The New York herald., 1879-02-13
HOSTILE CRITICISM OF DEMOCRATS
The TWO Republics Of the
American Continent.
MOVEMENT FOR A NEW TREATY.
Personal Taxes in the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON. Feb IL. 1879.
MR.. TILDEN BEFORE THE POTTER sUB-CoMMIT-
TEE-cRITIcIsMs AMONG PROMINENT DEM
oCRATs ON HIS ATTITUDE
The statement of Mr.. Tilden before the Potter Com
mttee remains matter of interest and discussion
among democrats here. many of whom are sore at
the revelations made by Pelton and Smith Weed and
gravely dissatisfied with the position in which Mr..
Tilden has left himself.
1t is universally granted that technically and legally
Mr. Tiden established, beyond refutaton. that he
knew nothing of the cipher dispatches and was not
in any way concerned III or consenting to
any attempts obtain by purchase or
bribery the electoral votes of any States But
among q number Of democrats of consider
able emnence the result of the examination
leaves painful impression that he is man ex-
tremely and culpably tolerant of grossly immoral
transaction in person very near to him, having
very confidential relations with him. and whom he
detected in an attempt to commit for Mr.. Tilden's
benefit grave criminal action.
"Pelton," it is said by these democrats "con-
fesses that he received from Smith Weed offer to
buy tho South Carolina electoral vote for fixed
sum; that he accepted the proposition and went to
Baltimore to meet Weed and an agent of the Return
ing Board to arrange the purchase and that he
setting off for Baltimore he Mr.. Cooper and told
him where he was going and that he might need some
money. MIR. Cooper testiies that the next day Pei
ton telegraphed him for $4,000 $50 O00 he is not
certain which S III, and that he went at once to Mr.
Tilden and told him all about it. Mr.. Tilden. in his
turn, testifes that hearing what Mr. Cooper told
him. he Immediately said such offer should be
entertained and that negotiation of that nature
should be tolerated that not cent should be fur
nished for any such purposes that Mr. Pelton should
be Immediately telegraphed for to- return to New
York. Mr.. Tilden does not attempt to con-
ceal that he understood accurately and en-
tirely the nature and object of the transaction
in which Peton engaged and in which he evil
IDENTIFY expected Cooper to assist him. He is clear
headed man; what he saw was that Pelton. his Sec
retary. his relative and confidential agent. had been
detected in an act of briperyan act scandaous. i'm
moral and criffina. No sooner did Mr.. Cooper tell
him OF it than Mr. Tilden forbade il and summoned
Pelton back to New York. was right. On his re-
turn Mr.. THden says he received him with an qhtt
burst of impatence and displeasure but that al
Pelton testifcs that his relations with Mr. Tiiden
were not materially altered by the transaction.
Tilden himself says that he did not remove Pelton
from the confidential and in6u position he had
occupied, and Pclton adds that after his return he
III such position and undertook to purchase the
Florida Returning Board"
Now" say these democrats, "was not Mr.. Tilden
himself gravcy lacking in character, in that nice
sense of honor, in the keen appreciation of dis
graceful act which in his position ought cert
tany to have J? Ought he not TO- have at once and
carefully excluded Pelton from all further share in
or knowledge OF political transactions Ought he
not to have gwen noticeto tl his political friends
that they must not trust Peton But what hap
pened Not only did hc allow Pelton to
be regarded holding the confden-
tia positions before, but all of us
who were here during the wintc- OF 1s70-'77
remember very well that during the last month
of the session Pelton was here at Washington, the
openly declared agent of Mr.. Tiden occupied an ex-
pensive suit of rooms at hotel, had with him o
corps of assistants. and in constant and close
communication with Mr.. Tilden. and mmunicated
on his behalf with the most influential men OF the
party here secretly urging resistance to the verdict
of the Electoral Commission. arranging political alli-
snces making himself nuisance undoubtedly to
Mr.. Hewitt and other responsible men in authority,
but nuisance who had Mr.. Tilden at his back and
who represented IN an especial manner and with
especial authority Mr.. Tilden's wishes. Now, know
ing that Pclton had been fortunately frustrated
at critical moment in attempt at
bribery which honorable in the party
would have tolerated. ought Mr. Tilden to have al
lowed him to come down here as his ambassador? f?
Was he not bound Il Pclton did come to inform us
privately that he not ft to be trusted with
the petticst affair and that must guard ourselves
against him against mad dog? But far from
taking this Just aud honorable Mr.. TIdcn
wouL and ii difficult to deny that in somc matters
which he thought of great Importance hc took Pei
tons advice rather than that OF prominent and hon
orable men. and badc others, his supporters. take
it-sdvice which of course foolish as the offer
to buy Returning Board wrong and scandal
pus."
This is what Is said here in prominent democratic
,rclcs of Mr.. Tildch. and 1t is said with iinpaiicnce
and sometimes resentment.