Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-10-31

transaction could at any time have
come within the range of my power
without that power being instantly ex-
erted to crush it out, A belief wal
doubtless current that certificates from
Florida, confronting to the actual vott
of the people, were in the market.
Il have not the slightest doubt in the
world" said Mr.. Saltonstall, who was
IN Florida at the time, in recent in
terview with the Herald, "that the
Florida vote could have been bought,
if Mr. Tilden had been dishonorable
enough to desire it done, for a great
deal less than $50 600 or $4,000. II
was known that either one of the two
members who composed a majority OF
the Florida State Canvassers could con-
troll its action and give the certificates
to the Democrats. Either one of them
could settle the Presidential controversy
in favor of the Democratic candidate,
who lacked one vote. How accessible
to venal inducements they wele is
shown by the testimony of McLin. the
chairman of the Board of State Can
vassers, in his examination before the
Potter Committee in June last. He ad-
mitted that the true vote of the people
of Florida was in favor of the Demo
cratic electors, and that the fact even
appeared on the face of the county re-
turns, including among them the true
returns from Baker county, nOtwith-
standing the great frauds against the
Democrats in some Of tie county re-
turns. He also confessed that in voting
to give certificates to the Republican
electors he acted under the influence of
promise that he should be rewarded in
case Mr.. Hayes became President, add
ing that certainly these promises must
have had strong control over his judg-
ment and action. After the certificates
of the Louisiana Returning Board had
been repeatedly offered to Mr.. Hewitt
and others for money they were given
in favor of the Republican electors who
had been rejected by large majority
of the voters and members. This
board now possess the most important
federal offices in that State. The preg-
nant fact always remains that none of
these corrupt boards gave their certifi-
Gates to Democratic electors, but they
all did give them to Republican electors.
l had perfectly fixed purpose from
which l never deviated in word OF act;
a purpose which was known to or as
summed by all with whom l was in
habitual communication. If the Presi
dency of the United States was TO be
won from corrupt returning boards by
any form of venal inducements, whether
of offices or money, was resolved to
take no palt in the shameful cOmpeti-
tion, and took none. The main in
teresJ of the victory which resulted in
my election was the expectation that
through the Chief Magistrate a system
of reforms similar to that which had
been accomplished in our metropolis
and State administration would be ac-
hieved in the Federal Government
For this object it was necessary |
should be untrammelled by any COM
mitment in the choice of men to exc
cute the official trusts of the Govern
ment, and untrammelled by any obliga-
tions to special interests. had been
and was elected without
one limitation of my perfect indepen-
deDce To have surrendered or COM
promised the advantages of this posi-
ton by a degrading competition for
Returning Board certificates, would
have been to abandon all that made
victory desirable, everything which
could have sustained NE in the larger
struggle that victory would have i'm
posed upon me. was resolved to go
nto the Presidential chair in full com
nand of all my resources for usefulness
)r not at ALL While thus abstaining
rom an ignominious competition for
'uch certificates, l saw those certificates
for the Republican electors,
Who had not been chosen by the peO
lie. These false and fraudulent GER
Ificates, now confessed and proved to
lave been obtained by corrupt induce
nents, were afterwards made the pre-
ext for taking from the, people their
ightful choice for the Presidency and
ice Presidency. These certificates
Eere declared by the tribunal to which
congress had abdicated the function
f deciding the count of the disputed
lectoral votes, to be the absolute and
conveyance of the title to
he Chief Magistracy of the Nation
florida, which had united all her exc
utive, legislative and judicial powers {
0 testify to Congress long before the I
cunt, who were her genuine agents, c
yhich had by statute caused re-can-
ass and the issue of new certificates
nd formal sovereign Authorization :,
f the rights of the true electors to .
eposit votes entitled to be counted, G
'as held to be incapable, communica- e
ing to Congress q fact which cannot d
ow be disputed. Congress, though /
ested by the Constitution with the
to count the electoral votes,
lough unrestricted either rs to the :
me when it should receive evidence,
+ as to the nature of that evidence, c
nd though subject to no appeal from g
S decision, was declared to have no d
over to guide its own count by any Y
formation 1t could obtain, or by any y
lthority which it might accept from =
lie wronged and betrayed State whose G,
ote was about to be talsified. The il
onstrous conclusion was thus reach :
| that the act Of one man holding the
sciding vote in Board of State Can
lssers (for without his concurrence u
auds of other Returning Boards ia
ould have failed) in giving certifi- = =
ties, known at the time, and now by y y
mself confessed to be fraudulent, NJ
i'd confessed to have been obtained n,
a promise of office, certificates whose ri