The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-09-30
politital aAairs.
GOVERNOR TILDEN.
A Complete Answer to tho
Income-Tax Charges.
THE ITEMS in the "TlMES'S" STATEMENT
DEMOLISHED sERIATIM.
IN AbLe Letter from Judge SihnOtt
to Chairman HeUiH.

Abram S. Hewitt, Chairman of the Dem
ocratic National Committee, on the Goth
inst. made public letter addressed to him
by Judge James p. Sinnott, of the Marine
Court, and formerly Governor Tilden's
confidential clerk, meeting the income.tax
charges made against Governor Tilden.
The letter, with Mr.. Hewitt's introduction,
is MS follows:
MR.. HEwITT's EXPLANATORY LETTER.
To Me Public -
The New York Times, which for years
prior to 1875 had been the eulogist of
Governor Tilden, Immediately after he be-
came formidable candidate for the Pres.
idcncy, began a series of assaults upon his
private character Atlongth these assaults
eliminated in the charge of making false
statement of his income in 1862. By
dint of reiteration and fabricated specifi-
cations Of items and details, having the
semblance of actual accounts, some we'll
meaning persons were disturbed. Itthere-
fore occurred to me to apply to the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury for certified copies Of
the income returns Of Governor Tilden
and Of Governor Hayes, and on the second
day Of September made such an applica-
tion. The copies applied for have not
been furnished, nor indeed has my letter
received the poor courtesy of an acknowl-
edgmcnt. Meanwhile, the adversaries of
Governor Tilden have apparently had free
access to these returns, and have even
been permitted to photo-lithograph SO much
of them as suited their purposes. l sub
nit this fact to the American people with
out comment. Meanwhile, receiving no
reply from the public authorities, who
seem to regard the documents in their Gus
tody as held in trust for the Republican
party, and not for the whole people, ad.
dressed note to Judge james p. Sinnott
who was confidential law clerk of Gov.
Tilden during the whole period in which
the law imposing an income tax was in
force, asking him to examine the pretended
account of Governor Tilden's income du-
ring the year 1862 published by the Times
and furnish me with such explanations in
regard thereto as his necessary familiarity
with the details would enable him to sup
ply. l have this day received his reply,
presenting full aud entirely satisfactory
refutation of the charges of the Times.
His answer herewith submitted to the
public shows that out Of thirteen pretended
items Of income amounting to $4,000,
eleven items amounting to $4,000 are
wholly fictitious, while of the other two
only one of $1,000 is entirely true, and
the second of 1926, 900 is only partially true.
There is therefore no ground for the as
sertion that the sworn return was not q
Just and accurate statement Of the net
income Of Governor Tilden, after making
such deductions for losses, interest paid
and other charges as the law authorized
him to make.
If exception be taken to Judge Sinnott's
letter on the ground that it does not con-
tain detailed statement of the several
items upon which the return Of 1862 was
made, it is proper to state that the regula-
tions Of the department did not require
such detailed statements, and very few
professional men mado such statements, or
could now recall the items or have kept
the memoranda upon which their returns
were made.
If Governor Tilden were not in nomina-
tion for the Presidency, do not know of
any man in this community whose mere
statement of fact would have been more
generally accepted as the truth, and fail
to see why the eminent position in which
he has been placed by large body of his
fellow-citizens should be held to detract
from the sancitity Of his oath.
ABRAM s. HEWITT,
Chairman National Democratic Committee.
New York Sept. 20, 1876.