New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-10-27
HOFFNAN SELF-PORTRA YRD.

~
ton, with Hoffman himself a candidate, he
chose, with all the formalities Of grave Off
cial proclamation, to address to the people OF
New-York the following grave charges uniyer-
sally understood to be leveled against his po-
litcal opponents:
MAYORS OFFICE, NETWORK, OCT 81 iSoo
TO The People Of the City Of Keo-York:
We are on the eve of an important election Intense
excitement pervades the whole community uhscrupu
lous designing, and dangerous men, pohtlcai pal'ns'
are resortng to extraordinary means to increase IT,
Grass and unfouned charges Of fraud made by them
! against those high in authority. Threats are hauo
AGAINST nauraized citizens and the authority OF tne
Judges and the seal Of the Supreme Court Is oeheu
Grand Jury of the United states Court suu'hoho"
through agency Of those who are In TINS scho",
has as have been informed. been induced without
that preliminary examination which Is usual ana whch
afforded by law for the protection Of character TO hnd
in GREAT haste and secrecy bills OF Indictment against
divers persons for the purpose, openly avowed Oh IN
tmdatng them the discharge of their public dutes
The United States Marshal, violent political parsah
has assumed himself the and duty OF appoint
ing swarms Of special deputies to take their place
| at the polls and to threaten and awe the
electors OF the state NewYok In the exercise OF their
high privilege Of casting their votes for the chief Objects
of the nation and State 1t the first time in the history
of the country that United States Government ona'
have attempted to interfere with free elections In 'n0
| Empire State and the act is attended with DANGER
Evidence is accommodating that the combination OF dah-
oerous men who have set foot and thus far carried
into execution, these unusual and unjustihaDe move
! mcnts have done so for two puIposes
Fret: To conceal and cover their own schemes OF
fraud which they hope to consummate ny 'he au VI u
tried or pardoned criminals.
Secod. So to excite the Of the people In this
city, opposed to Them as to lead them INTO acVs
| Of disorder aud violent resistance.
In the exercise OF my duty chief magistrate OF TINS
city, call upon all good people to unto III preventing
! the cOnsummatOn of this scheme
What followed everybody knows The as
founding frauds of the shameless corruption
lists of the Ring which the Editor OF The
World saw and was Mortified at, wrought
L their legitimate result. The author of the
above proclamation, supported by the repeat
= ers. ballot box suffers, and fraudulent
canyassers he had officially encour-
aged, was declared the elected Gov
ernor of New York. Now see how he drew
his own portrait, when he was forced to tes-
: tify concerning his authority for the shameless
9 charges he had thus brought as Mayor, in
Il aid of his contest as a candidate!
;. He had charged, in the most inflammatory
; style, that threats were made against natural
g lied citizens, and that the authority of the
n Supreme Court was deied. See what evidence
3 the Mayor of New-York had for this official
Al declaration
State what evidence you had at prior to the time OF
issuing this proclamation that threats made against
| naturalized citizens.
1t was common report that an organized system OF
challenging all persons claiming be citizens by natu
radiation would be carried out on the day of election
Can you state what persons gave you information that
!, there was such organized purposci
: cannot now give the names.
Can you give any of them2
think not.
0 In your proclamation you say the authority OF tie
judges and the seal of the Supreme Court is deed VIII
you state to the Committee what evidence you had OF
thatl
1t was announced IN many Of the papers.
Did you advise that tho registers had no right to in
quire into the genuineness of certificates Of naturaza-
tOnl
gave advice the subject and was not consulted
State that opinion was expressed in your presence
and intercourse with citizens Of Newly Or and whether
| you assented or objected to it,
1t was mentioned to me, think. in conversation by
the Dsrict-Atorney OF the city. who also the
sci for the Board Of Police Commissioners, who had
charge OF the appointment OF registers hare no doubt
nat I did assent 10 H.
Can you furnish the Committee with references TO the
newspapers and their dates. in which you acgo there
; articles the object OF which was to deny tho
authority of the Supreme Court and to defy its seal
have no knowledge Of any such fact know that
, such charges made In the papers
DID you take stops TO ascertain tho correctness OF
1.-THE chargesl
No, Sir; was in the city very little during the six
weeks preceding the election
The Mayor had sought to aid his chances as
candidate by officially charging that Grand
Jury was used, under unusual and alarming
circumstances, TO deter public officers from the
discharge Of their duty. In the figure he cut
before the Committee OF Congress IN attempt
ing to show what warrant hc had for this off
cal fire-brand:
Did you have information 20 induce you 20 suppose
that that Grand Jury had boon suInOncd procured
10 summoned IN any other than the legal and usual
wayl
No, Cir.
State whether 10 ia not usual Tor Grand Juries 20 ind
indictments without any preliminary examination be-
fore COMMISSIONER and whether the law does au.
thorzc IL.
, Isuppose the law authorizes IL.
Dld you have any information that any person had
sVowed that the object In having tho Jury
nohed was to intmdatc any person officer In tho ds
5 charge OF any dutyf
nao heard no such specific declaration.
ircier now 10 the summ0ning OF the Jury.
w. no. sir the expression about suinmoning tho Grand
jury hao reference solely TO the connection Of Marshal
Murray with It,
Did you hsve any information that Mar.hs, Murray
had any agency Id procuring this Grand Jury TO DO .
monedf If 80, what was that information
Tho fact that the Grand Jury was asaem,l.a - ann,
mODed, rs usual, by the Marshal that was all
When you Issued the PROCLAMATION did Won t, al,
Qa50nS hat been indicted aud for UAat o0eases Or dd