The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-23


p.mn,r,,ic National Committee, yester-
dsy made public letter addressed to
him hy Judge James p Sinnott, of the
Marine Court and formerly Governor
nJrp> confidential clerk, meeting the
income tsr charges made against Cover
nor TlIen. The letter, with Mr.. Hew
III. introduction, is as follows:
Mr.. Hcwrii's Explanatory Letter.
T the Pobhc:
The New ork Times which for years
prior t. 1915 had been the eulOgist Of
Governor Tildcn, Immediately alter he
became formidable candidate for the
Presidency, began series of assaults
upon his private character. At length
these assaults eliminated in the charge
Of making false statement OF
his income in 1862. By dint
of reiteration and fabricated specifica
tIOns of items and details, having the
.embIance of actual accounts, some we'll
meaning persons were disturbed. 1t
therefore occurred to me to apply TO the
Secretary of the Treasury for certified
copies Of the income returns of Governor
TlIen and Governor Hayes, and on the
second day of September | made such an
application. ThrcopicS applied for have
not been furnished nor indeed has my
etter received the poor courtesy of an
acknowledgment Meanwhile, the nd
vrr.arirs of Governor Tilden have ap-
parrutly hal tree access to these returns,
and have been permitted To ph";o-lthO'
graph So much uf them as suited their
purposes. submit this fact to the
American people without comment
Meanwhile, receiving no reply from the
public authorities, who seemed H. regard
the documents in their custody ss held
IN trust for the Republican party, and
not for :he whole people, | addressed n
note to Judge James Z. SInnott, who was
confidential law clerk of Governor Til
den during the whole period in which
the law imposing al income tax was IN
force, asking him to examine the pre-
tended account of Governor Tilden's in
come during the year 1862 published by
the Totes and furnished me with such
explanations IN regard thereto as his
necessary familiarity with the details
would enable HIM u supply | have this
asy received his reply, presenting full
AMI entirely satisfactory refutation OF
the charges Of the Times.
His answer herewith submitted tOthe
public shows that out of thirteen pre-
tended items amounting to $4,000,
eleven items of income amounting to
$4,000 are wholly fictitious, while of
the other two, only one $1,000 is en-
tlrely true, and the second of $4,000
j. only partially true.
There IS therefore no ground for the
assertion that the sworn return WAS not
iust and accurate statement of the net
income of Governor Tilden, after making
such deductions for loses interest paid
and other charges rs the law authorized
hn 10 make
If lfexception be taken to Judge Sim
hott.s letter on the ground that 1t does
not contain a detailed statement OF the
several items upon which the return OF
lN02 WAS made it is proper to state the
regulations of the department did not re-
qlIre such detailed statements, and very
lew professional men made such state
ments, or could now recall the items or
nave kept the memoranda upon which
Their returns were made,
If Governor Tllden were not in NOM
nation 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
lie held to detrsct from the sanctity of
his oath.
ABRAM s. HEWITT.
Chairman National Democratic Com
"lttee ,.Nst0 FORK, September 20, 1876.
'udye StnnOtt's Reply TO the
Charges.
NEW YORK, September 20, 1876.
non. AJrGm S. Re,CiH. Chairman.
MY DEAR SIR. / haze racaiYal YOUR