Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-28
Mr.. TiIden and the Electoral Com
mission.

Abram 8. Hewitt has written another letter
to MIR. Watterson, in which he says:
Tho first knowledge ever bad Of the bill
providing. for the Electoral Commission was
when il was presented TO The House Electoral
Committee at their first joint conference. 1t
had been framed 10 secret by the Senate com
mittco without any consultation with me or
With any democratic member OF the House
committee. 1t came to Us in finished state,
as was stated, with the unanimous approval OF
all the members of the Senate committee, the
democrats, as we'll as republicans. 10 frame
work and substance it was the bl! which was
finally adopted, with some unmporant modl'
6catiops which the House Committee were
subsequently able to secure. 1t contained,
however. provision by which the fnal con.
stilution of the commission was to be deter
mined by lot. The presentation of this scheme
took the democratic members Of the House
committee by surprise. !,
II proceeded at once to New York and passed
the greater part of January IA with Governor
Tildep, discussing the provisions of the Senate
bill, of which gave him copy. he com,
planned that it was a surprise to him and OF
the attitude of the democratic Senators, hay
ing committed themselves to the measure With
out consultation with him. lie objected to
some of the details Of the bill, especially tina
provision for lot, aud said that he would never
consent to subject the Presidency to game OF
chance. He asked for delay, which l told him
was impossible, because the Senate Committee
had notified that they felt constrained TO make
an immediate report to the Senate because OF
the brief interval left for the making the cleo
tora count but with the conviction resting on
nv mind that he did not wish his friends to
be responsible for the defeat OF tho measure, l
tried hard TO get him either to approve or dis
approve the measure, but failed to get any
other cxuression from him than that he would
not take the responsibility OF advising BIZ
friends to oppose and defeat the bill when he
was pLWerless to control the subsequent legls
lation. Before leaving l told him that 1t he
would not take this responsibility We must act
on our OVID judgment. and that We had duties
| RI narform al members OF CungI 81 which
wluld compel Us 10 act and act promptly.
then left hlm. to take the train. without hav'
lng secured his express approval or dlsppproVa
| # the measure under the peculiar o'rcnm
| Stances in which VIC were placed, hut lie was
very urgent for Moro anne.
Il have siuce been ted that he vas at sha
| time cngagcd 10 celebrating plan If prnce
| ,lurc upon which hc would TO prepared tt
| stand, bui he did not lhto IT, | me. aud llac
10 knowledge of the fact until long ailer~ard
The mex moruing early communicated Il
INV coll, agura the views IF Mr.. i'lldaD, SO tai
| As I WAS ~ rossesslo.i of them, anI W. at QUO;
| urc,t, 4 ha, We G. uh DOt assr nf tO The piai
| OF cnois,ps any of the JUICES by lor, aud b
| b.. subs 4ucur meeting OF di'' J LAT CON M tee
| hat plau Was Abandoned aud INC ElaG Kno~t
! rs Tho -four senlpr Justice piao Was proposed
| TO US By tho Senate z 'mmi,iec.