Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-25
True Inwardness Of the Florida Con.
feSSiOn.

The so-called confession of McLin, of the
Florida returning board, has been in posses
sion of a member representing western dis
trict in Congress for over ten days Also, a
cOrrobOrative affidavit by others on the
board; also the affidavitS of Messrs. Black and
Vance. who admit that they made bogus re-
turns for Alachua county, and destroyed the
originals. In our telegraphic columns appear
the statement of McIin, which is believed to
be genuine. 1t covers, however, but a small
part of the case, as the custodian of the dOcu-
mentS said this morning that there are at least
half bushel of affidavits all i'm support of the
ly cast for Tilden.
There is undoubted reason for the belief
that during the entire winter the Florida and
returning boards have been the subject OF in
vestigatiOn by certain persons. When McLin
was in the city, during the time his nOmina-
ton was pending in the Senate to be chief JUS
tee OF New Mexico, he made the acquaintance
OF Alfred Z. MOrtin, who was formerly spe
cial agent of the Post Office department.,
through the influence of Senator COnkling.
He worked for Hayes in Florida, but lost his
Office after Hayes. came into the Presidency,
and seems to have been sOured thereby. While
In FLORIDA he became acquainted with McLln,
and was his confidence. About three months
ago he waited on Congressman Finley, of
Ohio, and indicated that If he could secure
the cooperation of prominent politicians he
could go to Florida and get testimony which
would give indiSputable evidence that Hayes
and Wheeler were not entitled to the vote of
Florida. 1t is said that Finley consulted with
Gen. Butler, Senator COnkling, Representative
Springer and others, but it is not known that
he got any encouragement from them, but ac-
cOrdlng to report he was taken up by Tilden
and sent down to Florida. From time to time
he has forwarded to Congressman Finley,
affidayits OF different parties, and who were
vote was fraudulently counted, and capped
the climax with the so called confession of
McLln which he sent from Jacksonville over a
fortnight age. 1t had been the intention of
SpcrPflV
investigation, TO introduce preamble and re-
s0lutlon, the fl st .reciting the allegation that
the vote of Florida was fraudulent1y counted,
to be fortified by the confessions and affidavtS
received; and the second, calling for an in
vestigation of the alleged fraudulent count by
the Judiciary committee. The purpose was to
spring the matter as surprise upon the
House. with such an overwhelming mass of
cOntrmatlye testimony as would preclude the
possibility of defeat of the resolution for in
vestlgation. BY some means, the matter was
prematurely given publicity at Jacksonville
and telegraphed in meagre outline over the
country 6y The Associated Press. This has
somewhat diSarranged the plans heretofore
agreed upon and the course now to be pur-
sued is left for subsequent action.
WM E. CHANDLER
says OF Morton, who is the person who worked
up the SO-called confession, that he was with
the committee of citizens who went to Florida
TO see fair count. and rendered valuable ser
does. not believe that Hayes did not carry
Florida on an honest count, but that if Nc
Lin'S confession is to the contrary effect il
VIII, OF course, shake that belief.
CONGRESSIONAL OPINION.
The matter has created as yet but little eX-
cltement i'll Congress, although it has prOduc
ed more serious impression than any of the
movements heretofore made looking to an in.
YeStlgatlon OF the Presidential question. Mr..
Hewitt, usually clear-headed, says that while
he does not believe that it will affect the fact
that Hayes Will serve his full term as PreSi-
dent. it will be valuable as an unwritten his
tory to show that he was not elected; that it
VIII confirm as fact that which has hereto
fore been only rumor. The democrats, who
have been the custOdiaDs of the McLin ''con-
fess1on," diScaim having any thing to do with
ITS publication, 1t appears that a copy of it
llcan member OF the I'd Florida district, whose
seat is contested by Finley, democrat. Last
night ne gave copy of it to member of the
IS stated, gave it to the correspondent of the
New York Times, and by him it was given to
the correspondents of one or two western
newspapers.
NOT THE BOSS CONFESSION AFTER ALL.
The affidavit published today is not, after
all, the document which those moving against
Hayes intend to use in demanding an invesii-
CATION of the Presidential question. Its his
tory is as follows: When McLin was here last
winter he made the published affidavit in the
presence of several members of Congress. He
was quite i'll and was not expected to live.
subsequently he rallied and returned to
Florida. Before going away he called on the
hSubCl VI SOuglcSS, WHO was Tile custodian
OF the document and asked to amend it i'm
some particulars. A conference of those hav-
Ing knowledge OF its existence was called, and
McLin was urged to make an affidavit, or make
a fuller statement under oath. He said that
ne would do So, and the original statement
the one printed in our telegraphic columns)
was returned to him.
Two weeks ago McLin forwarded supple
mentary confession, more minute in details
says, is stronger than the first affidavit he
made. The first affidavit will not be presented
t0the House, because the second one contains
besides.