The Worthington advance., 1880-03-25

| the conclusions of the committee As to when
the decision Of the Senate should be considered
| "a final.
Senator Thurman thought this discussion Of
the question before the evidence was before
the Senate was unusual and out of place. He
moved to lay the motion to PRINT on the table
in order that the general award bills might be
taken up. The motion was lost on division.
| 80 to IS.
| KELLOGG WILD.
Senator Kellogg then spoke on the motion to
print. He said nothing but extraordinary cir
cumstances existing wonld justify him in oc-
cupyiug the time of the Senate even for few
minutes. The circumstances were that
the Senator from Georgia, Hill, had
done the unprecedented thing of
reading his own report, and predicting his
allegations against Kellogg, but the existence
Of which Kellogg denied. Not ouly this, but
the inc ls senator from Georgia, before any action
clared publicly and privately that he intended
| to drive Kellogg from the Senate, and had
already prejudiceu the case. He is my judge,
continu ned Kellogg. 1t Is the Senator from
Georgia who was chairman Of the sub.com.
mittee at New Orleans. 1t is the Senator from
Georgia who first, when my case was being
considered in 1877. told the committee
that he would prove that 1 had
manipulated the rcturne. and had
interfered in the making of protests in connec-
tion with the returning board. 1t was the Sen
ator from Georgia that came on the floor of this
Senate and moved to reconsider that committee
| report. asserting that he had that evidence in
bis possession. All this appears in the record.
1t was the Senator from Georgia that sent a
| telegram 20 the clerks desk to be read, dated
at New Orleans, saying, We have discovered
| evidence that inculpates Kellogg in connection
with the returns before the returning board"
telegram that stated in public two or three
| times and challenged contradiction, was paid
for to the amount of $500, and that it was
| false. The fact that what the Senator had said
was without foundation is evidenced by what
now and here assert in the presence of this
Senate, namely, that there cannot be found in
the LOO pages of the evidence taken before the
| committee one word showing that partici-
pated directly or indirectly in the making of
| any protest, in the manipulating of any re-
nection with the returning board. L think that
is plain enough.
assert the Senator from Georgia,
though he raked the slums of Louisiana,
| though he brought perjured witnesses before
| the committee, that he never was able to pro-
dace one syllable, not one word not one letter
| of evidence in substantiatiou~ of any one of
ford asked that this case be- reopened.
That is plain enough think. Moreover
| it must be evident to the Senate that the sena-
| tor from Georgia came before the Senate with
| his report prepared and read it in a shrill
voice in order that the Senate and country
might be prejudiced or precluded from a furth.
er knowledge than what is contained in his re-
port until the effects of it prcjudicial to me
| had operated here and elsewhere, knowing that,
80 to speak, the Senate is as a pulpit with a
huge sounding board, SO that every word goes
| to the utmost ends o: the land. stand here
to tell the Senator from Georgia that there ia
| not one word of testimony in that record in
| substantiation of more than one-half of his
| allegations, and the Senate will 80 find when
| they como to consider it. He scarcely opens
| his mouth, but out there flies bluuder
| Kellogg went on to say that Stokes, who was
| referred to by Hill as judge of Grant PARISH
| had once been such, but was now disappoint-
ed office seeker, brought to Washington by
Spofford, and had had his expenses paid by the
committee, while travelling back and forth be-
tween Washington and New Orleans. After
quoting and commenting on Stokes testimony,
| Kellogg continued: For once in my history
| thank God, can stand up to talk about these
things and challenge contradiction, and will,
| when these resolutions come up, show the
American people what preceded tho catacomb
| of corpses that were piled in Colfax. will show
them the origin and details of that massacre,
| and impress the truth on the Senate and peo-
pie.
Kellogg then charged that the committee
hastily adjourned after taking Stokes testi-
mony, which they relied greatly upon to prove
Kelloggs guilt without giving him an oppor-
tunity to investigate the character of the wit
nesses, all for effect on the country. He said,
will show that the Senator from Georgia has
cut out whole pages of the evidence favorable
cutor, who boasted in q recent letter in the Sa-
vannah Neecs that when he acted a. Senator he
always acted, not according to. his preferences,
but accordln. to stern idea of equal
justice. l will show you what he has
| done to malign me personally. l will show You
! and forestall public opinion. Even Mr. Mer-
rick, counsel for 5pofford, had not the check to
allude in his brief to the man Barney Williams.
and nothing but the malevolence OF the Sena-
tor would have led him to base = large part of
his report on that mans evidence. will ac-
cept what Barney Williams said as true if the
Senator will produce a single citizen of New
Orleans who will say on his honor as gentle
man that he would believe Williams under OATH
Kellogg proceeded to show that Williams was q
deserter, an ex-convict and a man of the worst
character.
Senator Kellogg continued: 1 do not dis
guise that this matter concerns me much more
than seat in the Senate. I say what do be.
cause think there il . feeling for fair play in
the breast of every citizen. They despise a
man who strikes a foul blow. l submit that
have some p1ovocation. have sat day after
up atfidavlts, not afhdavits, but copies of what
purported to be sworn statements, after prov
ing by witnesses that there was an original
somewhere in existence, and that these were
substantial copies-l have seen him rule that
they be admitted in evidence against me. In
two cases found the man alive and brought
| him, and he swore the statements were for
! gerry, and proved it even to the satisfaction of
Senator, IT any thing would satisfy him.
| will show the Senate by the record, for though
they could cut out what was favorable to me
! they could not very we'll put in any thing
against me. will show that every affidavit ad.
| mitted in New Orleans was either forged or
paid for, and produced, and proved by one of
the parties to it the original contract under
! which the affidavit were to be made and paid
! for.
After further reviewing the evidence, Kellogg
| continued: Since the foundation of this gov
ernment, there meyer was a. foul a conspiracy
| set ON foot a. this. urged with the avidity of
sleuth hound by the hate and virulent energy
of the Senator from Georgia. will agree to
from ueorgia will put his fingers on one iota of
evidence in all the volumes before both Houses
of Congress connecting me with tho returning
board, except the evidence of Kelly before tho
Peaer committee respecting Richlana par
ish, and have we'd that the board returned
| testimony ~ to bribery. Every one of the ~ or
twenty-eight members of the Legislature and
every one in position to know came before
the committee swore that they knew of no
bribery. Kellogg said no investigation into
his acts made after the Nichols Government
was inaugurated had ever resulted in the pro-
duction OF any evidence against him, though
grand jury was packed to indict him, and
telegram which he would produce was sent
down. saying: "See that Kellogg is indicted.
1t will aid Us in preventing his being admitted
to the Senate" Five investigating commit
tees, sitting for twelve month";, were not able
to find sufficient evidence to make a prima
facie case against him. A good deal had been
| said about the custom house. Nothing had
been sand about money paid to witnesses
against him, though in one instance q witness
swore positively to receiving money to vote
for Spofford.
may have had = bad record, said Kellogg.
1t is passing strange that there has not been
some evidence of it before, and that after
left the executive department with all the evil
dence that was there, and with tho ability and
manifest inclination t., prosecute me, that
there waa no prosecution act on foot. I think