The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1871
ATTEMPT TO BUY AN ELECroR--A MIMBER OF
THE SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTORAL COLLEGE
DOLLARS.
Hon. w. b. Nash (colorcdl Of Columbia S. c., tost
ned before the scuate Committee on Privileges and
Elections this morning.
la reply questions from Senator Morton be stated
that he rs member OF the South Carolina Senate and
OF the Presidential electors OF that State; knows
man named Childs, who is President OF the Carolina
National Bank; had an interview with Chds at his
lChldsp house on tho day previous to tho meeting
Of the South Carolina Electoral College; Mr.. Chds
Invited w.,noss to como 10 his house; during tho in
icrview Mr.. Childs and witness talked about the
political situation South Carolina, and Chiids
marked to witness that If South Carolina have
= good government and be prosperous in the future
Hampton must be The next Governor, ard the only
way IN which this could bc brought about was have
The Senate, of which witness Is member,
seat the democratic senators from Edge
acld Laurens and Abbcville counties and
Tor Their. recognize the democratic House.
Mr.. Childs told witness that he ChIds) had $50 900
which ho would give witness II no would get
votes enough the Senate to seat the demo.
cratic Senators from the three counties before
mentioned witness told Mr. Childs tina, he (witncss,
EdgclclI and Abbeville, and that he had ex
pressed himself the first meeting OF the
Senate IN November last, but no was not in
favor OF seating the democratic Senator from Iaurens,
and that no could not take the money offered or do
what Mr. Childs wanted him in relation to having the
democratic House recognized by the Senate.
Witness mentioned to Mr. Childs, just as he
sbout leaving, that he (witness) could not call
him (Childs) next day as requested as he had to
attend tho meeting of the Electoral College;
Childs remarked to witness that he would
give him $4,000 cash II he (witness) would
cast his for Tdcn and Hendricks and that after
witness had so cast his Childs would give him
$40 900 additional; witness refused the offer and told
Mr. Childs that he witness, republican, and that
his (witncss' people would be very angry Mt him IL he
should vote for the democratic candidates.
Mr Childs told witness that he (~itncss)
got his $4,000 he could go 70 Europe or any other
place and live witness replied. eyes. and have people
pointing their fingers as along tho street, -
witness refused Chds offers, and, he leaving,
Cbtlds remarked
.'Rcmcmbcr, Nash, this Is graveyard talk"
Witness understood that the $40, 0C0 was to
from some merchants lawyers living at Charleston
$. c. but he did not know where tho $4,000 or the
$4o 600 which was promised him II he would vote for
Tildcu was TO come from ho never met Smith Weed
or man named Reynolds from tho North.
Senator Herman crOss-exnmincu tue wlncss NJ
some length without bringing out anything In addition
20 what he had already testcd to- save that witness
had talk with Genera! Hampton previous TO his con-
ycrsa,ion with Mr.. ChiIds Witness conversation
with General Hampton was the politics oil tho State
IN general and Mr.. Chds told witness that General
Hampton had told him that he was mucI
pleased with tho way in which witness
linked The morning OF the meeting oil tho
Electoral College OF South Carolina newspaper stated
that wilncss was going TO save tho country and cast
hts electoral vote for Tdcn Several persons asked
witness about II and lie in joking manner replied
s'Yes, OF course am"
When he went into the room wncre the college mot
he was asked about the way in which he should vote
and he replied
"wciI, gentlemen, I know where some one can get
$50, 600 II they win vote for Tlen."
Witness has seen Chids since the Electoral College
met and Chds asked witness to say nothing about the
senvcrsaton they bad had IN relation to money. Wit
ness told Mr.. Chllds that he should ray nothing
shout 1t except what was true.
GENERAL BE1KNAP's APPLICATION FOR SPEEDY
Gcucrn, Bclknap has been in Washington since
Apr awaiting trlai IN court and although ten months
have elapsed the Indictment, no action looking
To tra OF has been taken by the aut hcrtcs.
lie and hrs friends think that the should be either
,r,c or dismissed and that continued delay Is UNJUST
especially they have doubt OF acquitaL Hc to-