The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-07-10
THE CONSPIRACY OF 1877.

The New York World Of June 10,
contains a statement given by John
F. Mines, of Utica, New York, which
discloses the intentions of the Re-
publicans in 1877, to forcibly resist
the Inauguration of MI. Tilden as
President of the United States, if
fraudulent schemes. failed to inaugu-
gerate Hayes. The disclosure is
made through an interview with Gen.
Woodford, District Attorney for the
United States in New York CITY, aa
is undoubtedly authentic. The plot
was d%amnable, and awakens a keen
sense of danger that lurked in the
minds of radicals in that crisis. The
intention of the Republicans, accord
ing to Mr.. Woodford, all other
schemes failing, was to have Ferry,
President pro TEN. of the Senate.
declare Hayes elected. In that con-
tingency Tilden would have been
elected by the House in the manner
prescribed by the Constitution.
Then Grant was to have come in
with his plan, arrest Tilden, throw
him into one of the government forts
as a close prisoner, and use the army
and navy to put down any opfosi
ton. This disclosure as given re-
veals a well derised plan to %revolu-
t%ionize the country. Here is what
Mr.. Woodford says: :
MY orders and intention were to
seize him at once under a warrant
charging him with high treason, to
convey him secretly and securely on
board a government vessel lying in
the East river, and ship him to Fort
Adams or some other secure point
where he could undergo his trial.
The first thing that anybody knew
of it he would have disappeared, aud
the ~suddenness of it would have
either disheartened his followers and
taught them q salutary lesson of re
spect for the law, II it would have
been the first blow of a terrific con
fies between the law and its Viola
tors"
j do you really believe, General,
it would have been possible to arrest
Mr.. Tiiden? 3
Il don't believe It'll know it 7Ol
course it could not be done by cali
ing out the regulars from Governors
Island and marching them up te
Gramercy park, but it Morldhast
been done so quickly and effectively
that all resistance would have CONC
too late. Just as sure as he had
dared to take the oath of Office ht
would have been whirled throuA
these sire, IS and landed in a gun
boat. When he had got through
with his trial for treason he would
have been sick of playing President
While l was in Washington l had :
long talk with Secretary Robson OF
this subiect-(you don't know him
do you? He's one of the best fel
lows in the world)-and VI made
all the arrangements for the use o
his boats, and men not only to Sc
cure Tilden, but to orerawe the mol
by the gunboats and to shell then
out if necessary. Robson is very
genial, but he is not a mar to b,
trifed with, and we worked togethel
admirably. Under our plans and re
%sistence by MIR. Tilden would ftavt
been impossible. AS for the custcn
house and sub Treasury, they were
prepared for resistance and coult
have been much strengthened By
sudden reinforcement of regulars S,
as to resist any mob. Regulars an,
marines inside the walls and a shell
or two outside would have scattere,
an attacking party like chaff. Per
haps it was this knowledge of wha
the navy could do in the way of dis
persing mobs that kept down tn
evil disposed throng at Washington
and New York.
"You see how near we all were t,
trouble, and you can understand VIII,
/ accepted this position at that time
Grant felt that he knew me and tina
l would carry out his orders unde
any and all circumstances. 1t wa
a time that might call for sharp an,
sudden work on the Atlantic line
and Grant, like a prudent Geheral
made his preparations accordingly
Troops were quietly brought fror
the West and South and massed q
Fort McHenry, Washington and i
: our harbor, and you will remembe
| that complaint was made in til
Democratic newspapers about thi
5 matter and about the gunboats a
Washington and New York. Reput
lican newspapers laughed at it, c
course, and most people did nc
know what to believe. IF they ha
! known how close the truth was thei
fears might have brought about tn
catastrophe. In that event the nav
o could have attended to the Atlanti
cities, but a rising at the West Woui
n have been even worse in reality tina
in the anticipation"
: The Boston Post in referring t
these disclosures says, it has ofte
! been said in disparagement of Go,
ernor Tilden that he did not exhib
sufficient pluck and energy in asser
s ing his rights after the election. Il
e knew then as well as now that ha
he taken the oath of office and a
It sumed to act as President anoth,
It war was a dead certainty, and OF
that would have deluged the who
land with blood, the end of which I
e man could foresee. A man of h
G IN raw6p o1e,> ,n,ct have hoop 4,