Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-07
ELECTORAL COMMISSION,

ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
Mr.. Tilden.s Course Io,caras 1T, as Re-
lated by Manton Marble.
Washington Special (Aug. A. to Chicago
Times.
In the recent correspondence between
Henry Watterson and Abram S. Hewitt tie
former called upon Mr.. Manton Marble, as
the only personal witness of some of the
facts in the history of the electoral bill and
of Mr.. Tilden's relation thereto to publish
these facts and put on record the whole of
this important chapter in our political an
nails. Mr.. Marble will tomorrow publish a
paper setting forth these facts. He says
thot nothing Mr.. Tilden did caused. and
nothing was omitted to avert, the success of
the plot which effected revolution in the
Presidential succession. After relating in
detail
THE REPUBLICAN CONSPIRACY.
beginning with the dispatches of Chandler,
Mr.. Marble states when and how Tilden pro-
ceeded to assail that conspiracy. ''Mr. Til
den" says the writer, s.took immediate pains
OF Representatives that the final success Of
the low plot was impossible if that House
would stand firmly and immovably on the
unbroken series of precedents formed by he
twenty-five Presidential counts from 1898 to
1872. He demanded that they expose and
combat in full debate the threatened usurpa-
ton by the president of toe Senate of
THE RIGHT TO COUNT THE VOTES
on 10 In
this issue Mr.. Iilden counseled many of his
friends in the leadership of the House not
only to stand, but to force the debate first
in the House and then in the Senate. He
accepted all responsibility for the outcome.
He assured them that were their temper
stiff and resolute, the conspiracy would
break down in process of execution" After
dwelling at length on the earnestness with
which Mr.. Tilden tried to push the fight on
this plan, Mr.. Marble gives history of the
electoral scheme and proceeds: sHe would
not be drawn into the slightest expression
of
PERONAL SANCTION
to the electoral scheme, which was adopted
on the 18th of January with unanimity by
the Democratic members of the committee
of both Houses. Mr.. Tilden, in his inter-
view with Mr.. Hewitt, on the 14th, did not
withhold the grounds of his objection to the
bill Expressing some surprise at the fact
that the Democratic Senators had already
determined upon their course, whatever his
advice Ct wishes might be, and some sur
prise at the secrecy which had shrouded the
CESSATION of their project, Mr.. Tilden OBJ
served that secrecy in respect to any plan
duplicating the rights and interests of so
many was
MISTAKEN AND UNFORTUNATE POLICY.
He recommended the widest publicity, the
fullest discussion, and the freest consulta-
ton. Mr.. Tilden's criticisms of the details
of the bill, of which in no shape could he
approve either the policy or the substance,
exemplify the political sagacity of the states
man;
IF arbitration is to be adopted the tribunal
ought to be fixed in the bill itself, and not left
to chance intrigue. If an arbitration is to
be adopted, the duty of the arbitrator to in
vestigatc and decide the case on its merits
should be made mandatory and not left ques-
ton of construction. With both the vital
points LETT at loose ends, you cannot succeed.
You can exact first, the selection of good men
to compose the tribunal, which is the CONTROL
ing point; and, second the nature of the func
ton to be performed by the tribunal, which is
next in Importance. Fix these two points.
good men, explicit powers, and you might pos
sibly get through. Leave them doubtful, and
it is happy go-lucky, the shake of dice box.
''THE SCHEME
which Mr.. Hewitt had brought contained in
its first draft provision by which six Judges
were to be described in the act, one of them
to be eliminated by lot. To this Mr.. Til
den's objection was peremptory. Said he:
4 may lose the Presidency, but I will not
rattle for it, He was pressed to say that if
the bill could be modified so as to fix the five
judges by a positive provision, he would give
it his approval. He firmly declined. The
measure itself was not one as to which
MIR. TILDEN's ACTION
was OF could be hesitated for single instant.
His practical objection deserves as much
weight as any argued objection then or since,
namely, that so great stake as the govern
ment of forty-fve millions of people with
an immense civil expenditure, and one hun
dred thousand officeholders to be disposed of
by small body sitting in the capital, the
judge of its own powers, would become the
sport of intrigue or Fraud
TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.
s'The next day. Jan. Is, Mr.. Hewitt hay,
ing returned to Washington, telegraphed
thence to Mr.. Edward Cooper. in New York:
ITO e. C.-The Senate committee will prob
ably reject the five and report the six Judge
plan Immediately. The Senators feel commit
ted to concur. The House committee will not
concur and for the present will probably not
report.
NEW YORK, Jan. Is, l877.-To A. s. H.: Pro.
crastinate to give few days for information
and consultation. The six-judge proposition
is inadmissible. %. C.
'.The next day Mr. Hewitt telegraphed
again:
''WAsHINGToN, Jan 16.-To E. c.: After
protracted negotiations the Senate committee
has receded from the six-judge scheme, declin-
ed the fve-judge, and offered the four senior
associate justices who to choose the fifth
judge, excluding the chief justice. Our SEN
ate friends earnestly favor acceptance, because
they do not believe it possible to pass over -.
The Democrats on the House committee believe
this is the last chance of agreement We can
not postpone beyond IL tomorrow, and if we
decline, the Senate committee will report their
original plan, to which our friends are com
mitted. Telegraph your advice.
ssMr. Tilden sent the following answer:
NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-Be firm and cool. The
four judge plan will not do. 1t is perhaps
worse than the six. Complaints are likely to
arise of haste and want of consultation with
members, and embarrassment in the exercise
of their judgement after the plan is disclosed.
by the premature committal Of their represent.
atives. There should be more opportunity for
deliberation and consultation. Secrecy is dan
gerous. 1t is probably mistake in itself. and
II it results in disaster, it would involve great
blame and infinite mischief.
"Ihe night that the foregoing telegram to
Mr.. Hewitt was sent, the undersig ned had
called upon Mr.. Tilden and found him in
hi his library with several other gentlemen.
toll NH 4