The daily gazette., 1878-11-14
The Tllden Election NegOtfa
tiOms In Florida

/
Statement of Andre,o Banks, Of Batti-
more County.
Reported for the Baltimore Sun.
Mr.. Andrew Banks, Of Baltimore coun-
ty, has made a statement in regard to
the recent charges by G. A. Cowgirl, of
Florida, who had alleged that MIR. Banks
tried to bribe him in favor of Tilden
during the famous electoral count. Mr..
Banks says that before and after his visit
to Florida he had been in friendly col,
respondence with Cowgirl, and that he
(Banks) had no other object in visiting
that State than to look out for large
transactions in public lands. Mr.. Banks
written statement Is as follows
Baltimore, Nov. 11.-My attention has
been called to the letters of Mr.. c. A.
Cowgirl in the New York Tribune of the
9th inst. Mr.. Cowgirl says that he had
certain interview with me during my
visit to Florida in November or Decem-
Der, 1876, when was there ''ostensibly"
to attend to some business before the
State authorities. Mr.. Cowgirl knows
that l was in Florida solely in regard to
the sale of lands for which l had long
been in negotiation, and had gone to
Florida on this occasion at his personal
suggestion as indicated by the following
letters:
"Iditdhdssee, Oct. 0, 1S76.-State of
Florida, Comptroller's Office.-Dear Sir !:
| returned here on Saturday as l antici-
pated, and Mr.. Eagan left yesterday for
New York, taking with him the deed,
properly executed. He will see General
l.. and Mr.. Hayes. hope you may eff
feet the sale through the gentlemen now
in Europe. / find the weather here
pleasant enough, not too warm, and the
city and country healthy. | hope you
will carry out your plan of visiting
Florida next winter. You will find me
in Tallahassee until the middle of Feb
ruary. Yours, truly,
estate Of Florida, ComptroUer's Office
Tallahassee, Nov. Is, 1S76.-Hon. An
| drew Banks: The political situation has
been SO engrossing that the trustees had
no meeting until to-day after the receipt
of your despatch, and, as my telegram
informed you, they decided not to extend
the time of consummation of sale beyond
Dec. |, as they did not wish to possibly
embarrass thei successors by any old un-
fulfilled contract. MIR. Easan. when de-
livering the deed TO Drexel for transmits
sion to England gave directions that the
sale might be made as late as December
l, and our action to-day confirms his ac-
ton. Ii you do not sell by that time |
would suggest that you continue the eff
fort through Mr.. Harris, and come here
about the middle of January and see the
new Governor, cat present unknotu1, and
trustees, and get a new contract, of which
| should suppose there would not be any
reasonable doubt. l regret that Mr.. n :.
Was compelled to delay his operation
till so late period. Hoping to see YOU
if you come, and promising you all in
formation and assistance in the future,
am, yours truly, G. A. CowGILL.
The Gen. l.. referred to, is Gen. VIM.
II. Ludlow, of New York, and the Mr..
Hayes referred to is Gen. Hayes, of New
York whose business is connected with
the sale of public lands. On the strength
of these letters, and not being able to
"consummate the sale by December ], ,
/ went to Florida in order to get an ex.
tension of the time. | had no other bust
ness during my stay. While | was il
Florida l never was introduced to nor did
know any of the gentlemen visiting
that State in regard to the electoral count
, nor was | ever present at the democrati,
, headquarters, nor did send or receive ;
single telegram, in cipher or otherwise
upon the subject OF the election. In IN,
conversation with Mr.. Cowgirl about flu
ture business transactions / said to him
"You know that Tilden has carrie,
a Florida, and that if the State was unde
2 the control of the truly elected officials
confidence heinp restorad thara uorld y
no difficulty in getting all the none
which was necessary to establish ban
t in jacksonville" but this had no refer
n ence in the smallest degree to his vote il
reference to the count. | most positiyel
y deny that l ever said one word to MI
Cowgirl about his being rewarded wit
o Office or money for his vote. 1t is mis-
$ cradle contortion of one of many CONVEX
a sations OF business character CROWN
= out of his connection with the sale {
l. the lands above referred to, about whic
S, l had visited Florida ON three differer
ir occasions. 1t is to me inconceivable ho-
n Mr.. Cowgirl, at this late day, could S
- comfort my conversation with him as t
II furnish cheap advertisement of b
political virtue. Whenever a competer
tribunal shall investigate this matter
" VIII give me pleasure to confront NJ
If Cowgirl, and, under oath, to show no,
mean thing he has done in his atteml
u to connect me with an assault upon h
;" official integrity.
le EDWIN BANKS.
IT. From the Philadelphia Press.
r The Lost Tribes Found.
D. 1sraePs lost ten tribes, if they ev,
were lost at all, are beinp extensiya