex-Chief Justice Sudeling, of Louisiana, Hon.
Reuben Davis, of Mississippi, j. Cole Davis,
of Helena, Arkansas, the editor OF the Ara-
lanche, Democratic paper published in Mem
phs, Tenn. But beg especially to refer you
to a large mass of valuable information in the
office Of the attorney general of the United
States already called for by the Senate, and
soon, I presume, to be laid before your COM
mittee. This is official in it's character, and
in many cases has the weight and value of le-
gal evidence, not requiring further examina-
tion of witnesses to authenticate and con-
firm it.
In Offering the resolution in the Senate, L
did not assume the part Of public prosecutor,
but especially declined any such service. The
invitation of your honorable committee, how
eve, is one which cannot disregard, and on
the reassembling of Congress l shall from
time to time lay such facts before you and
make such suggestions as may seem to constl-
tute full and fair compliance with all the re-
uuirements of your resolution. With great
respect, your obedifnt servant,
j. G. BLAINE.