New-York tribune., 1878-04-27
MR. rILnENs FLORIDA GARD.

committee yesterday
MR.. TIIDENS FLORIDA CARD.
, FEELING or prsAIP1NrIFNT THAT THE sENsA-
TicS WAS 80 WEAK A ONE-COMMENIs BY PUB
nc MN.
ICY TEIEGRAPH TO THE TEIBUNEl
W,s,uyGroN. April 26.-The Florida card, from
,bc uiayiag of which so much seems to have been
cvp,c,ed turns out not to have been trump auer
all II bas no: produced onehalf the effect that the
examination of Maddox and Littlcfeld, in the
Louisiana ease. did last Winter, and is not accepted
NV ANYBODY as OF ouo-fourth as much Importance as
tie stories Of those two swift witnesses
The plcscnt feeling in Washington over this busi-
mess is one of disappointment There is something
satisfactory in q genuine sensation, even IL ono
oli,icol opponcats profit by il. BRt when after all
the lab,rthe mountain brings forta ONLY mouse
those who have gathered to witness the operation
feel n resentment in their disappointment, even II
their bouses and farms have been saved from the
expected earthquake.
palf the Republicans in Congress have not read
Mclin's confession; and half the Democrats are
alarmed lest the constant agitation OF TINS uou-
blesome question: which was settled more than
wear ago. and which ought to be allowed to remain
so. shall disgust the people with their party and
strengthen the Republicans in the Fall campaign.
Peace aud quiet are what the country now needs,
these men say and the party that does most TO bring
them about, and preserve them, will be most popu-
lar.
SECRETARY sHERMAN'S OPINION.
Most public men whose opinions worth any
thing have given SO little thought to the Florida
matter that they have little nothing of interest
20 say Secretary Sherman, who has just returned
from Philadelphia, said in conversation this
evening that he did not for moment
believe the extraordinary allegation con-
tanned in McLins confession that the
President knew anything of irregularities in Florida
or would have sanctioned or cOuntenanccd, even
indirectly anything Of the kind. Furthermore, he
did not credit the assertion that Minister Moves
knew anything of these alleged misdoings, he being
O man of sngularly upright and chivalrous charac-
ter He said the idea entirely out of the qucs-
ton.
The Secretary stated that he did not know per-
sonally ANYTHING about the Florida election, nor
did he know McLin, but he did not see how these
allegations or any action upon or investigation of
them could alter the electoral count or its results
Mr. McLn, while q member of the Returning
Board was one Of three qualified judges deciding
matters under their jurisdiction under oath. McLin
rendered his decision, making oath that it was just
and true, and according to the facts. In this
decision his colleagues cOncuned, and the moment
he gave his decision he became functus oiciO.
McLins associates still adhere TO the justice of
lhelr decision and no statement of his sworn to or
otherwise. more than year afterwards, can
mvalidate or even challenge his calm and
deliberate Official act any more than the Supreme
Court could undo decision which 1t had rendered
in a case once before il: that decision would make
the law in that case, although the court might pre-
vent Il from becoming precedent by reversing such
decision in some subsequent case. He believed,
however that this business was merely designed to
be used by the Democracy as campaign ammunl-
tiOn.
Mr.. Sherman expressed himself very strongly upon
the subject of the Presidential election in the South
About Louisiana he said he knew. lie saw matters
there with his own eyes, and they enough to
make the blood boil. In Florida there had doubt
less been trekery upon the Democratic slde but
in Louisiana there had been downright re-
preston and blOodshed and tyranny. He
had doubt but that there had been a
deliberate plan, we'll matured, and thoroughly car
ried out to bulldOze the Cotton States for Tlden.
In Mississippi the negroes were kept from the polls
by terrorism. In Alabama it was the same, and
elsewhere aud If either Louisiana, South Carolina
or Florida had been carried by the Democrats he
believed 1t would have been a crying National
crime and outrage. He for one believed that in all
the Cotton states there had really been clear,
large and undoubted Republican majority.
WHAT MR.. CONGER THINKS.
Mr.. COnger said that no Republicans with whom
lie had talked attached any especial importance To
the allegations of McLin and others and they
considered them as mere factors in the result de-
sired by the Democrats: that Of putting forward
Mr.. Tilden, with as much chance of success
as possible, as their next candidate.
lie understood that Mr. Tiden's agent
had gone down to get these afidavits and that the
whole thing had been arranged by his friends. He
did not how such action could be taken as would
change the aspect Of affairs, even if the allegations
10 ha oh,
OF eOunterfraud from the other side. After the action
OF the Electoral Commission each House had counted
and accepted the returns, and he could see now
tcven If such attempt were made) how they
could make recount, or how either House could
dosO. and thus practically pass judgment upon the
count of the other. He did not think the Repub-
hcans would take any action in the premises.
BUFFERS RELATIONS WITH DENNIS.
General b. +. Butler has given to a reporter Of
The National Republican his version of the interview
between himself and Mr.. Dennis, who figures in the
Florida confessions" and afidavits. He is repre-
sented as saying:
must decline TO say anything as the effect these
confessions may have. am member of the Judiciary
House, VIII be referred. and then shall have 10 pass
Judgment upon them. u would be strange thing for
before bin judcialy in advance OF its submission
to him. will say something, however about the nara
graph In Mr.. Dennis's statement 10 The Herald CORES
pondent which has reference 70 me-
l do not know whether Mr. Dennis has been CORRECTLY
reported or not but this what occurred between ,
and right here In my office Mr. Dennis intro
duced TO me by personal friend and said TO me that
he knew s6methirg about the Florida election.
and that he knew that there had been frauds
committed by the alteration OF poll aud return books
whereby sufficient Republican votes TO make a majority
for Hayes had been added He also read certain
papers purpOrng TO prove that said: II that is So
do not SEQ how Hayes can hold his Office
pni ms is matter which belongs to Congress,
also informed noe that these matters had been made
known 70 Mr. Hayes either through Governor Noyes or
hiGset Il think be said by bothl and Mr.. Hayes had
gwen bnn letters recommending his appointment 70