Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 26, Number 19, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 December 1876 — Page 1

YOL. XXVI, XO 10. IXDIAXAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY MOKNTSTG, DECEMBEK 27, 1870. WHOLE NO- 1884.

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LIGHT BREAKING Upon tlic Dark Villainy by Which Louisiana AVas Counted for Hayes. The Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee on the Stand. He Tells the Republican Senators Some Plain and Unpleasant Truths. The House Committee Discover that the Bulldozing Vas by Radical Negroes. How Affidavits "Were Manufactured by Wholesale in the Custom House. The Republican Seriously Uneasy Over the Florida Deielopnients. The Can Yassir Board of that State Will Recount tho Vote To-Day. Thirteen Lives Sacrificed in a Burning Convent in Quebec, Canada. WAJniXGTOX SEWS. fron J a KaCled Speenlallou on Florida Conklins'A fonn.e. llSy Telegraph to the Sentinel. "WAfntNGTO, Dec. 23. Cronin, of Oregon, made two attempts to deposit his retirrn to-day with Vice President Ferrj. but could not find him. He will be introduced to morrow by Senator Kelly. TUK PIX. KID A CASK. Both parties are waiting for Florida. Morton and a few more like him pretend to place no significance on the events in that .täte, but the republicans generally are on the anxious, bench. Democrat differ as to tbe merits of the question as it would le prt-j-ented in case the canvass to- reopened and the result changed. Some claim that an the supreme court has no power to create a new college the vote of tiie state would have to be thrown out. Senator Jone! and others argued that the present college has no legal existence, because it is not an expression of the popular will, and hence the college constituted under the revised and corrected returns mu-t bf recognized by the" joint convention of congress, lie is in favor of going behind the certificate of the governor, and thinks this will be don in the case of Oregon. PESATOr. COSKUNUThe repablican senators continue to be exercised over the position Senator Conkling will take. So far they have not been able to obtain his views and this leaves Lim open to suspicion. THE ELECTION IXVEHTIUATIOXN. Senator McDonald Make Another Futile Attempt . to Get Information From (be Returning Board Colonel J, W. Patton Called In Rebuttal Be fo reihe Senat Committee lie Khowa How Campaign IV as Conti oe lea on Both Hide and Expose the Radical Ranealitle. N'kw Or lea:. Der, 2f. The senate committee were all present; callel to order at lOi.Tö. jThe chairman, Mr. 'Howe, named wnators Woodleight, McMillon and McDonald as a sub-coraruittee to take the testimony of Eliza Finkston. Senator McDonald submitted an order that the returning board be directed to furnish certified copies of the consolidated statements of votes, the statements of supervisors of registration and the statements of polls rot returned by supervisors of registration of the various parities and polls, a the committee had no information whatever in regard to thi polls and votes rejected by the supervisors. The thai rruan said that while be was opposed to embarrassing the board at the present time, he would assure the minority that everything essential to getting at

the true fact in the investigation would be cheerfully granted. The question therefore was a?ain ostoned. Mr. McDonald wanted Colonel J. V. I Litton, chairman of the democratic state executive committee, to rebut evidence in reference to bis famous cif-iilur, ami he was called and testilied Had resid d In the eitj' of New Orleans since 1V7. Hid been a merchant and soldier but for the wt two vears had not Ik-cii in any business. Had lcen since last January "president of the demoeraetic state central committee and liad sreneral charge of tle canvas in connection

with the executive commitwu. His testi mony Hi not -taken be fore tho returning board. Was in New Orleansduring tbe entire canvas which opened about the 1.1th of last Aucust. ihe democratic täte convention which nominated t he state ticket and presilenti.il electors met at Haton Kotiu'e Julv 21. Mr. I'inchb.ick was chairman of the republi can state committee, but tendered his rosig- ! nation after the republican convention had j made nominations. Only knew this from rumors. Was not familiar with the organi7ation of the reoubliran state committee. Think Messrs. llltkinand Dibble were active nie m be a of the campaign ccmmittee. Til'- Baton llonge democratic conven tion ' adopted rules favoring and coun seling peace. . A V ill furnish a copy hereatter. . General Nicholls , mado a speech accepting the nomination, in which he said he accepted only on the condition that he should be covernor of the'wholo psple without regard to color or race. Witness promised to furnish a rejort of the entire proceedings of the convention. The state convention was conducted bv the dem ocrats on the principles enunciated then1, lor a full, Tair ami free election. A circular published by the witness during the campaign and incorjorated in Mr. Sherman's report was shown witness, and be was asked if it was a true copy, and he replied that it was. The italics, however, in .Sherman's report were his, not witnesses. Only one word in the original was so marked, "viz: horseback. The circular was marked confidential, because one member of the committee said he was opjosed to any circular, as no matter what waswritten.it would be misconstrued by the people of the north. Another said marking it confidential would attract the attention of those posttnasters to whom they were sent. The circular was scattered broadcast, and there was no intention of keeping it? contents secret anil it was intended for general circulation and so used. It was issued the latter part of June anil sent to all prominent democrats in various portions of the state and sent through the mails. Had peen heveral circulars issued by the republicans during the campaign. Among them one was shown, signed bv A. M. A. Jewett, supervisor of Assumption parish. Another one was found on the steamboat Blue Wing, in a ookct book among othsr jajrs, and after hearing of it, and after some trouble, witness secured one from Supervisor Bondreaux, of Assututtion. Have since seen another in the hand3 of a gentleman from Grant parish. The envelo? in which it was mailed and the documents were put in evidence. Witnes.-, resuming, said he had sc n several other circular issued bv the republicans during the campaign. Had no copies on the 31st of last August. The entire plan of the campaign was adopted unanimously. A copy of the minute of the committee was introduced and filed as part of the testimony. The circular to Supervisor Bondreaux has been hcretofo;e published. It is the one that orders the supervisor to see that the full republican vote ispoliedand his recognition by the party would be dependent on his observance of that duty. THE OKNKRAt COXDCCT Of THE CAMPAIGN. The question of permitting the witness to testify in regard to the general conduct of the campaign was discussed at considerable length. The chairman thoaeht tbe testimony at present should simply be confined to the rebuttal of the circular issued bv hirn. The question as to the general conduct of the campaign was finally admitted. The witness said it had been the universal custom of the committee to urjje upon members of the party the supreme importance of preserving peace at the sacrifice of everything but self-defense. He was satisfied that in a fair and free and peaceablo election they could carry the suite. Knew nothing of the conduct of the campaign in Ouachita except from hearsay. The registration- of the state he thought was conducted in a very unfair manner. It was conducted by Hon. Michael Hann, chief supervisor, who was a republican. The supervisors were appointed by Kellogg or Antoine when acting as governor. They were republican as far bs witn(a knew; in many cases they were residents of other parishes; had requested Lieut. Gov. Antoine to let us Lave representation in the repistration. Antoine said he had appointed some democrats but declined to accede to the request of witness. When the letter asking for a division of the registration was handed to Antoine he said he saw the justice of it, but would have to submit it to the committee, and afterwards wrote a letter declining to do so. Witness promised to furnish copies of the entire correspondence, wnich will be incorporated in the report. To Senator Howe: The democratic committees of the state organize tue central committee, whose duty it is to couduct the campaign on the principles annonnced by the convention. So ppeeitie instructions are given by the convention. Trominent democrats from the interior of the state frequently visited the headquarters of the state committee. Some few parishes sent no representative to the state committee. Representatives from nearly every parish visited the committee, and we urged upon them the line of conduct adapted and published during the campaign in the newspapers. Ured upon them the importance of a peaceful election, aside from the hnmanitarian 'principle involved, as a matter of policy. Statements had been made of lawlessness heretofore in country parishes and used against us. Had no social apprehension or information that any acts of violence would be committed. Apprehended that in a heated canvass collisions might occur, and' wa under the impression that it was the dehire of the republican party to bring about such a collision. Thought the democratic ticket, if elected, would be counted out by the returning board unless the national democratic ticket was successful. Every disturbance that occurred, no matter whether personal or otherwise, w as charged by the republican press to the democratic party, and we were anxious that there should be no pretext for sousing any acts of violence. Charges had been made heretofore of acts of violence and polls thrown out by the returning board, ana in consequence there had been three conriderable riots In the state Bince he lived in New Orleans, viz: . In lsG6 and in September 1874, in New Orleans, and in Colfax In 1873, which were attended by loss cf life. Couldn't give the number killed in them. They were mostly republicans in tho

one of sM5, and in the others they were of Ixtth parties. Couldn't state positively, but thought the number of colored men were largely in excess. Know only from reports. THK SIHMEKUL MIS' 111" EC OF TUK rKPlIUJCA-NS The state government for the past eight years has been very bad, having wr-'iiga heavy taiation from the peph, conferred no benelits on the people and had not the confidence of the )eople, tnth-r white or blai'k, as far as his ersonal observation extende?. The state tjx ujmju the dollar valuationi 1 mills; prior to the present system it was two ercent. Land were rejMjrtcd being assessed t more than their market

value 5m New Orleans. On his property, assessed at StotX, the state tax i.s fill and the city tax JITti. The city tax is determined bythe-efcy council, which is now democratic. His proerty, if sold at auction, would not bring over fG,ouO. Would he w illing to take what he gave for it. Wit ness was interrogated at great length in reference to the subject of taxation and the organisation of the judiciary of the state under th republican regime, and his objections to the latter system as adopted, and the universal towers conferred on the government. He said unless thev had a democratic administration it would be imjiossibltf to have a democratic state administration. We elected a democratic state government, but the returning board reversed that order. This ts a matter of fact. In common with eminent counsel, think the law creating the returning board is unconstitutional, but it did curvfer the power upon the returning board iai der certain conti nancies to " rVteet votes. No tribunal ia the state has the Iower to decide the unconstitutionality of the returning board as created. If there was a change of the national administration the national government will see that the stale, has a republican form of governi&ent, or at least one fairly fleeted by the eople. Though the supreme court had decided that it had no power to go behind the acts of the returning board in one or two instances could not state what process would be necessary in order to have the supreme court pass upon the constitutionality of the law creating the returning board. Thought the board had violated the lawcreating it in throwing out three tolls in Concordia. Ttie boxes were sent for and counted by tbe beard. In KastJlaton Kouee, where tiie supervisor also rejected polls, the board refused to do so and there were other instances. This action made a difference of about loo. In poll J, in the 11th ward, over .r00 votes were thrown out by the tujerviaor on the ground of intimidation, and the Ixjard had refused to go behind his rejection; knew that a large number of votes had been thrown out by the toard on the ground of intimidation, thus making a republican majority. Witness was asked and detailed the oerat!on of the sewing machine circulars used by the republicans in reference to registration, all of which has been heretofore published, and said the effect of the wholesale issuance of warrants was to keep many from the polls. A 8PEVIMES LEAF OF CEOVEH. In one case Mr. Clover, registrar of Kat Haton liouge, was a member of the Mississippi legislature last year, and not a legal voter in the state. Had seen a certificate of the auditor of Mississippi that Clover had drawn pay as clerk of the board of equalization up to last December, but Clover had said he came to the state last August. Witness was aaked if a large number of warrants for fraudulent registration aeainst colored men had not been sworn out by the democrats In-fore the republicans had warrants issued for democrats, and replied that if such was the case it was without his knowledge. Witness was asked by Senator 0rlesby in reference to the organization of the ritle clubs in Ouachita, and stated that he knew nothing of them until after the election, and that the instructions issued by tho committee early in the campaign were not carried out in the interior of the state. To Mr. Wadleigh: Was in the United States army from to lV, when I left it and settled here; was in the confederate army in lss. I?elontred to the order of Knights of the White Camelia, which was intended to perpetuate the covernment. It was a secret organization. Think there were members of the republican party in it. Vuld not remember the oaths taken. The order disbanded in ISM. The ritual was published in Newman's Methodist paper. The order had no affiliation outside of the state. Knew nothing of the organization of the ku klnx. Had belonged to the Cremet City White I.enjme club, which was not a pecretone. Didn't know of any captains of rifle clubs in Ouachwa. Had never heard of them till after the election. Had ' never heard aught from that parish during the canvass except that all was quiet and eaccable. Knew nothing of the killing of Rhode, Johnson and others. Heard Din'igrave' murder was personal, not political. Heard that troops were ridincr through East K-iton Kotige telling negroes if taey voted the demcratic ticket they would be arrested. Believed the republicans desired a collision between the races. Witness said in answer to a question that had a collision occurred dur ing the election it would have been used by the republicans to influence the people there against the people of the south and against the democratic party there. Didn't know that the number of colored people killed in the south since the war was thousands. Didn't think all the violence Committed in the state was due to political causes. The examination of the witness lasted nearly six hours, after which the committee adjourned till 7:30 to night. EVKMKO SEXKtOV. Samuel McKnery was the first witness cailed. Born and raised in Ouachita parish.1 Resided there during the late campaign. I am a lawyer and a member of the democratic party. Was chairman of Hie executive committee of the parish. All the colored men took an active partSeveral of these were president! of colored clubs. The parish is divided into seven wards. On the nights of the 28th and 30th of August, Isiah Garrett's and Mr. Cham-, bliss's houses, eight miles below Monroe, and Mr. Foulck's, 12 miles below, all n the Ouachita river, were fired : into. Up to that time the parish had been very nuitt, except a few days before, when a disturbance occurred at St. James cliapel,' which ha heretofore been narrated. The first organization was in July. The republicans commenced organizing afterwards. Our organization began west of the river in . the hill wards, in consequence of the timidity pi ; the people there who were afraid of being arrested and taken from their ' homes by the United States trooDs. as had been done in .1374. In the latter part of July the republicans began or ganizing , clubs in Logtown, 12. miles hilow Monroe, and on the Island and one in Monroe. . The witness then eave a history of the organization of the rifle clubs in the parish, not differing

materially from the. statements of former witnesses. They had no connection with the. political clubs of the parish and were for the pur ose of preserving the peace and prctecting democratic negroes against outrages from their wn race. Of his own knowledge he knew of only one case of t Im latter kind, viz., that of Thomas Howard. wWo was set upon and beaten by $t) ciored men last May for bei i g a democrat, Colored men frencntly came to him and ride statements of threats of hanging made against them bv negroes. Newton Smith avid Henry Pugh made affidavit of heints whipped and choked for beim democrats, lf-id known Dr. Iinktrrnve t?iri'P he was a low The killing of Wimberly by Dinkgrave i! IsTO, on the night of March ;V. was then given atlength bv tbe witnes s, which trrew

out of Wim berly's restraining his siter-in-la-, thought to be dying, from makimr a will, and ended ?n Dinkgrave killing Wimberly. Dinkgrave Lad a preliminary examination and was acquitted. His brother, Governor McKnery and hiiusJf had defended Dinkgrave. who afterwards told O. W. McAfee t.S.it Wimberly had Pent him word that he intended to kill him if it tok him "0 years, and Dinkgrüve also said he didn't 'know what minute some one might shoot him down. After Dinkgrave was shot nearly all te-eommunity believed he was killed to 4tisfy i ersonal vengeance. Just lcfore the killing one o the Wiraberlys was living on the island. biit left alout ten days betöre. McAfee told witness he thought he saw him in Monroe the tbty Dinkgrave was killed. Dinkgrave had many personal friends among the democrats in Monroe, while there was considerable feeling against hiiu on account of his violent partisanship. Th: impression was tliat his death was tue result of the Wimberly feud or the Adams dilhculty. This was the opinion of the republicans'with whom witness talked. Witness then explained the Adams difnculty. II. C. Dobson was with. Dinkgrave at the time he was killed. Dobson said the assassin was a dark complexioned man, of medium size, with heavy whiekers and a slouched hat. Witnes then gave Ikibson's statements in full in reference to the killin?, which did not differ materially from that given by District Attorney Harry, as Dob-ton's statement to him. except tho statement that Dinkgrave had apprehended assassination for several days and if . he had acted with ordinary prudence it would not have happened. On Monday night before the killing, in going home, Dinkgrave bad met a man in the road who .-aid, '"Is that you Mr. Dreard?" and IHnkgrave, with great presence of mind, replid. "yes," and the man permitted him " o pass on. Dinkgrave then passed through Breard's yard and back to Monroe. He got a shot-gun and went home through the fields. Tuesday night he did not go home and on the next day was killed. These facts came to light after his de th, as he had few confidants, Mr. Sautsbury thought it was time some rule should he adopted to govern the admission of hearsay evidence. He was willing to adopt the ordinary rules of courts but wanted it settled. A discussion ensued but without disposing of the question. The committee Sy-Uouracd tul-iu o dock to-morrow. The chairman announced tliat the su committee wonfd consist of Messrs. Wadleigh, McMillan and McDonald, with the former as chairman, which will take up the parish of Baton Uouge. Both committees will le in chaiveof the assistant sergeantat arms, James Christie. Morrioiw Knh-(Vmitilitee Testtimo ny Showlntr That Colored Democrat Wer Kept from Voting by Threat, Benttnp and Mnnlera-The Custom Hon Turn el Into n False AOidavIt Factory. N'r.w Orleans. Dec. 2J. Oeneral Anderen was the messenger appointed to deliver the Hayes electoral vote of Louisiana to the president of the senate. The republicans think this was his business in Washington. House committee: present. Messrs. Morrison, Jenks. Hurlburt, Phelphs, Blackburn, Townseivl." Joyce and Bee be; a quorum. Yjyliam Orton was called, and not apjieari'.rf, the chair (Mr. . Morrison) read a communication from Mr. Orton, as published in the morning papers. The committee adopted the following without division. Besolved, That the chairman communicate to the house tlo failure and refujal of Win. Orton, presideut of the Western Union Telegraph company to appear and testify or to brintf with him all telegrams in his possession or control, sent or received by the persons u'amed in the suhpena served upon him, said Orton; also as a part of said communication the letter of said Ortn to the chairman, dated Dec. l.", 1870, and such testimony of Ii W. Barnes before the committee as relates to the instructions given him, said Barnes, by said Orton in relation to the productions "before the committee of telegrams required to be produced before the committee by said mnits, said default, refusal and instructions to said Barnes, in the opinion of tbe committee being in contempt of the process of the bouse. The committee then adjourned and the sub-coramit-tees then met and proceeded with the investigations. ...... morbisox's sub-committfc. Alexander Davis, of Orleans, testified that men came to his house, called him out and knocked him senseless, abusing him for Toting the democratic ticket. Colored republicans made threats before the election to kill witness if he voted the democratic ticket. Named those who threatened and assaulted. Witness was confined to his bed three weeks from the effect of the beating he received. Mrs. W. M. Jacobs, colored, testified : Knows last witness, Alex Davis. She corroborated the evidence of Davis relative to the attack on him. Talked with the man who assaulted Davis, They said they were going to kill Dav's, who was going to sell the race into slavery by voting the democratic ticket. Martin Dcboit (coloredk testified: Lived here since 1813; was the democratic candi date for the legislature before the election; was threatened tnd assaulted because he was vice president of a Nieholls and Wiltz rlnh . One nvht about twenty voune men' v. - - - r: t came to his house and cried "bring out that damned democratic nigger." Believe they would have killed him had he gone out. Knew of many instances of colored men bein threatened if they voted toe cem ocratic ticket and who didn't vote because of intimidation. Witness has seen every elec tion in this city since 1815 and never saw one more quiet and peaceable than the last. '' O. B. Morgan was recalled and detailed a conversation with J. fc 'Anderson, super visor of East Feliciana, since the election. and a conversation between Kellogg, Ander son and Hewle. showing that Anderson had filed his return without protest, hut the . j. m a . iL ! democrats nan reiusea to pay anjtuiug.

Anderson entered into a' treaty with Nast and others, by which if Nast w:as elected he would secure Anderson the appointment of naval ofticeT at. New Orleans, Witness was a republican up to the lat election. Had a position in the ctiitom house to November 10. His jiav was at the rate of $1,000 per annum, and was asse.-d $7.50 per month for party purposes, THE AFFIDAVIT Fl SlSlS. Stated that the affidavits made out in the eastern house were different from the staie-iiu.-ntd of witnes,-ev The way Anderson was to serve Nash, he was to make an atlidavit and have the democratic vote of East Feliciana thrown out. A man named Haries seemed to ls at the head of the atlidavit business at the custom bouse. Know of an in

stance where the answers tr cross interroga tion were struck out by Harris orders and other answer iut in. Harris said the ".first answers wouldn't do. The alterations pave it a different character. Heard Kellogg ask Drury, in Assumption parUh, a to the prospects there. lrury said the democrats would probably carry it. Kenogg told him he had better have his affidavits ready then. Was candidate for parish judge in Assumption in 1874. I be lieved I was beaten fairly, and wouldn't accept it. Mr. Harris, above alluded to. who was present as counsel for the republicans ariis? and asked if they would bo allowed to Introduce rebutting twtimony. Tbe chairman replied that'any witness "suggested by Mr. lownsenu would be summoned. Krank Connor, (colored) of Orleans, tes tified: Voted the democrat ticket of his own free will and accord. After voting was Knocked down by a colored deputy marshal named Bebbs. Colored men are compelled to vote the republican ticket or they get the worst of it. N. If, Wilson, (colored) of Ascension par ish, testified: Was a candidate for the legislature on the conservative ticket at the lat election. Know of negroes beins beaten before the election because they are democrats. Colonel Jim Lewis made a speech, saying the republican ticket would be counted in whether elected or not. The republican candidates up there told me mat l would be counted out; knew colored men who would vote the democratic ticket had they been permitted to do so. Cross-examined: ihe majority in the parish has always been republican; never found a colored man who was compelled to vote the democratic ticket; believe statements that the republicans were going to be counted in anyhow had the effect of losing mc DOW votes; was a republican up to two months before the election. Adjourned till to-morrow. ; House .Sub-Commlf tee Further Teitltlmony of a fair and Peaceable r.Ieo tlon Radical Frand-The Kamrs of Dead Men, Convict, Etc., on the Itcjcl" tration List. New Okixans, IHv 2?. Mr. Blackburn. cliairman of the house snb-comniittee: ltolert X. Orier (colored) and F. Breaux (colored), both of iafayette parish , testiued, corrobor ating the testimony of witnesses examined Saturday, that the late election was fair and peaceable, and that there was no ln--itratMa-,--arid - iniac4itiM' -.the-testimony of the witness before the returning board. ilham S. Davis tet-tihed to the same ef fect. Never heard of armed organizations n the parish. Heard James Davidson's af fidavit in the custom house, relating to t-uch organizations. Davidson would not be believed on oath. Knew White's house was burned, but it was for reasons other than political. Livingston is a democratic, parish. Many , colored men voted the democratic ticket" and without compulsion. The republican vote was larger at the last election than ever before. The statements made in the 1 custom house aßidavits are false. The people are law abiding. Note The affida vits referred to are those in Sherman s retort regarding Livingston parish.! Ievi Spoiller, of Livingston parish, testified, corroborating the testimony of Wm. Davis. V in. lassie, of Angipohoa parish, testified. corroborating the testimony of the wit nesses examined i-ndar and (Satur day, from the same parish, regard ing a peaceable and quiet election. Ilenrv Michelet, of Lafourche parish, testi fied : Is parish treasurer. The white ma jority in the parish is 300. The first super visor of registration, 1'armel, ,was succeeded by Iedet, because he refused to conform to the wishes of the republican committee. He said they has requested and urged hmi to .act in a wy he considered im proper and dishonest, Iedet would not allow Tinted State! supervisors to inspoct the registration list. Failed to notify the whites where he had or would establish pull ing places until a day or two before, the elec tion and did not furnish tome polls with official blanks and tally sheets. There was no ballot box at poll one. oters had to go to null two. This necessitated additional labor at that oll and delayed the compilation of ttie returns. The returns were taken to the court house between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning. The supervisor would not receive them, giving no reason therefor. Polls one, two and ten were tioi inciuaea in the supervisor's consolidated statement. Some polls were not represented by the democratic, commissioners. The supervisors failed to obev the law and established a voting place in each justice of the peace's precinct; there was no poll in Wara iu, where there is a" democratic majority. The supervisor constantly , refused to allow democrats to insnect the printed list of registered voters. . On the lists were the naniea of dead men, convicts and or parties who did' not exist. The population of the iarish is 17,000. The registered voters, according to the supervisor's printed list are 4,672. After the election, by comparing the supervisor's lUt with the , lists kept by the commissioners, it was discovered that several dead tn had voted, and also convicts and absent xaen voted on requisition papers of 187i which did not lielong to them. Colored republicans voted three' or four tinier The refusal of the sairvisor to. receive, return of poll ten and foot created great excitement. Some of the democratic candidates for parish offices who had n.opponanta "were not returned, though they received all the votes. About the 1st oS October Lcdet, .supervisor-, came. to my house saving he was in need of money, and proposed to seil out the repubucan party, a journed. i , . . : : Preparing Recount ife Vote, Tallahaüsf.e, Dec 20. Governor Steams says the decision of the supre-nie court settles the election question in this täte, and he has advised the board to obey, the orders of the court. Secretary of .State McLin notifies the other members of 'the board to meet at bis office to-morrow to canvas ac cording to the court's mandate. The senate committee have conclude their effbrte here and left foracksonyille

i;i;a.iG ort toxvxr. Thirteen People lerili In Ihe Flame. Month eal, lec 2G. The convent of the Sisters of Providence, at SSt Elizabeth, near Jolitt, province of Quel.ee, burned to the ground last night. Ixift night, at 8:40 o'clock, the hsut superior of the convent made the iv-ual visit through tbe whole convent, and noticed nothing unusual. All the community were in bed when, at 1?) minutes past i o'clock the whole con vent wa.s in tUui. All that could tie done for all the persons inside w as to hurry them out, The nans, as well as the children, had only time to wie themselves without their clothe;. It is believed the lire originated bet wee u the lioors. There were 4$ boarders in the convent Thirteen persons i-rished in tbe flame. At 1 o'clock right belies had b-en taken from the ruins, all burned to a crisp. Some of the parents were present hceking to recogniie their children. Fragments of clothing clinging to the bodie. The sister superior jrsistd in remaining in the convent to save the children, and only escaped with difiicuDy. A coroner's inquest hs been began. The convent was situated at St. FJizabeth nine miles from Joliette and was under tle management of the sisters of providence. The community building formed two wings, the sisters and five other lady boarders tn cupying one while the other was occupied by snuiW orphans and infirm persons. The structure was of wood, and there leing no fire apparatus in the village the fire could not be checked. Nothing was saved from the building. There was an in?uran?e on the property of $21,000.

Xew Orleans Republican Ibtrrtcaslia j; the fetale lloue. Nrw Okleaks, Dec 2t). The republicans are already taking steps to prevent the democrats from getting josse.ion of the state house, and have barrvaded all the windows and doors except the two principal entrances, and placed a guard of metropolitan police there. The republicans say the democratic programme is for Wiltz, democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, to take riossesion of . the senate chamber which has already been guarded a;Tainst, and that, failing in this, his next step will te to organize a democratic senate in another building, but that this can not be accomplished, as there areix democratic senators who will not consent to thi. and that the result will be thatGen-Niehollä will simply be inaugurated and then go home. Kepretentotives Joyce and Bcebe, who-eame down from Baton Rouge, at the rcpueat of Chairman Morrison, of the hou.se- committee, to take part in the proceedings in reference to IYesident Orton, of the Western Union telegraph company, left fur I'-aton Rouge again this evening. The Soatb Carolin In- Warranto Cane. - Coecmma, H. C. Dec. 2C The petition to the supreme court to remove the Quo-Warranto jwYM-eedings by tbe Til Jen electors against the Hayes electors i a South Carolina, was decided to day. Justice Vrillard deliv ered the opinion of the court refusing the motion to remove the casö V the tnited States circuit court under the act of congress of ts75. Attempting Change of Kave. Ci"cixxvti, Dec 2Uu Tin democratic county central corumittee htld a meeting t the Grand hotel to-night and resolved tomake an effort to change the place of meeting of the 8th of January couventMjm fro Columbus to Cincinnati" XLIY. COKUJiESS. Second Kegular Session. SEXATlHltehell Added to th Co) mm ttie on Prlvllea-ew ami EWUn- .Tbi Block Hills, WaauixU'tok, Dec, 2k The senate met at noon, 15 senators Wing present. Before the reading- of the journal, Mr. Morton, chairman of thj committee on privileges and elections, sai 1 it was important to . have an ther m mber aoded to that wnnraitt ee. The great body of the commit! ee had gone south to mate the iavetrf igationa orderet I ami there was not a ouor uni of the eubcommittee assigned to duty in Washington now in the city. He ther efore moved that another member be added to the committee. Agreed to and the chs ir appointed Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon, a th new member. The President sent to W ne senate a message enclof-irg the retort snl 'iourual of the pro ceedings of the coraEcassj ;0n appointed in accordance with a nrovisk n of the Indian ap propriation Dill of J at vear to treat with tb: raoux. inc urns lor the relinquishment of tht r right to the Black Hills country. He calls the special attention of the istaae to the articles of agreement between If ae commissioners, as among other ad vast J ges to be gained by idem is me cjear ngj ,i oi citizens to go inw the country of whick . thev have taken pos session, and from woich they can not be ex cluded. Ordered tj be printed and lie on the table. Xhe rpi rt of the commissioners has already been pi inted. The senate went into executive pew-ion. and at 12:15 when the doors were reopened, adjourned until Priday next. WAS !!.' TO N XrtMOJt Triad r Con fir med -The F. tra ditio Trs tty Florida K Electoral Vote. ' Wasius;to!C Dec. 2fi. The senate con firmed the no&iinat:ti of Nflson Trassier as United Statt attorney for Indiana. The president to-oay sengt to the senate the correspondenco bcawMjrt tbe United States and Great Britain on ttie subiect of extradition. Some of , it haa Seretoforc . been published, and the treaty hbeen restored to vitality by an act of Grca Britain receding from its former position, and the consequent surrender of lirena, tie Louisville former, to the United State! ' Our government is now prepared to aoivsUer tbe question of an amendment tck ti treaty so as to increase the class of offenses. The correspondence is re garded bv the senate at present as confidential, and F.ence there : is no access to it for publication. The electoral vote of Florida, as cast by the republican electors of that state, was deposited by the messenger with senator Ferry, vice president pro ton., yesterday. No roceipt for the vote was given tbe messenger as there are now two setts of electoral returns from Florida.