The Jasper weekly courier., 1878-11-01

v Et*f Ast<ISaAtmts WHY lie Resolved n
Make No Bargains with venal Return
Ing Boards-Can MIR. Hayes Read thiI
and not Blush for shame?
NEW YORK, October l6--I have read ths
> publications In the Tribune OF the sfh Instant
pnrportlng 70 be transiations Of cipher tele.
grams relating % the canvass OF votes III
FLORIDA at the Presidential election OF '56
and have looked over those printed In tho
t tribune ~ q ms morning relating 70 the can.
Nass In South Carolina. Ihave no knowledge
of the existence OF these kilograms nor any
Information about them except what has
been derived from or since the publication
OF the Tribune. SO much for these telegrams
generally shall speak yet more specifically
a. TO some OF them:
]. Those which relate 20 the offer purport- :
ing 70 have been made on behalf of some
member of the state Board Of Canvassers OF
Florida TO give, for a pecuniary com pensa-
tion. certihcates 70 Democratic Electors who
hhd been actually chosen. None OF these
kilograms. nor any Telegram communicating
such oner or answering such offer or elafing
70 such oner, was seen by me, translated TO
me. or the contents OF II IN any manner made
to me. had no knowledge OF the exi istence
or purport OF any telegram relating to that
subject, nor did learn the fact that sucn
oner OF Florida certificates had been made
until long after the 9Th Of December, at which
time certificates we're delivered and the elec-
toral votes cast And when the Information
casually reached me, as Of past event. it
was accompanied by the statement that the
oner had been rejected.
?. As TO the publication in the Tribune OF
this morning purporting to be translations
OF cipher kilograms relating to the canvass OF
votes In South Carolina in 1876, which I have
seen since wrote the foregoing, can speak
Of them no less definitely and positively. Not
one such telegram, either in cipher or trans.
lated was ever shown to orits contents made
known 70 me- no offer or negotiation I'm be-
half OF the state canvassers OF south Carroll
ma or any OF them, or any dealing with any /
Of them In respect TO certificates to Electors
was ever authorized or sanctioned in any
manner by me directly or through any other 4
/ "a a. f1ftn ~ HAr ff. trfxr
tificates OF any Returning Board or State
canvassers of any state to Democratic Elec-
tors In consideration Of promises Of office or
nature in behalf Of any member of snch
board or with any such member, no attempt
20 20 ,nnnemce y, ene s acuon OF any such member
President and Vice President by any such
motives was ever entertained, considered or
tolerated by me or any body within my innu-
encc. by my consent or with my knowledge
or acquiescence. No such contempl ated
transaction could at any time have come
within range OF my power without that DOW
er being instantly exerted TO crush II out.
A belief was doubtless current that certid.
Gates from the State of Florida conforming TO
the actual vote OF the people were in the
market. 81 have not the slightest doubt"
said Mr.. Saltonstall, who was in Florida az
the time, in recent interview with the Her.
aid, that the Florida vote could have been
enough 10 desire IL done, for great deal less
than $50, 100 or S20,0OO." IL was known that ,
either one OF the two members, who com
posed the majority Of the Florida State Can
could control its actions and give ,
certificates TO Democrats either one Of them
could settle the Presidential controversyin in
favor OF the Democratic candidates, who
lacked but one vote. How accessible to We.
nal inducements they were IL shown by the
testimony OF McLin. Chairman Of the Board
of state Canvassers, in his examination be-
lore the Potter Committee in June last lie
admitted that the true vote OF the people Of
Florida was in favor OF the Democratic Elect |
MI hot fact sar.44t -.
)f the county returns, including among them :
the true return from Baker County, notwith I
standing the great frauds against I
turns. He also confessed that in
voting TO give certificates to Republican
Electors he acted under the influence of I
promises that he should be rewarded in case
Mr.. Hayes became President" adding that {
certainly these promises must have had
strong control over my Judgment and ac !
Returning Board had been repeatedly offered 1
% MIR. Hewitt and others for money, they q
we're given IN favor of the Republican Elec- !
ors who had been rejected By a large major. z
~ 81 voters, and the members OF this Re- n
urning Board now possess the most import. !,
INT Federal offices in that state.
The pregnant fact always remains that
ificates To Democratic Electors, but they all !,
IA give them 20 Republican Electors.
nad perfectly nxed purpose. from which
Fhich was known 10, or assumed by, all with !!
shom WAS In habitual communication II u
he Presidency OF the United states was to be
isposed of by certificates to be won from =
orrupt Returning Boards by any form of
email Inducements. whether offices or money, Il
was resolved TO take no part I'm the shame. Il
al competition. and took none. u
The main interest of the victory which re- :,
nlted in my election was the expectation x
nat through the Chief Magistracy a system 81
In our metropolis and in our ~
tate administration would he achieved In el
ne Federal Government. For this object II q,
y any commitment In the choice OF men TO ~
xecute official trusts Of the Governments and si
by any obligations 20 special th
ected, without one limitation Of my perfect re
dependence. To have surrendered or CON- liz
romfsed the advantage of this position by =,
sgrading composition for Returning Board ~
'rtificates, would have been TO be
,sirabie, every thing which could have "
ctory would have imposed upon me. was IN
solved TO go into the Presidential chair in -
II command OF All my resources for useful ~ 4
ON fgnominious competition for such Ger. ~
1catcs, saw these certificates obtained for ~
publican Electors who had not loen chosen pc
ectors who had been chosen BY the people. ~
lese false and fraudulent certificates, now W
MESSED and proved to have been obtained be
ade pretexts for taking from the people Y
cir rfghtful choice for Presidency and OF
esidency. These certificates were declnr. Sc
BY a tribunal TO which Congress had abdf-
ted the function OF deciding the count OF
sputcd Electoral votes, TO be the absolute
q indisputable conveyance OF title to the ~;
lief Magistracy OF the Nation. The State OF ~
orida, which had united all her executive, qu
rslative and judicial powers 10 testi- m
10 Congress, long before the II.
unit, who were her genuine agents; W
Itch had by statute caused 4 re canvass. tn,
Z issue OF new certificates and formal au. ~,
entication OF the right Of the true Electors 49,
deposit the votes entitled 10 be counted. rel
j. held to be incapable of communicating Th
Congress a fact which every body then ~
cw and which can not now be disputed VIZ
ngress, though vested by the Constitution the
~ ,ny du,nor,sy g count the Electoral votes ge