The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-08-26
politital afairs.
MR., TILDEN'S DEFENSE.
Speech of the Hon. Abraham 5, Hewitt,
Of New York,


Of New York.
In the closing hours Of the session Mr.
Kasson, of Iowa, made violent and un
lust attack upon GoverHcr Tilden. Th
following is the reply Of the Hon. Mr.
Hewitt, of New York, which was so rap
turously applauded by his fellow-members
Mr.. Speaker, to me the speech whicl
. the gentleman from Iowa delivered thi
evening was a paiGful surprise and mel
ancholy experience. If | had not hearC
. it, could not have believed that gen
tleman of his intellectual endowments cOulG
so far abdicate his own self respect and
forfeit the good opinion of his fellow-men
bers 10 this House as to have INDUCED in
the partisan and, am sorry to add, the
malicious statements he has made in re-
gard to Governor Tilden. confess tina.
do not intend to make uny elaborate
feply to what be has said in this House.
approach the subject as ] would take
bold of slimy snake, with desire to get
bid of it at the earliest possible moment.
But charges were made against one whom
have known for so many years and with
.uch intimacy that it seems to me have
Do other course to take than to brand the
harges as utterly false before this House
And before the country.
Mr.. Page. Which charges does the
Gentleman from New York mean?
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York. Twill state
Dc charges; | was going to state them.
The first charge was that Governor Tilden
BID been Seccssionist, and there were
1uoted as authority for that assertion state
pents and passages from an open letter to
Dc late Judge Kent, dated in 1860.
Ihe gentleman from Iowa possesses only
attracts from that letter. He was good
hough to allow inc 10 look at those ex-
hcts. Now, have only to say in regard
that letter that neither the gentleman
Hbm Iowa nor any other person can un-
erstand the true purport and bearing Of
without having the entire letter before
Mm aud without having some reference to
IL circumstances under which it was
bitten. 1t is not saying much that since
LB6O a great many people in this country
hye had their theories of government
hanged aud their ideas of political duties
salarged. 1t is possible that in 1860, be.
20 the late strife, Governor Tilden may
NC entertained views in common with
3efeson, Madison and jackson, and other
IN who have given constructions to the
Xpnstitution and government Of this coun-
~ which now would be modified. But
that | can see in the extract which he
I'd relates rather to that era of the gov
<hment when the states were bound to-
fher, not by the Constitution, but by the
zf<icles of confederation. The next charge
~ the gentleman made against Governor
den was in exactly these words: "That
M was disunionist." When the ques-
Id was pressed home to him he travelled
sonnd the point little, but still the
<1nrge remained that he was u disunionist
b not know upon what he based that
1Earge. l can only say that ut the out
az Of the rebellion | was in daily and
@1ost in hourly communion with him,
~ | know that no moro loyal or patriotic
~ beat in the United States at that
10; and when the gentleman from Iowa
S1 1llengcs his friends to say when and
<1cre he ever made any contribution to
I18 Union cause or ever assisted soldier
be war, | answer him by saying that
len tho first call for troops came, Tam
10y Hall, which had not then fallen into
~ hands of the ring, raised regiment,
11i the grand sachem of Tammany Hall,
Ip. ID. Kennedy, was colonel of the reg
|a11nt 1t was ofieered mostly by mem
lFt of the Tammany Society, and being
ELI a member aud from the state of
INV health unable to go to tho war, al
IIoagh | rendered other services, | sent
~ nephew as one OF the officers Of that
1CI/hent.
;. Lapham. Will the gentleman al
1E me to ask Lin a question?
"a. Hewitt. Yes, sir.
q. Laphani. Does not the gentleman
..1F that the call for the meeting at
11per Institute, Immediately after the
1||o of Fort Sumter was presented to Mr..
||4sn for him to sign, and he refused to
&1 i, and refused to attend the meeting?
d. Hewitt, Of New York. | will an
~ that question that it is not true that
rfused to sign tho call, and that it is
2t that he did attend the meeting,
#pplause1 and | defy that gentleman to
Iag any authority for the charge he has
1|anated.
1Ir. Lapham. II lisa fact as well known
g ne State of New York as any other
4'& 10 its history.
81. Hewitt, OF New York. 1t is not
y Dir. Samuel Sloan, the present presi.
11It of the Delaware and Lackawanna
load Company, then member Of the
iaioA safety committee Of New York, ap-
|t1 10 Mr.. Tilden at time when he was
bed in the trial Of case before a re-
1f11 10 affx his name to the call, and he
~ Fl am very busy just now; send me
NV <esolutions after / am out Of this case,
.q1 Il they are entirely proper | will sign
<ne All. " When the meeting took place
70 e<teDded il. The call was never sent
h]m and he never refused to sign it,
~ nc the prudent and sagacious man
~'''o4 he is, he desired to know the nature
" IIIo resolutions. They did receive his
s|e>|ute and unqualified approval. Now
W HAT Tammany Hall raised regi-
..... 4 l ~