The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-03-28
THE CLARION.
THE SECOND DISTRICT AND THE
LATE CANVASS.
VIE HUBBELL TEsrIFIEn.

WHAT HUBBELL TESTIFIED,
WAsHINGToN, March 12.-Mr. Hui,
bell, chairman of the Republican Con
gressional Committee, has given testi
mony in the ChalmeTs-Manning contes
in regard to the funds given to aid Gen
Chalmers. Mr.. Hubbell testified that h,
had known Gen. Chalmers ever since h,
was in Congress, and had an interview
with him about the time he was turned
out of Congress. 1t was in the parlor n
the Riggs House, and the subject dis
cussed was Mississippi politics, the atti
tude he proposed to take with respect tc
them, and what he proposed to do. He
said that he was satisfied in his own
mind that there was no hope for better
times in Mississippi, politically, unless
the Bourbon Democratic rule in that
State could be broken or overthrow.
He said, in response to question from
the witness as to what he proposed Ia
do, that he should return to Mississippi
and announce himself as anindependent
administration candidate for Congress.
and, wanted to know ii the witness, in
behalf of the committee, would be vii
ling to aid him in making the race. The
witness replied that they were not help
ing in that sort of fight, and would not
entertain the question of assisting him
unless he was Endorsed by the Republi-
cans Of the district After quite a long
conversation, during which the witness
was trying to ascertain whether or not
Gen. Chalmers really meant to-a4ake the
fight, he became satisfied that he did and
said to him:
snow, General, am satisfied that YOU
really intend to make the fight for Con-
gress in your district, and | am anxious
to have you do it, because ! believe if
you and Mr. Manning get by the ears in
that district, the result will be that we
shall have a full vote, a fair count, and
that Republican will, in that event,
stand pretty good show for winning
the race
Gen. Chalmers said to the witness that
he had been to a great deal of expense
in making the contest, and alleged other
reasons why he was short of money and
wanted assistance, and urged that there
was no better way of spending money
than by doing so, if a Republican vic
tory was really wanted in that dis
trict.
The witness replied: General, you
go down there and make the race in
your district, as you have talked here.
| will give you $3.50 as a sendoff, but it
must be upon the distinct understand
ing that the committee is to have moth
ing further to do with your fight, and
to furnish no further aid either in mon
ely or otherwise"
To which Gen. Chalmers said: "Sup-
pose the Republicans of the district NOM
mate me,what will you do them eve
will consider that question when it come
up, or wewill consider other questions
when they arise" replied the witness,
who invited Gen. Chalmers to call in the
evening and receive the money. He
called that evening, and the money,
which had been collected from Republi-
can members Of Congress, was paid.
The witness wanted to stir up dissen-
sions in the Democratic party in ChaI-
mer's district, and elect a Republican
for at that time he was not favorable to
Chalmers candidacy, only in SO far as
he could use it to secure a Republican
success. The scope of conversation, as
the witness understood it, was to divide
the Democrats and elect a Republican,
and with that understanding he paid
$3.50.