New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
OREGON DISAvOWALS.
MR. HEWITT AND SENATOR KELLY NOT IN THE PLOT.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.]

icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 16-Abram S. Hewitt, Chair
man of the National Democratic Committee, has
asked the Senate committee which has been engaged
IN decphering the Oregon dispatches, to allow him to
make statement concerning his knowledge Of those
dispatches. In substance that statement will be that
he knew nothing of the dispatches winch passed be-
tween Patrick, Senator Kelly, George s. Miller, w.
T. Peton and Others touching the purchase of a Re-
publican elector in Oregon, until he them in the
newspapers If there was any plot 10 purchase an
electOr or to use money in any illegal way, ii was
wholly concealed from him. The sole object of the
dispatches which he sent to Oregon and which
have been printed, lie says, was to enable the Demo-
Gratis TO take advantage of any technical point in
their favor in the Oregon case, by means OF which
they might force the Republicans to make an exami-
nation of the eases in the Southern States His dis
patch to Senator Kelly, in which he requested him to
return to Oregon was he says, in reply to one which
he received from ex-senator CasseTly, saying that
Mr. Kelly was in San Francisco and requesting him
to tell the Senator to return for the purpose of con-
suting With Gov. Grover Although he was in tele-
graphic correspondence with Gov. Grover prior to
the 9th of December, he utterly failed TO get from
the Governor any ntimatOn Of what he intended to
do concerning Cronin's certificate. Mr. Hewitt says
he never saw OF heard of any OF the cipher dis
patches until they were translated by the commit
tee and at no time knew anything about the matter
to which they refer.
Senator Kelly looked seriously distressed to-day.
and occupied the afternoon in explaining to Demo-
cratic Senators how he came to sign the dispatch
| advising that money be sent for buying Republic
can clector. At different times during the session OK
the Senate little knots of Democratic politicians
gathered around his seat to listen 10 this explana-
ton but if their c0untenances were fair ndica-
ton of their feelings they were almost without ex-
cepton greatly Disguised with the whole affair."
Senator Keys story is substantially rs follows: He
SAYS that j. X. n. Patrick brought to him on tho
3Oth of November cipher dispatch to COL w. I.
FELTON, and said that he had prepared telegram to
| the Secretary of the Democratic National Commit
tee asking the latter to place $4,000 to his credit
| for the purpose of paying lawyers fees aud other
necessary expenses connected with anticipated
litigation this dispatch Patrick requested him to
| indorsc because the Senator was known to tho
| National Democratic Committee and II was de-
sirable 10 secure prompt action Mr.. Kelly positively
asserts that he coud not read the cipher and that
| no other Interpretation OF it than the one given
above was made. Supposing Patricks statement Of
its meaning be the true he indorsed it with
ont hesitation. The Senator also says that subss-
ouently he earnestly underworld to get from the
National Committee money to pay the lawyerS fces.
but was unsuccessful He borrowed $3 200 on his
own note for that purpose aud paid $4,000 d II -
Hill, Thompson Il Durham who had been retained
as lawyers The remaining 1900 he paid for the
expenses Of bringing ONO Ut tho Democratic eiecton