The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-29

den. Plan ~. ucwitts Dealings with /
Gen. what May he Found In the
Work that wns Prepared nv Mr.. John
utxeto,y and Mr.. Manton Marble - Not
Another word from Mr.. Henry Wntterson
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: beg
permission to congratulate you and the Demo-
cratic party upon the fact that by inviting and
publishing the discussion OF some late chap
hers i'm our politics, you have dispelled the
widespread and damaging impression that
Mr. Tilden was the author OF the Electoral bill,
pr was represented by Mr.. Hewitt. when among
Tho members OF tho Forty fourth Congress that
pontloman Haunted himself as the special Gus
iodian Of Mr.. Tildcn's plans. opinions. and
wishes in that false guse obtained It's
passage and assisted to place Mr.. Hayes
In the chair OF tho Presidency to which
Mr.. Tilden was elected. | congratulate myself
that my share in this discussion has obliged
Mr.. Hewitt himself TO strip of from his own
shoulders the mantle in which he has so long
been strutting. to confess out OF his own mouth
fhe wretched part he played and to disclose his
phoer Incompetence for atrustworthy individual
or representative character in public affairs.
The personal matters which have variegatcd
this discussion should not be suffered to divert
public attention from its serious significance.
Besides. am contented to leave them and MIR.
Hewitt in the situation which ho accepts
There is no issue OF veracty whatever be-
fwoen him and me. All that | have distinctly
sharged have offered to prove. As the ques-
hon OF fact to which referred IL not piece OF
public property. proposed 10 submit II to the
decision OF those to whom 1t exclusively be-
longs, they to be at once his Judges and my
Witnesses. This Mr.. Hewitt calls the arbitra
hon OF question Of veracity. and prudently
refuses to submit his honor to such tribunal.
The better to secure his retreat. he invents
an issue OF his own. twirls this false issue
about his thumb and forefnger. and, having
disposed OF II in his fiippant way. applauds
himself and accepts his assumption as a vindi-
cation II he is willing to leave the matter
where 1t is. certainly am. The mark which l
have put upon his forehead is there and 1t will
stick.
SO. too. that stll-born address OF his which l
assisted to put out Of the way, but which the
eonceit Of paternity leads him 10 disinter and
christen at this late day as proof of his vrile
statesmanship p-his denial that II states the case
as a dilemma Oregon on the one hand II you
take the face Of the returns. Louisiana and
Florida on the other hand II you 70 behind the
Teturnsl his amusing assertion. nevertheless.
that the address states the case alternately -
makes ono wonder whether the putative was
the real father after all. since he is so indifer
ent to horns.
These. however. are trivial matters. The
facts are out. and my assertions are now sup
ported in the one point by the text OF the ad-
dress itself. and in the other point by Mr.. Hcw-
itt's shirking the tribunal he knows to be com
petent 10 establish my charge upon him Of
personal dshUnor.
The truth is. that all OF Mr.. Hewtt's contra
dlctions Of me are corroborations. As. for ex-
ample. referring to my statement that opposed
the Electoral bill in committee. he says. Mr.
Watterson did not oppose the bill, except in the
sense that he made speech full Of complaint"
&c. Again. referring TO his own dallyings with
Grant. and the equivocal position in which they
placed him. he says. there never was,
and there never can be the slightest
difference between Gen. Grant and myself as to
what passed between us In this interview" and
then he straghtway goes on 10 relate a differ
ence " that did exist. satisfying himself with his
own version Of Ithe story quite forsetlul Of the
awkward figure he cut in the affair and the dis
agreeable impression he made upon the coun-
Try AT the time.
leave him TO cipher out these nconGruites
10 suit himself. They do not interest me. and
will not | imagine, cdify the public Assured
ly. would not recall the spectacle OF the nghty
little bobolink Of n statesman. who clothed IN
garments much too large Tor him. fitted
about the national capital during the winter Of
'76-7 big with the fate OF Caesar and Of Rome. -
His forced withdrawal from the post he had
shown himself so signally unfit TO Ill has at
last reduced him to n position OF nsignih-
cance suited to his ability and merit, and
has satisfied the demands Of justice. II | have
lifted him for moment out Of the obscurity, for
the duties Of which he is so richly endowed. II
was but to verify the truth Of history. not 10 re-
dress any private injury. OF personal wrong at
his hands-I am conscious OF none My only mo-
tive is and from the first has been, the develop
ment and establishment Of facts which bear
upon an eventful epoch.
Mr. Hewtt's unconscious admissions are even
moro notable than his substantial assertions
respecting the origin and passage Of the Elec-
toral bill. He denies any share in its author
ship. and afflrms that it was framed in secret
by the Senate Committee" in framework ana
substance finished -" with the unanimous ap-
proyal OF all the members OF the Senate Com
mittee Democrats as we'll ms Republcans.' 81
Candor may obge me 10 accept for the present
his dsayowal Of any knowledge Of the scheme
until he took the bill at once 10 New York and
gave MIR. Tilden n copy. Jan. l4-thu President
elect. the responsible leader Of the Democratic
party, then for the first time permitted 10 be in
formed Of this finished" plan for the conduct
OF its interests in great political crsisi
But what Gun candor do, stretched 10 lis ~
most Tor a man WHO knew that every member
OF Congress supposed him to be the immediate
and trusted representative OF Mr.. Tilden's
views. who had steadily practised every art that
should enable him 10 shine in that reflected
light, but who now confnsses that he returned
10 Washington without Mr.. Tidens approval OF
tho bill. and there himself, nevertheless. pub
licy approved and finally voted for the same.
What can candor do to comprehend the mind
Df a man who coniesses that Mr.. Tilden to him
In person complained that the Electoral bill
was Il surprise to him /; complained Of " the at
litude OF the Democratic Senators in having
committed themselves to tho measure without
Eonsultation with him = TO him in person OBJ
Iected" to details OF the blll' 10 him in per-
Bon >" said that he would never consent TO sub
isct tho Presidency to a game Of chance;"+ to
him in person was ." very urgent in ask
ing for delay yet who. in the same breath
with these confessions pretends that he did not
hen know +" that Mr. Tilden disapproyed OF the
Electoral bill"