The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-18
MIR. TILDEN SPEAKS.
THHE NEW YORK STATESMAN AMID TmR
CIPHER DISPATCHES.

tion of 1876, and have looked over those printed
the n n Ron es 2nng 9 t1G
Of the existence Of these kilograms, nor any in
rmation about them except what has been
derived from or since the publication In the
So much for these teeeramg generally I
shall speak yet more specifically as to some Of
First-Those which relate to an offer purport-
ing to have been made in behalf of some mem
o es oa OF fe m q s
flcates to the Democratic electors. who had been
actually chosen None Of these telesrams p ems nor
answering such offer. or in relation to
such an offer, was seen by . ne.
to me the contents bad Of it any
edge of the existence or purport Of any telegram
relating to that subject nor DID learn the fact
been made until long after the sixth of Decem,,
ber, at which time the certificates we're delivered
formaion n e casually reached me- as Of 1 past
event. 1t was accom- panied by statement that
the offer, had been rejected;
Secondly-As TO the publication in the Tribune
of this morning, purporti Ing to be translations
of cipher telegrams relating 70 the CANVASS OF
seen since wrote the foregoing. can can speak
of them no less definitely and positively NO
one Of such telegrams. either In cipher or
was as hoWn to its nen II
behalf Of the State canvassers Of South Caro-
line, or of any of them. or Of any dealing
was ever authorized or sane ioned In any man
ner by me directly or through any other person:
will add that no offer to give certificates OF
any returning board or State cHnvassers of any
State to Democratic electors In consideration Of
promises of office or money or property: no
ence the action of any elector of President and
Vice President by such motives was ever enter
tanned, considered or tolerated by me. or by any
with my knoWiehge or acouiescnnce. NO such
contemplated transaction could at any time
have, come within the range Of my power with
out that power being instantly exerted to crush
1t out.
belief was doubtless current that certificates
from Florida. conforming to the actual vote Of
slightest doubt in the world" said Mr.. salston-.
stall who was in Florida at the time IN Il rec, nt
vote could have besn bought by Mr.. Tilden bad
he been dishonorabe enough 10 desire it done
for 9 great deal ltss than $4,000 Or $4,000. It
State canvasseIs could control its action and
give certificates to the Democrats: either one of
Them could settle 5the presidential controversy
in favor OF the Democratic candidates, who
lacked but one vote"
tue chairman Of the board Of state can
Ia ms h bei9te TIE pqt &
true vote of the people of Florida was in favor
of the Democratic electors, and that the fart
even appeared on the face OF the county returns.
including among them The true return FROM
B tker county, withstanding the great frauds
against the Democrats in some OF the county
certificates to the Republican elector $ hey acted
under the influence OF promi es thatth should
dent. adding that certainly. these promises
must have had q strong control over my j@dg-
ment and action
After the certificates of the Louisiana Return
ing Board had been repeatedly offered to Mr.
Hewitt and others for money they were given
in favor Of the Republican electors. who hai
,run JnTifT Of no
voters. and members of this board now possess
the most important Federal offices In that
none of these corrupt boards gave, their, Ger,
tifcate- to Democra'ic ic electors. but they all did
give them to the Republican electors.
had peri city fixed purpose from which
never deviated by word or act-a pu pose which
was known to and sustain'd by all with whom
was in habitnal communication: II the prtsi.
dency Of the United State was to be disposed Of
by certificates TO be won from corrupt return
Ing boards by any form of venal inducements,
take no part in the shameful competition, and
took none The main interest OF the victory
which resulted in my election was the expecta-
ton that through the chief magistracy. q system
of reforms similar to that which had been ac-
complished in our metropolis and State ad-
ministration would be ach hieved in the Federal
government For this object it was necessary
l should be untrammeled by any comment
In the choice OF men to execute the, official
trusts OF government. and untrH mme1ed by any
obligation TO special interests. had been nom
mated and was elected without one Limitation
of my perfect Independence. To have surren
position by degrading competition for re-
turning board certificates would have been to
abandon all that made victory desirable. every
thing which could have sustained me in the
larger struggle that victory would have i'm
posed upon .3I, me; was resolved to go into he
resources for usefulness or not at all: While
thus abstaining from an ignoble competition for
such certlhcates. tt saw these certificates obain-
chosen by the people and denied to
Democratic De electors who, had been chosen
s cs2eae psfR Thee aoW conalsed se and and
proved to have been obtained by. corrupt in
ducements, were afterward made the pretext of
President and vice President. These certificates
were declared by the tribunal to which Congress
count Of DISPUTED electoral votes to be absolute
and indisputable conveyance OF q title to the |
chief magIstracy of the nation. Florida. which |
dicial powers to testify to Congress long before |
the count who were her genuine agents. who
had by statute caused a re- canvass and the issue
Of the right Of the true electors
to deposit the votes entitled to be counted, was
TO 0a ac Me OF aaono noW bg 50
Congress, though vested by the constitution
with authority, to count the electoral votes;
1t should receive evidence or as to the nature of
the evidence. and though subject to no appeal
from its decision, was declared to have no power
to guide its own count by any information 1t
could obtain or by any authority which it might
accept from the wroDged and betrayed state,
whose vote was about to be talsified.
, The monstrous conclusion was thus reached
that the act Of one man holding the deciding
vote in a board of State canvassers (for without
his concurrence the frauds of other returning
boards would have failed In giving certificates
irmed. to be false and fraudulent. and con-
essed to have been obtained by promises Of
s2onths before Congress could begin the count,
nust prevail over all remedial powers Of the :
State OF Florida and the Congress Of the United
staSes combined, and must dispose Of the Chief
dagistracy of this republic.
s. }. TTLDEN.
New York, October 49, 1873.