New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-29
GUINlS PIN.

Senator Gordon has forgotten to explain
little affair, more or less intimately connected
with the Weed and PeltOn correspondence,
and we presume that he Will thank us for
calling his attention to it in order that he may
t1nterpOse another "clear and convincing
"quetus." In the latter part of November,
1876, several days after the South Carolina
Returning Board had issued the certificates 10
the HAYES electors, Mr.. Hewitt wrote letter
of advice to the Chairman Of the Democratic
State Committee of South Carolina The
exact purport of this letter is not known.
1t is not difficult, however, TO form
reasonable conjecture respecting it. The
South Carolina Legislature was to meet on
the 2Sth. There would certainly be two
houses organized, one Republican, the other
Democratic, each claiming regularity, aud
Mr. Hewitt is understood to have stated that
President Grant would recognize whichever
house should first obtain a quorum OF men,
bers holding certificates from the Returning
Board Almost the last hope of the Demo-
Gratis at that time was 10 secure the South
Carolina Legislature, and we may fairly pre-
sumo that Mr.. Hewitt's advice related there
fore to measures for winning over enough
weak or doubtful Republicans TO give his
friends quorum.
Hereupon Colonel Haskell, Chairman of the
State Committee, telegraphed to MIR. Hewitt
as follOws
COLUMBIA Nov 81.
! ABRAM s. HEWITT. Ner- York
Your letter OF oath INST received. Yonr suggestions
will observed 6n he erent upon which success de-
pends ica not be Effected uneSS aid grcn See Senator
| Gwn, and answer by telegraph Today. Every hour Is
| In "A
| Tentatively. A. C. HASKELL
| And Senator Gordon, who seems to have
known better than to bother Mr.. Hewitt with
this business, teegraphed at the same time
| to Gramercy Park:
| COLUMBIA. Nov. 81.
| W. r. PEIToS, Netr- York
Hewitts letter Gath, to Haskell received Programme
suggested is being followed. The contingency which
this turns depends itself suggestion made by Gwin
some DAYS ago. Can act IL iRmediuteIyg Consult
| and without delay. }. b. GoRDoS.
To these requests for aid General Wade
| Hampton added his voice:
Linn Nov. 81.
| Hon. A. S HEWITT. Sew-Tork:
Consult DR.. Gwin about his dispatch and answer II
j can act on il. WADE HAMPTON.
! Now it is hardly necessary to observe that
1 if there had only been question here of local
| political maneuvres, the chairman of the
| ate Committee, the leader of the party in
( 1th Carolina, and an eminent Southern
| statesman like General Gordon would not
have asked permission from New-YOrk before
they yentured to "act." They were entirely
| competent to manage the organization OF the
| South Carolina Legislature without the help Of
! Gramercy Park, so far as the responsibility
was concerned. and the only laid they
could have wanted from that quarter was
money. The uses of money in securing a
| ouorum are not at all doubtful. 1.-THE con-
tingency Oh. which Hewitt's programme
turns depends itself on suggestion made
"by Gwin some days ago. Can we
act [on] it Immediately ~ Really,
| Senator Gordon could not have made
his wishes much palmer if he had
expressed them in the language of commerce.
| or if he had paraphrased Colonel Haskell by
saying frankly: I've cannot buy quorum
"uness you put up the money"
| But if any doubt existed as to the nature
of the aid demanded, that doubt was removed
| by the dispatches of the confidential agent
who was Immediately sent from Gramercy
| Park TO Columbia with the dictionary CIPHER
He te!egaphed to Colonel Pelton as soon as
he reached the scene of action:
Hampton's triumph depends upon contingency OF
| senate cipluici IOuT Notea luuhIthhADc LIpCci 10
raise tn state thrice and haJ times four thousand dollars IL
y0u JlGnishlke amount mOrTOD morning. Money 10 DC
| returned II unsuccessful.
The next day he telegrapbed, "Last nights
"reGuest important if not vital,r and
added that besides the four yotesp in
the Senate, at $4,000 apiece, n "couple
new negroes were seen necessary in
other house." All which, it strikes u.s. is
sufficiently unambiguous. Colonel Pelton re-
piled 90 WH do as requested if IL wiH secure
seceral electors" And that appears to have
been Owns plan"
Probably Senator Gordon thinks that the sus-
piclon of his completely in this transaction is
T" not worth noticing at all D; but when be takes