Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1877 — THE INVESTIGATIONS. [ARTICLE]

THE INVESTIGATIONS.

[Compiled from Associated Preee Reports, nnless Otherwise Designated-! LOUISIANA. The question of requiring the Returning Board to produce the original records of tee vote of the State for Presidential Electors was disctweed before the Senate Committee on the 22d, and the resolution to that effect was finally defeated by a party vote, the Repablicun members stating that they were ready to agree, at a proper time, to any motion that would throw light on the subject, but they thought the resolution Impracticable at pres> »t. Five additional witnesses wete examined relative to affairs in Ouachita Parish, the general import of their testimony as to intimidation, etc., being similar to that of previous witnesses. Sixteen witnesses were before the House Committee on the 22d, nearly all of whom testified aa to the fairness of the election In different parUhee. soraeof them corroborating ihe evidence of former witnesses that colored men had been .persecuted and abased for having voted the Democratic tioket. E. A. Burke testified that he had the tally-sheet of Poll 2 of the Eleventh Whrd of his parish; saw the election officers tian it at thepollfng:pl*ce. and they all signed It willingly and votuutaruy;. no .pistols were drawn or any other intimidation, to witness’ certain knowledge; witness read the vote for PresiElectors, showing a Democratic majority of over 800 for the-Tilden Electors; this poll was not included in the report or the Returning Board to the Secretary of State nor by the Assistant Supervisor in his consolidated statement to the Returning Board; the tally-sheet was opened before the Returning Board, but the vote was not included in his consolidated statement of the Assistant Supervisor; A. W. Kempton was Republican Commissioner of Election, and signed the tally-sheet in witness’ presence. Witness said the pro'est be (Kempton) made was an absolute falsehood to his (witness*) certain knowledge.

John Culpepper (colored), of Ouachita Parish, testified before the Senate Committee, on the Sid, that he voted at Cuba at the late election; the Democrats said they were going to cany the election by killing the leading white Republicans, and if the negroes didn't vote the Democratic ticket thev would have to take the consequences; went to tlie polls With a lot of Republican tickets, and met some friends, who said they wouldn't be allowed to use them—that these wife no tickets but Democratic ones there; voted the Demo ratic ticket and left; met some white men driving a lot of negroes, like sheep, to the polls: was afraid not to vote the Democratic ticket, bat took a pencil and scratched as many names as possible; witness' father tvae killed In his (witness').presenoe, in 1888, tor voting the Republican ticket Henry M. McCauley, Vneutenant in the United Slates Army, testified to there having been intimidation at Aloe roe. A. M. C. Kearney, Republican, of New Orleans, was belore the House Committee on the 23d, and testified that there was no Intimidation before the election, but there was after the voting closed: he was Commissioner of Election at Poll No. 2 in the Eleventh Ward; the Democratic Commissioners wOhld not allow him to quit the coubt and go home, And wanted him to a 3 that which was not required by law; the election was qniet and peaceable; believe all the votes polled inere were legal; didn't think the tally-sheets were correctly kept; think the Demoe it* received all the votes that were cdnnted for them, w itness yigned the returns under fear of Us life. A. W. Kempton testified that he was also a Republican Commissioner st the same poll, and corroborated Hearssy's testimony; objected to the tally-sheets, and was thr atened by Mr. Ledick, Democratic Supervisor: signed the tally-sheets under fear of his life Hr. Ledick denied the statement* of Heaisey and Kempt -n as to threats made by him. Louis backus. Supervisor of Registration, testlfie 1 that Mai Burke made changes on the tally-sheets; Mai. Burke emphatically denied the statements of Mr. Backus. John Clegg testified before the sub committee of Lafiuette Parish that there was no' intimidation of Republicans there; knew a number ot colored men who voted the Democratic ticket. Another citiaen of the same parish also testified that he heard of no intimidation and vio lence, and that the election was peaceable and quiet. Several other witnesses testified to the from Monroe ssys a witness of high character there had contradicted every essential particular of Etta* Pinkston's story. A special Irom Shreveport says the investigation there showed irregularities la the counting of votes, and tally sustained the action of the Returning Board. Before the Senate Committee, on the 26th, Mr. McDonald wanted Col. J. W. Patton, Chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee, to rebut the evidence in reference to his tautens circular; and he was railed, and testified to the effect that the Democratic State Convention adopted resolutions favoring and conn-, seling peace, and the principles enunciated there were for a fall, Dee- and fair election in his speech accepting the nomination for Governor, Gen. Nicholte said he accepted only on condition that he should be the Governor of the whole people, without regard to color or race. A circular published by the witness during <he campaign and incorporated in Senat r 8h naan’s rmt, was sh -wn to the Wttaam. and he was naked if it was a true * be replied that ll vu, and >a|§<tt was marked ‘‘confidential.’* because one member of the. committee said be was opposed hMj what was written, it North;another said making U “’’confidential’’ would attract the attentiou of tboee to who o they were sent; the Cheshire were scattered broadcast, sad there wae no intention of keeping the

contents secret, and they were intended for general circulation and so need; witness aaid It had been the nnlver-al custom ot the dffiimiteM to qrxe apon members of MU party tea at pretea Imparlance of p marring the peace ai the sacrifice es r v„r v thing but-eif-defense: he waa Mtisfiedtkat 1* a fair, free and peaceable election they oould early the (Rate: KOrw nothing of the contact of toe campaign la Ouachita except from hi away, riant McEnery. a lawyer, es Ooachlia testified teat he was a Democrat; the rifle clubs had no connection with (he political clnbe of the pail ah, and were for tea purpose of preserving tee peace and protecting Democratic negroes against outrages from their own race; of bis own knowledge be knew of only one oa»A of tee latter kipfiTTbat had learned of others, accounts of which he (totalled. Win. Orton waa called by the Houae Committee, bat not appearing, a resolution . was adopted dec'aring him in contempt of the process of the Honse. because of, his refkual to appear before the committee and testify, and to bring with him mil the telugrams In bis possession or control, sent or received by the persona named in the subpoena served upon him. Several witnea-ea were examined before the Morri-on sub-committee, who testified toooiored citizens having been persecuted and abused for acting with the Democratic party and voting tee Democratic ticket. The Senate Sub committee, consisting of Measre. Wadlelgh, McMillan and McDonald, met on the 27th, and took np the Parish of East Baton Rouge. Six witnesses testified as to outrages by so-called “ Bnllfioeers" or “ Regalateis" tn that parish, by which colored Republicans were Intimidated and prevented from voting, or compelled to vote tee Democratic ticket. Detailed acooente ware given of the killing of Wm. R. Payne (colored), his wife stating that, in Jane last, her husband, w. 5 wus a prominent Republican, made a speech on a Saturday, and was killed on tee following Tuesday mofn nghya body of white men, who came and broke down the door, lied a noose aronnd her husband's neck, and mounting their horsvs, galloped off, drugging him on the ground and him. Before the main committee Sam D. McKnery testified farther to the effect that one of the first efforts of toe Democrats waa to break down the color-line, by assuring the negroes that their general condition would be Improved by their joining the wbite* In an attempt to secure a good g iwrament; in order to do this, the assistance ofleading colored men in the various wards was first enlisted, and arguments ana reason were need to induce the colored men to join by both colored "nd White speakers, and their efforts were generally successful, large numbers of colored citizens voluntarily elding with the Democrats at the late election. Several witnesses were examined before the Honse Committee, on tee 87th, their evidence being mainly to the effect that the negroes in many cases acted with the Democrats voluntarily, and were persecuted by colored Repnbllcans for ao doing. James Lewis (colored) made a statement relative to the testimony of N. H. Wilson, on the 24th; said he never told Wilson nor any one else that the Republicans would be counted in. whether elected or not; said the statement of Wilson was false. FLORIDA. At the session of the Senate Committee, on the 21st, according to a Tallahassee special to the New York Tim-*, farther testimony was taken concerning Jackson Connty, to the effect that at the Campbelliown Precinct Democrats and Republicans voted alternate hours In the forenoon, and tee Repnbllcans in theafiernoon. When the coant was made at night, all the Republican votes were found on top to the number of sevemyseven, and all the rest -291—were Democratic. It was in proof that many more Republicans voted in the forenoou than in toe afternoon. At Friendship Chnrch it was sworn to that sixtyseven Republicans voted, and but forty-four Republican votes were found in the box. There was some testimony of Democratic repeating. A per-on who was sent to Manatee County to get information as to the character of the election in that county toi the Canvassing Board, testified that he was turned back at Sumpterville nnder a threat that his life would be taken 1( he went further; that they had got a large Democratic majority, and would nut have it investigated. The House Committee had left Tallahaise.

.......SOUTH CAROLINA. X.' - Both, of the investigation committees Were taking testimony, at Columbia, on the 21st. Sub committees had been sent to Charleston and Beanlort Counties, to obtain the testimony of wit nesses there. The Congressional Bub-Committee of the House were at Charleston on the 2£d, taking testimony regarding intimidation in the coast counties. ■ . - - .