The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-10-24

A scatb ing Heview of the Kascaliy
Means by which the Presidency
Was stolen for Hayes.
A New York telegram of the 17th
furnishes the following card from
Samuel j. Tilden:
have read publications in the Tri-
bune of the Sth inst. purporiing to be
translations Of cipher kilograms relat-
ing to the canvass of votes in Florida
at the Presidential election of 1876,
and have looked over those printed in
the Tribune of this morning relating
to the canvass in South Carolina. L
have no knowledge OF the existence
of these kilograms, nor any iniorma-
ton about them except what has been
derived from or since the publication
of the Tribune. So much for these
kilograms generally. l shall speak yet
more specifically as to some of them.
First, those which relate to an offer
purporting to have been made III be-
half of some member of the State
Board ofCanvasscrs of Florida to give
for pecuniary compensation, certll-
Gates to the Democratic electors, who
had been actually chosen. None OF
these kilograms, nor any teiegrams
communicating such offer, or relating
to such offer, was seen by me, trans
lated by me, or the contents of 1t III
auy manner made known to me. l
have no knowledge of the existence
or purport OF any telegram relating to
that subject, nor did l learn the fact
that such an offer of the Florida cer-
tlficates had been made till long after
the 9th of December, at which time
the certificates were delivered and the
Electoral votes cast, and when the in
formation casually reached me, as of
past event, it was accompanied by a
statement that the offer had been re-
jected. Secondly, as to the publica-
tions in the Tribune of this morning,
purporting to be translations OF cipher
telegrams relating to the canyass Of
votes in South Carolina in 1876, which
have seen since wrote the forego-
ing, can speak of them no less def
nitely and positively. No one of such
telegrsms, either in cipher or trans
lated, was ever shown to, or its con-
tents made known to me. No o1er
or negotiation in behalf of the state
canvassers of South Corolina, or any
of them, or any dealing with any of
them in respect to the certificates of
Electors, was ever authorized or sane
toned in any manner by me directly
or through any other person.
1 will add that no offer to give the
certificates of any Returning Board or
the State Canyassers of any State to
the Democratic electors in considera-
ton of promises OF office or money or
property ; no negotiations of that ma
T., ,nlf >r 1o, e o1,
Board or with any such member; no
attempt to influence the action of any
such member, nor to influence the ac-
ton of any elector for President or
Vice President by such motives, was
ever entertained, considered or toler-
ated by me, nor by anybody within
my influence, by my consent or with
my knowledge or acquiescence, No
such contemplated transaction could
at any time have come within the
range of my power without that power
being instantly exerted to crush it out.
A belief was doubtless current that
certificates from the state of Florida
people were in the market. 81 have
not the slightest doubt in the world,'
said Mr.. Saltanstall, who was in Flor
with the Herald, "that the Florida
vote could have been bought if Mr..
Tilden had bean dishonorabIe enough
to desire it done, for great deal less
than $4,000 or $4,000. 1t was known
| that either one or two members who
composed the majority of the State
Board of Canvassers could control it's
action and give the certificates to the
Democrats. Either one of them could
settle the presidential controversy in
favor of the Democratic candidates
who lacked but one vote. How ac-
cessible to veAal inducements they
were is shown by the testimony of
McLin, chairman OF the State Board
of Canvassers, in his examination be-
fore the Potter committee in June last.
He admitted that the true vote of the
people of Florida was in favor of the
Democratic Electors, and that fact
even appeared in the face of the county
returns, including among them true
return from Baker county, notwith-
standing great frauds against the DEM
ocIats in the same county returns. He
also confessed that in voting to give
the certificate to the Republican Elect
ors he acted under the influence of
promises that he should be rewarded
in case that Mr.. Hayes became Pres
ident,' adding that, Certainly these
promises must have had a strong con-
troll over my judgment and action.'
After the certificates of the Louisi-
ana Returning Board had been repeat
edly offered to Mr.. Hewitt and others
for money they were given in favor
of the Republican Electors, who had
l. t2I l., 10,
the voters, and the Returning Board
now possess the most important Fed
eral offices in the State. The preg-
nant fact remains that none of these
corrupt Boards gave their certificates
to the Democratic Electors, but they
all did give them to the Republican
Electors. had perfectly fixed pur-
pose from which l never deviated in
" ord or act-a purpose which was
known to or assumed by all with
whom l was in habitual communica-
ton. If the Presidency of the United
States was to be disposed of by cer-
tificates to be won from corrupt Re-
turning Boards by any form of venal
inducements, whether of Offices or
money, was resolved to take no part
in the shameful competition, and l
took none.
The main interest of the victory
which resulted in my election was the
expectation that through the Chief
Magistracy a system ofreforms similar
to that which had been accomplished
in our metropolis and in our state ad-
m;uistration would be achieved in the
Federal government. For this object
it was necessary that l should be un
trammeled by any commitment in the
choice of men to execute the official
trusts of the government, and untram.
meled by any obligations or special
interests. l had been nominated
without Limitation OF my perfect in
dependence. To have surrendered or
compromised the advantages OF this
position by degrading competition for
Poturuinm Board cerfificafes would