The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-01
Wells ". Blanchard.
shreveport Times.]

Take notice that this day give DC
tice to you by mail that contes
your election to Congress. and that
claim the seat In your stead for req
sons detailed In said written notice.
Respectfully,
A. c. WELLS.
, This dispatch was received at tn
Shreveport Office at half past twelv
on the morning Of December 23d
and was delivered to Mr.. Blanchar'
about half past nine o'clock on th,
same morning.
! The Law relating to contests Of tht
sorS IL az follows. Section los Of tn
Revised Statutes Of the United State
ssys:
contest an election OF any member o.
the House OF representatives OF thu
United States, he shall. within thirty
days after the result Of such election
shall have been determined by the
officer or board OF canvassers author
lied by law to determine the same,
give notice. ia writing, to the
member whose seat be designs to
contest, Of his intention to contest
the same, and, In such notice, shsll
specify particularly the grounds upon
which be relies Ia the contest"
BY the terms Of the foregoing law,
It IL clear that the notice must be
served on the member whose seat Is
te he contested, within thirty days
from the time the result Of the cleo.
ton shall have been determined.
Under the law Of Louisiana, the
Governor, Attorney General and Sc.
cretsry Of State constitute the board
OF canvassers, and 1t devOlves upon
them to ascertain and declare the
result OF elections. .
Those officials met at the State
house on 22d Of November. 1880, can
vassed the returns, determined the
result and declared Mr.. Blanchard
elected 10 the 47th Congress from tho
fourth district Of Louisiana.
On the same day, November ed,
Mr.. Blsncbard's certificate OF elec-
ton and credentials as Congressman
we're made out duly signed and seal.
ed and forwarded to him.
It will be thus seen that the result
Of the election was determined by
the officers charged With that duty,
more than 80 days before any notice
Of contest Was given by Welie. The
official determination OF the result
took place November 23d. The n0ti-
fcati0n OF contest was given on De-
cember sd, which was the 31st day
after the determination Of the result.
The statute says It must be given
within 80 days. The notice, there
fore, comes too late.
Again the statute says the notice
Of contest. required to be served with.
in thirty days. must specify parti-
culsrly the grounds upon which be
relies In the contest" It will be
seen that Wells telegraphtc dispatch
gives no grounds OF contest. but
simply refers to . more formal notice
coming BY mail. That notice has
not yet been received by Mr.. Blauch-
ard though this ts the SD day after
the olilcisl determination OF tho TO-
suit OF the election.
It 10 clear that the would.be con.
test.n !; 70. by bic laches' tout Of
% the merits Of the case, he has
not tho shadow Of q right 20 the seat.
HE total vote Was q little over J..
GOO. while that OF Mr.. Blanchard was
nearly 1900.
Wells not only did not carry . Gin:
Gle parish 10. the district, out Of
Twelve, but be only carried one Gle.
ton precinct In the entire district.
When We consider this, together
with the fact that be made no effort
to DO elected, made no canvass OF the
district, did not make Q single speech
during the campaign, and visited no
portion OF the district except tho
lower portion Of Rapides parish
where his home IL, his contest OF
Blsnccard'0 seat seems ridiculous
and absurd.
The true secret OF Il Is, doubtless.
20 cid kellogg In his struggle to 70.
tain bic eeat be has usurped 10 tho
Senate. A disposition 10 shown to
open anew the Kellogg case: Man
log has appeared before the 6enste
the seat; and 1t IL likely
that after the holidays. tho Senate
vii resume its consideration. and
will eventually bring It TO vote.
IN order to apply q counter-trrttant.
notices OF contest are served upon
King and Gibson. to serve
40 warning that. as the Democratic
Senate treats Kellogg. 20 will tho
Republican House treat those gentle
men. But this game IL seen through
and will not work.
Each OF those gentlemen are earn
eat. unfitnching sdv0catee OF the
speedy unseating Of Mr.. kellogg.
without taking into consideration the
effect upon their own seats In the
House. Ttey have no compromises
to make. We know We reflect tho
OF Mr.. Blanchard In cay.
Ing thie, and believe 10 do those OF
Generals Gibson and King.