Report of the Joint select committee appointed to inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states, so far as regards the execution of laws, and the safety of the lives and property of the citizens of the United States and Testimony taken.

ALABAMA-SUB-COMMITTEE. 1591
Answer. It is common now, sir, I believe.
Question. Is it not allowed under the law?
Answer. I think the law permits it; but then it is a distinct office.
Question. The law allows one person to exercise the functions of both offices?
Answer. Yes, sir; he is not holding these offices contrary to law, sir. I think it is
under the laws of the State.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Are there not a number of instances in which officers, though members of
i e legislature, have at the same time been Federal officers in this State-officers in the
custom-house at Mobile. and at the same time representatives from counties in the interior of the State?
Answer. I know that Senator Yordy is the senator from this county, and I understand he is an officer in the custom-house at Mobile. I don't know that to be true, but
I understand that to be the case. He is not residing here; has not been among us
since he has been elected senator. If he has, I am not aware of it.
Question. It has grown up to be quite a practice to hold a plurality of offices in this
State, has it not?
Answer. Yes, sir; that has been the casein our county here to some extent, but I
don't know of any other cases than these I have mentioned —Senator Yordy from this
county probably holding an office in the custom-house in Miobile. I don't know that
to be true, but that is the information we have received here. And Major Herndou
held these offices here.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Is Major Ierndon a republican?
Answer. Yes, sir; he is a republican-acting now vith the republican party. I (lon't
know that he is now acting with the republican party. He was when he left here.
Question. Does lie reside now in Mobile?
Answer. No, sir; he is off somewhere in Virginia for his health. He went some
three or four months ago.
Question. He was appointed circuit clerk after Price resigned?
Answer. Yes, sir; after Price resigned, he was appointed circuit clerk.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Do you know that Dr. Blackford was tried by a court-martial upon these
charges, or upon any of them?
Answer. I do not, only from rumor, report. I will state, as I have stated, that he
came to me and conversed with me in regard to defending him.
Question. VWhy did you not defend him?
Ansiver. I was not in a condition to do so; and furthermore, I didn't feel willing to
defend him.
Question. Did he not state to you as his counsel that he was innocent of the charges?
Answer. No, sir; he did not state that fact. I hadn't agreed to defend him, and he
merely told me the charges.
Question. So he did not state to you the facts upon which those charges were preferred?
Answer. No, sir; he only stated the charges. I-e may have stated to me that he was
innocent of the charges. I have no doubt he did state that fact; I don't remember.
Question. Do you know that he was dismissed the service; or may he have resigned?
Answer. I do not know, sir. The report was to me that he was dismissed the service.
That -was the report in camp. I can't say that he was dismissed the service, or resigned.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Did you have this information from persons on whom you could rely?
Afnswer. Yes, sir; I had it from my superior officers-regimental officers. I never
heard a brigade officer or higher officer speak of it.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Did you hear any officer of those who composed the court-martial say that?
1Answer. I did not.
Question. Do you know, in point of fact, that the trial took place?
Answer. I do not, sir.
Question. Do you recollect the vote that was given in 1868 for the Grant and Colfax
ticket, and the vote that was given for the Seymour and Blair ticket?
Answer. I do not, sir. I do not remember the vote that was given.
Question. Was not the majority of the republican vote that year something over
2,000?
4Answer. I can't say. I don't remember. I will state this much, that the vote as
recorded in Hodgson's Manual is regarded as the official vote of the county.