New-York tribune., 1878-11-09
THE Florida RETURNING BOARD.
EFFORTS TO BUY ITS DECISION.

CONYERsATION WITH MANTON MARBLE HE
GRATITUDE OF MR.. TILDEN AND ALL THAT THAT
IMPLIES"
70 the Editor OF The Tribune
SIR: LOng-cOntinued illness has hitherto pre-
vented me from noticing the assertion, contained IN
the cipher dispatches sent from Florida 10 New
York during the Presidential canvass that negotia-
tOns were in progress to purchase the votes OF the
Republican members of the Florida Returning
Board. As one of the members of that Board, l
desire to place before the public thefollowng factsi
Tirst-I never either directly or indirectly, gave
anyone Democrat or Republican, the slightest rea-
son to suppose that money or reward of any KIND
would influence my Official action know that no
amount of money could have induced me to cast my
vote contrary to my conviction of night, and be-
Iieve the same to have been true concerning Mr,
McLln.
NO Republican ever Intmated TO me that
any personal advantage would follow my vote for
the HAYES electors and decided as | did without
expectation or desire of reward. believing that the
Republican electors legally entitled TO the vote
of the state.
Third-Before the canvass had commenced, and
during the time when the Democrats were making
their absurdy Jealous attempt TO force the Board
hy mandamus TO commence the count before the
time fixed by law, Mr.. MantOn Marble, III cOnver-
saton held at my house, after attempting TO I'M
press me with the great danger that would arise to
the country if Mr. Tldcn were deprived of the cleo
tion, said: 81 am n gentleman and see that you
are one and therefore you will not misunderstood
me. | am Mr.. Tildcn's near friend, knowing as
much, If not more than anyone else,
of his views and opinions; and now
inform you that he is a man of immense wealth and
great gratitude, and if by your vote he becomes
President, you will have, not only the gratitude Ot
the great Democratic party, but also the gratitude
of MH Tilden aud all that that impHes.' I'm answer
ignored all that had been SAID concerning Mr. Til
dcn and only replied "As Republican, do you not
suppose / would prefer the gratitude of the great
Republican party to that of the great Democratic
party'" This, l presume, was one OF the visits
"wasted upon the Controller" Atterward Mr..
Marble visited at my house several times, but moth
ing more passed between us concerning Mr. IIdens
wealth and gratitude.
During the progress OF the canvass, Mr.. Andrew
Banks, of Baltimore, visited Tallahassee, ostensi-
bly to attend TO some business before the State au-
thoritics concerning the purchase oflands. Asamem-
Der of the Board having control Of the State lands,
| had met Mr. Banks in Ncw-YOrk few months
pre- yiously and more recently had extended 10 him
some slight courtesies in connection with his negO-
tiations. One morning Mr. Banks while walking
from the hotel to the Capitol with me- thanked me
for my attention To him as exhibited by the aiore-
said cOurtesies, and said: Now wish to help you"
| replied: 81 do not see how you can do
that except by assisting IN establishing
National bank in Jacksonville" This was
business project that had been discussed
between us in New-York. lie said {" That will be
done Of course but / wish to help you in your
trouble here concerning the count" My reply was
You cannot assist us deciding tins question I'M
less you are able to make the evidence plain that
there can be no mistake concerning its meaning"
He reioincd: know )" or " you know that Iiden
has carried the State and it only requires your vote
TO declare this result and if you vote for the lden
electors you can have whatever you desire in Office
and money" asked him If he were in earnest and
who sent him to me with such proposition. lie
replied that the proposition was made in good faith,
but denied having been sent by anyone. He then
went into the Capitol, and looked around the hall
and into my Office hoping to find some honorable
Democrat, like Ex-Governor Walker, to whom ]
might request Mr. Banks to repeat his proposal; but
seeing no one of this character, and wishing to pre-
vent any similar attempt took Mr. Banks into the
Governors private office, which / knew to be
empty and said go to those who sent
Won and say that ] should regard the
election of Mr.. Tiden as National calamity only
TO be excelled by civil and If the evidence be-
fore the Board induces me to vote for the Demo
cratic electors be assured that will never accept
a favor from tho Democratic party nor from any
individual Democrat" This ended the converse
ton. The National bank is not established. !
smoke far more strongly concerning the probable
evil results Of Mr. Tilden's election than | felt in
nv cooler moments, as / was indignant at tins
attempt to influence my vote.
am pleased to say that only one Florida Demo
crat approached me with such proposals, and this
was a member-elect of the Legislature, who had
been Republican, and who came to me the morn
inp before the decision Of the Board was made and
after bewailing the unhappy condition of the coun-
try and expressing his fears that dire and unknown
evils would occur unless Tilden were declared Pres
ident said that he would have more influence in the
future In State affairs than any other Democrat.
and that my fortune should he assured if | voted
for the Tilden electors; that | should be Conovcrs
successor in the United States Senate, etc., etc.
The dispatches show that at least two parties
were informing New-YOrk that they could purchase
the vote of the Returning Board, and tins corrOD-
CRATES the information received by the Republicans
during the last few days of the canvass, that the
Democrats quarTelng among themselves as to
who should have possession Of the money
sent for purposes of bribery. l have no
doubt certain parties were attempting TO
obtain, or had obtained money from New-lork,
upon their assurances that they had bought a mem
Der or members Of the Board and had the Tildcn
electors received the certificate, would have re-
tained the money, informing their principal that 1t
had been paid to the Republican members of the
Board. &. A. CowGILL
Orange Mills F'orido. Nov. 2. 1873.