Daily globe., 1879-02-10
SAMMY'S STORY.
TIE GREAT USUFRUCT ON THE 1vTT-
NESS STAND.


Mr.. Tideu-"I have cold and can't speak very
loud. The publication and translations in the New
York papers have read. 1 did not recognize sin
gle dispatch, either in cipher or translation which
had ever seen before. 1 never entered into any ar
rangemcnts to purchase the vote of South Carolina
or Florida. l had no information, no suspicion,
fEat any such communications were being carried
on until SAW the dispatches published in the New
York IITDUne. l had no knowledge, no
dealing with any parties to these negotiations.
| never authorized any such negotia-
tious in any form whatever. On the morning of No
vember 10th, 1876, Mrs. Col. Peton mentioned in
my presence that her husband had gone for the day
did not know he had gone or was going out of the
city. He went to Philadelphia, I believe. Later in
the day was called on by Mr. Cooper, who was on
the way down town, and was told by him he had re-
ceved an offer from some party Offering to obtain
tor money the vote OF South Carolina. I said
would authorize such transaction, speud
money for any such purpose. The whole conversa-
ton occupied few minutes. obtained Col. Peton's
address i'll Baltimore, and teegraphed him to come
home. know nothing of the ciphers that had been
passing between him and others, and I conld
not have translated them. With regard to
Florida, I never saw of the telegrams
either in cipher translation. I did not know
was not informed that negotiations were going on in
regard to illegally obtaining certificates of the return
i'll casual kind of way about the corruption of tho
returning board of Florida. I any of
those dispatches relating to Florida, either in cipher
or translation. In regard to the Oregon dispatches
did not know they came in cipher until after the
meeting of the committee to investigate them. Some
Of the dispatches addressed to my residence Is
Gramercy park. do not know that any of these
dispatches ever delivered there. Col. Pelton
habits of mind and mine are very different. A
day or two after the election, Con. Grant
wrote letter recommending that commit
had + nothing to do $50 with the EAR seieotion tUfa
of this committee, and never heard from them but
once, and that was communication, signed by Of
tendorfer and others. was very busy all the time
and did not undertake to correct the idea that they
were my personal agents. which has foundation.
They represented the Democratic party. None of
them, far as know went to those States author
lied to do anything that gentlemen might not do
From the lst of November, 1876, until December 9th
the year, under circumstances did 1 enter
into any competition for seeking the certificates by
yenal Inducements There never an hour nor
minute that entertained such thought. TO the peo-
pie, who, as 1 believe elected President of the
United States to the 100000 citizens who were de-
feated, owed it to proclaim would not yield one
jOt little of my right. Whatever evils may result
from this subversion of the electoral SYSTEM and of
free government, resolved I would enter into no
auction for purchase Of the chief magistracy.
(Cheers, which the chairman suppressed) was re-
solved that would continue to protest against the
wrong by which the people were defrauded out Of
their rights.
Mr. Tden's voice. owing to cold became husky.
and it required an effort to catch al his Words
Tildeu being asked, "Who is your private secre-
tary?' answered, 'George W. Smith,"
q. Mr.. Tilden find in cipher No 40 this dis
patch-this translation:
Tallahassee, Nov. 23.-Geo. W. Smith, Is Graner-
cy Park: 1t has been suggested from here to the
Governor of Oregon to refrain from issuing a GER
titicate IN favor of the ineligible elector until advised
thereon. Why not obtain and telegraph him O'Con-
nor's opinion? See my dispatch to Spain.
Q. Have you any knowledge of it? A. have
not.
Q. Look over the translation; have you any recol.
lection Of having receiyedit? A. I have not.
@. Have YOU read the Tribune cipher d sclos-
ures? A. did not at the time they came out.
Q. Did Smith, your private secretary, show you
any of these dispatches? A. He did not.
if he did? A. do not.
Q. What do you know of the ciphers? A. I
know nothing about them.
Q. When Col. Pelton returned from Baltimore,
what was the nature Of your interview with him?
\. said something to him about his action, and he
made no reply: I did not get from him any infor-
them published. 1 did not believe that Pelton had
any power, because he had no authorization.
=. What was your conversation with Edward
Cooper? y. He came to me and said he had re-
ceiyed proposition to get the votes of South Caro-
lima for money. The substance Of the conversation
was that the votes were for sale.
@. Did he mention Col. Pelton's name at that
time? A. He did not.
Q. When did you next hear of q corrupt attempt
any State? A. never heard.
Q. Do you mean to say you never heard Of any at
tempt to bribe? A. Not till the publication of the
fact.
Q. When did you first hear of the Florida brib-
e'y? A. From Marble. He simply mentioned the
circumstance after he had returned from Florida.
He gave details, and made no inquiries.
@. Did you make any inquiries from your nephew
about these corrupt propositions to buy and sell? A.
did not.
q. Then you took interest in it? A. Only in-
terest in stopping it.
In reply to question, Illden said Col; Pelton
ceased about the first of January to reside at his
house.
Q. Did you make any request to Pelton to cease
being secretary of war? A. did not. I mani
tested y dispeasure, but did not ask him to resign
his position.
Q. Did you keep up confidential relations with
tions. knew nothing of Weeds presence in South
Carolina,
Q. Didyou hear from him of this proposition to
buy votes? A. did not. had not the most kind
ly feeling towards Weed.
Mr.. Tilden continuing, said he had confidential re-
lations with Marble. Before going to Florida he
their conversation at the meeting bearing on this
question. 1t little more than a formal leave
taking. Tlden reasserted that in his interview with
Cooper idea OF accepting the proposition to pur-
chase votes was debated between them, or though
of for moment. AS for Pelton he was the last man
in the world that he Tlden) would have selected if
purchasing electoral votes. Asked why in his card to
the public he did not refer to the Baltimore transac-
ton, Mr.. Tlden replied that it not pertinent.
@. Do you not see that your statement that YOU
had no knowledge of the negotiations except through
the Tribune is likely to deceive, because you had
heard of the Baltimore negotiations? Mr.. Tilden
grams which had passed on the subject, nor of any
negotiations, but did know there had been an offer
in South Carolina, which he had put end to by his
intervention. made my statement in accordance
with the truth.
Q. Did you intend to convey the idea that you had
knowledge Of this offer? A. did not intend to
convey any idea on the subject. had been advised
% hundred people to do thing and another,
and did not think necessary to refer the fact of
the Baltimore transactions.
Reed conducted this portion of the examination,
and occasionally requested Mr.. Tiden to be frank,
but failed to get an admission that witness
bered any conversation at the Third National bank
To- f,y
North or South Carolina.
Mr. Hiscock then continued the examination of
Mr. Tilden.
O-When q dispatch was received in New York
saying: ''You imperilling the result here" adj
vising that some man should be found who could be
trusted for week, did you that dispatch? Al
did.
Odd you not know the information had
reached here in dispatch to Gramercy Park that you
had one majority in Florida Al heard had one ma
ority in Florida, but did not see the dispatch re-
ferred to as conveying that and other information
Did not see the dispatch to Geo. W. Smith, saying
''See my dispatch to Spain.'
q. Governor, yen learned from Cooper, and could
have learned from Pelton, your nephew, who had
been engaged in transaction connected with the
obtaining of electoral votes in North or South Caro-
lima did you not feel called upon to find out Col
Pelton's relations to the national committee? A.
thought the best way to act i'll the matter to sto!
it. l thought something of the Florida case.
@. You have said that if you had had any idea OF
influencing these boards venally, the last person you
would have chosen would have been Col. Pelton
Why did you not deem it proper to call Mr. Cooper's
or Mr. Hewtts attention to the matter, and ask them
to take charge Of tho matter, lest Pelton might
compromise the Democratic general committee? A.
In the first place supposed they had full knowledge
and would be able to take care that nothing wrong
should be done. Civil law does not recognize pur.
poses until they embodied in actions. The
church punshes purposes OF criminals, even if they
are not carried out. The atmosphere at that time
was full of rumors Of fraudulent returning boards
declare before God and my country that the votes
of Louisiana and Florida were bought (meaning By
| would condemn m
righteous title, if the Democratic party had secured
my seat by frand.
Witness did not remember receiving any special in
formation In regard to the expenses Of legal pro