Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-11-12
THE PRESIDENT PURCHASER.
Que orthe Florida Returning Board TrIls
How Ttlden's Agent Tried 10
Buy Him.

New York, Nov. 8.-Tbe Tribune prints
to morrow y long card FROM G. A. Cowgirl,
Of the Florida returning board, concerning
the attempted briberies. He says that
long continued illness has prevented his
masking the statement before, and declares
That he never gave any democrat To suppose
that money would Influence his action. He
adds: mo republican ever intim.ted TO
INC that any personal advantage would fol-
low my vote for Hayes. and l decided ss l
DID without the expectation or desire of re.
ward, believing the republican electors
we're legally entitled to the vote of the
state Before the CANVASS had commenced,
and curing the time when the democrat.
were making their absurdly zealou. al
tempt to force The board by mandamus to
commence the count before the time fixed
oy law, Mabton Marble, in q conversation
held at my house. at-er attempting to i'm
press me with the great danger that would
arise to the country il Tilden were depriv.
ed Of his election. said: L an a gentleman,
and see lh"t you are one, and therefore
you will not misunderstood me. am
Tilden's near friend, knowing as much, if
not more, than any one else OF his views
and opinions. and | nov inform you that
be Is q man of immense wealth and great
gratitude. and il by your vote he becomes
president, you will have not only the graft
!udc Of Mr.. Tilden, and all that implies
had been raid Concerning Tilden'
and only replied "As a republican, do
YOU not suppose l would prefer the graft
tude of the great republican party to that
Of the great democratic part" This, l
presume, was one Of the visits wasted on
the controller During the progress of the
canvas. Andrew Banks, of Baltimore, visit.
ed Tallahassee. os.ensibly to attead to some
business before the state authorili.s concern.
ing the purchase of lands. As a member Of
the board hating control Of state lands l
had met Banks in New York a few months
previously, and more recently had extended
10 him some slight courtesies in connection
with his negotiations. One morning Banks
thanked me for my attention to him, Is ex.
hibited by the aforesaid cour,esies and eaid /:
'Now wish to help yon.' l replied: L do
not see how you can do that, except by as
sisting in establishing a national bank in
jacksonville This was a business project
that had been discussed between US in New
York. He said, That will be done, of
course, but / wish to help you in your
trouble here concerning the count My re-
ply was: You nno assist US in deciding
this question, unless you are able to make
evidence so plain that there can he no mis-.
take concerning It's meaning He re-
Joined L know rs you know that Tilden
carried the state, and it only re-
qulres your vote to declare this re-
sult. and il You vote for the Tilden cleo
tors you can have whatever you desire in
Office and money asked him if he
were in earnest, and who sent him TO me,
tie replied that the proposition Was made in
good faith, but denied having been sent by
any one. Isald: Go to those who sent you
and say that should regard the election Of
lllden as a national calamity, only t. be
excelled BY civil war, and if the evidences
before the board induces me to vote for the
democratic electors, be assured that | will
meyer accept a favor from the democratic
party nor from any individual democrat.
This ended the conversation. The national
bank is not established. ] am pleased IL
say that onl, o .eFlo1ida democrat approach.
ed me with such bravale, aud this was a
member-elect to the L. gislature who had
been a republican, and who came to me ,ht
morn ng before the decision Of the boart
was made and said my fortune should be As
sureo if l voted for the T,lden electors: tina
l should be Conover's successor in the sen
ate, etc Ine dispatches show that al leas
two parties were informing New York tina
they could purchase the returning board
and this corroborates the Information receiy
ed by the republicans during The past few
days Of the canvass that the democrats were
quarreling among themselves as to whom
should have possession of the money sen
for bribery. 1 have no doubt certain par,ie,
we're attempting TO obtain , or had Obtained
money from New York upon their assuran
ces that they had bought a member or mem
bers Of the board, and had the Tilden elect
ors received the certificate, would have re,
turned the money, informing their principa
that it had been paid to republican member.
Of the board. {. A. CowG1LL.
Orange Mills, Fla, Nov. 9, 1873.
The Tribune explains in an editorial tina