The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-01

tnht letter-tnat II was not obligatory or
him-snd if he followed the wishes o
his heart and the dictates of his judg
ment he would endeavor TO have these
gentlemen supplied with what they
needed, SO as to determine the result
and he asked me whether I had any OBJ.
jections to cooperate with him. l said
professionally I cannot, but in view Of
the magnitude of the interests at stake
have no hesitation to do all that ID in my
little power" The result was that after
one or two long conversations extending
over portion of the next day, and after
some preliminary reduction of the points
to writing, repaired to New York and
there had an interview with several en-
inent gentlemen in the Democratic party
TO whom fully related those antecedent
iacts. had but one letter, that which
l have already produced to the commit
tee, and in order to conceal the name OF
the party to whom it was addressed, !
cut it out, but have it with me, prop.
erly identified. l arranged with him
certain preliminsrIes.
Z. Did you see the letter to Senator
West? A. l saw sealed letter. l did
not see the contents, but this gentleman
voluntarily stated to me its con-
tents, the chief part of which
WAS that the Democrats had to
pay million dollars, and that the Re
publicans wanted a million 10 couutersct
that.
z, The gentleman with whom you
had this conversation is, you say, within
this building now? A. He was here this
morning; came up to the Capitol with
him.
By Mr.. Lswrence-Who is this gen.
tleman? A. His full name is Joseph
Harris Maddox.
z. Did he give you any other paper
than this letter purporting to be from
Wells? A. Nothing in the shape of q
letter or crede ntial; we made some notes
rs to the basis on which be proposed that
L should cndeavor to negotiate the affair
Q-What were you to negotiate? A.
Il was to negotiate if possible money
enough to pay Gov. Wells aud his fellow
members of the returning board TO do
what l considered right and proper.
That is to say to determine the State for
Tilden. He informed Inc they would
give it for Hayes unless they were paid
10 give it for 1iden. Under which cir
cumstsnce / felt perfectly justified in
doing all in my power lest l might
regret 1t every hour after. To attain
that great end with the gentlemen with
whom | endeavored TO make the Regotia.
ton, 1 am happy to state, informed me
that had our positions b'en reversed (it
he had been IN my place and IN his
he would have done precisely what l
did
q. The thing which he proposed to
you was that you should make the neces.
sary negotiation to get Wells and the
Returning Board to give the State to
Tilden; is tina. it? A. He Informed me
the State was Democratic by from 5000
to 1900 votes, but that 1t would be
counted for Hayes by that Returning
Board; he knew its complexion; he had
been acquainted with Wells for 90 years,
he said, and with Anderson nearly rs
long, and 70 get them TO do what WAS
right, assented to see these parties at
his instance, and 10 endeavor to see
if negotiation could be made.
q. In other words, the objec. was to
raise money? A. Most undoubtedly;
no; for myself, but for this great object.
. And the money was to be given TO
Maddox? a. No, not to be given TO
him; stakeholder would have been
chosen.
.. Who was TO be stakeholder A.
Tha. WAS to be determined by those who
would supply the slnews Of war.
q. Whom did you see in New York;
A. endeavored first TO see Mr.. Hewitt =.
lie was out of town that day Sunday,
bu.a .o.e was sent in the evening that
ne I'd returned and l did see hin.
Previously | saw Mr.. John Morrissey,
with whom l had some slight scqusin-
tancn / stated these facts 10 him. He
said liza. while he had no particular OBJ
iectiuls TO paying man to do what was
ri ,ht, he did not feel that he was in that
necessity. He said that he would buy
these "telows" as readily as be would
buv plga, or words TO that etiec'. In
which conceded with him in the in
terest of 40, 100000 people, but be said
tha. We all knew that Tilden was elected
ard be had lust received information
from Oregon, which made II unnecessary
TO resort to any suoh measure.
That was about the purport of
nv conversation with Mr.. Morrissey.
o. Did YOU receive any money from
him? A. None.
q. Did YOU meet Hewitt? A. In the
evening | saw Mr. Hewitt and went
over the whole story 70 him, to which he
listened very patiently and kindly. J
told him that while had been attorney
st-isw for n great many years, and for
ten or twelve years in Washington,
had never used dollar corrupIiy aud
never expected 10, but in this case | ieit
the approval of my conscience upheld by
duty In presenting the thing 10 him. De
said were our positions reversed. he would
have done precisely the same. He
said that this was the third proposition
of this kind that had been made 10 him
on the part OF the Returning Board OF
Louislsna, but ths, mine appeared the
most plaesible aud authentic, and that
under no circumstances would they en-
,ertain any such proposition; that II We
fought them now We volld have 70 buy
over hereafter; that if the country was
going into civil war, We might ss well
let /, cotae aud b. done with it, but that
he had 20 apprehension OF any such re-
.u.t sud ths; the country knew that
Tilden Wa. elected. That Was about
the purpori of our con nversstion-
Q. Wss anything said between you
ana Maddox ss 10 how much money be
snould have. A. There was nothing said
=. to how much be should have and II
vas HI. affair. He said thst if ! could
succ.ed ia making the negc.istions he
would see that / should be very
handsomely compensated; thsi should
have my proper share said
| would take the money, for l would re-
gard it as spelling the Egyptiaas- and
wsuld distribute it AMONG the widows
ana orphans.
Wnress s,s.ed that he hSd been a