The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-29
or have become n law 10y their

consent.
The Democratic party in Congress swallowed
tho bill with infinite reluctance; but they swal
lowed II. They supposed Themselves loynl to
their loader In 10 doing. They were not aware
that their leaders voice was counterieited and
disguised by an impudcnt upsiurt and char-
laian.
Mr.. Hcwits lnst and most insuffcrnbc pre-
tonce Is that he has since boon told that he"
e. e.. Mr.. Tidcn when he asked for delay"
and was coolly told that delay was imposslble'1
was at that time engaged in celebrating plan
OF procedure upon which he would bc prepared
10 stand. but no did not then tell me this. and
had no knowledge OF tho fact till long after
ward"
Whit Mr. Tilden's plan was. and from tho
day OF election had been. II Mr.. Hewitt did not
know. II is marvellous how he contrivcd 10 ac-
complish himself in such Ignorance
What Mr.. Tildcns plan was. repeatedly.
from the day that Congress assembled, had
been set forth and pressed upon his friends In
the leadership OF tho House. by advice that
they should expose and combat in full debate
the threatened unwarfantablo usurpation by
the President OF the Senate OF the right to count
the votes. and to select the votes TO be counted
and that they should take not one other or fur
ther step till in both Houses the great but
pacific constitutional battle had been fought
and won upon that issue.
What Mr.. Tilden's plan was had been stated
I'm substance In the work prepared with his
knowledge and approval by MIR. John Bigelow
and Mr.. Manton Marble. and published by tho
Appletons under the title. The Presidential
Counts" on the al OF January. 1877. That vol
ume. afterward duplicated by Congress. com
prised complete history Of every precedent
count the full text Of all debates in either House
.l,.tt
ernment. and was prefaced by brief summary
of the true and lawful plan OF procedure strictly
dcduced from those prccedents SO that Mr..
Tilden not only then had plan. but his imme-
diate friends had furnished Congress with an
arsenal OF ammunition sufficient alone to de-
stroy in a vital part that conspiracy OF fraud
and force to which the Electoral bill was a Dem
ocratic surrender.
What Mr.. Tlden's plan was had again been
set forth In series OF resolutions declaring
| the conservative and constitutional position OF
the House OF Representatives in respect to tho
count. which resolutions when offered in that
body were known to have had Mr.. Tilden's mp
proval. which resolutions were displaced and
superseded by the Electoral bill q scheme
that nobody could have believed was plan
accepted instead and approved by Mr.. Tilden.
except for the behavior OF MI. Hewitt such as
| he now confesses-behayior which those need
not think the perfection Of innlelty. who can
| honestly believe In such a miracle OF conceit
and imbecility.
1t does seem like waste OF time and words
| to proceed further with the work OF staying n
suicide. However. referring to a staten ant Of
mine substantially admitted by himself. and
elsewhere verified by me. Mr.. Hewitt says. " Mr..
Watterson ought to have known when he wrote
this passage that Mr.. Tilden would not confirm
~.
seli-respecting man would not ask Mr.. Tilden to
| become n witness in a case OF this kind. / re-
fuse 10 be guilty OF dragging his personality
through the miro OF an angry controversy. II
| depended upon Mr. Tildens testimony TO ex-
pose the affectations and assumptions OF Mr..
| Hewitt. should not have undertaken this duty.
| Mr.. Hewitt may reconcile his unwnrranted and
INSCRIPTIONS use Of the name OF a friend with
the code OF honor and morals he Processes.
l ought to notice. before closing. an apparent.
though trivial discrepancy. between a statement
OF mine that l have not charged Mr.. Hewitt
with the suppression Of kilograms" and an
alleged telesraphc quotation from the
Comier-JoUual in which the word de-
spalch" occurs. Tho wires or tho type
must have been at fault for the suppress
sions l have charged upon Mr.. Hewitt related
TO the opinions. not TO the messages. OF Gov.
Tden. 1t is Of piece however. with Mr..
| Howiu's controversial style 10 distend a fribhlc
OF this sort into the dimensions OF an argument
H. reIoiecs more in one word out Of place than
in ninety and nine that have never gone astray.
The essential fact remains. nevertheless. Just as
| meant ii. and with this explanation. | leave
him TO grapplo with il.
| am now done with Mr.. Hewitt Nothing
that he may hereafter say shall cXtort another
word from me. leave him. self accused even
more than | have accused him. but convicted
by proofs rs far as have accused him. | shal
return at once TO my homo in Kentucky.
OF all the facts hero touched upon respecting
the history Of the Electoral bill and OF Mr. Tit
den's relation thereto. there is | believe. bu
one personal Witness Mr.. Manton Marble.
submi. it to the consideration Of the Democrats
psrty. and TO Mr.. Marbles sense Of public duty
whether it is not now incumbent upon him L
publish those facts. aud to put on record thu
whole Of this important chapter in our politca
annals. HENRY WATTERsoN.
New YORK. June %. 1878