Daily globe., 1879-02-09
SAMMY'S STORY.
THE GREAT USUFRUCT ON THE W.T.
NESS STAND.

He Testities Positively that He Knows
Nothing of the Cipher Telegrams-He
Didn't Authorize Pelton 10 Buy Elec-
tors or Returning Boards-And Insists
that Hayes Holds His Office by the Pur-
chase of Elcctors-A Very Csmprehen-
His Character.
NEW YORK, Feb. S.-At meeting of the commit
tee Investigating the cipher dispatches, Samuel J..
Tnden, immediately upon entering the room, was
sworn by Mr.. Hunton, chairman, who said: Gov.
Tilden, read your note expressing your willing
ness to testify"
Mr.. Tilden-"I have cold and can't speak very
loud. The publication and translations in the New
York papers have read. did not recognize sim
gle dispatch, either i'll cipher translation, which
had ever seen before. I never entered into any
rangemcnts to purchase tine vote of South Carolina
Florida. 1 had no information, no suspicion,
that any such communications being carried
until 1 the dispatches published in the New
York 7ribuae. had no knowledge,
dealing with any parties to these negotiations.
L authorized any such negota-
sions III any form whaeyer. On the morning OF No.
vember 20th 1876 Mrs. Col. PeltOn mentioned in
my presence that her l4lsbaa d had gone for the day
l did not know he had gone or was going out OF the
city, He went to Philadelphia, believe Later in
the day was called Oh by Mr.. Cooper, who vas on
the way down town, ana was told by him he had re-
celVed an offer rom some party Offering to obtain
for money the vote OF South Carolina. I said
would authorize no such trausaction spend
money for any such purpose. The whole converse
ton occupied few minutes. obtained Col Peltol's
address III Baltimore, and autographed him to come
home. know nothing of the ciphtrs that had been
passing between @ hla, and Others, and l conld
Florida, I of the kilograms,
either in cipher translation. l did not know-I
was not informed that negotiations going Oh in
regard to illegally obtaining certificates of the return
ing board. time Mr. Marble called and told me
in casual kind of way about the corruption of the
returning board Of Florida. never saw any of
those dispatches relating to Florida, either in cipher
or translation. In regard to the Oregon dispatches,
did not know they came III cipher until after the
meeting of the committee to investigate them. Some
of the dispatches addressed nay residence Is
Gramercy park. 1 do not know that any Of these
dispatches delivered there. Col. Pelton's
habits OF mind and mine min 1,y are very different.
wrote letter recommending that commit
tees go Soath to see fair count.
I had nothing to do with the selection
Of this committee, and never heard from them but
once and that was comm lnication, signed by Of
tendorfer and others. l was very busy all the time
and did not undertake to correct the idea that they
were my personal agents, which has no foundation.
They represented the Democratic party. None of
them, far know, went to those States author
lied to do anything that gentlemen might not do
From the lst OF AoveIber. 1876, until December 9th
the same year, under no circumstances did I enter
into any competition for seeking the certificates by
venal inducements. Tnore never was an hour nor
minute that entertained such thought. To the peo-
pie, who, l believe elected President of the
United States; to the 4O0p000 citizens who were de-
feated, owed it to proclaim would not yield one
jot or title of my right Whatever evils may result
from this subversion of the electoral SYSTEM and of
free government, I resolved l 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.. Tildens voice. owing to a cold became husky,
and it required an effort tJ catch all his words.
Tlden being asked, 'Who is your private secre-
tary?' answered, ''iecr9e W. Smith"
Q. Mr.. Tilden, md in cipher No. 40 this dis
patch-this translation:
Tallahassee, Nov. 23.-Geo ". Smith, Is Graner-
cy Park: 1t has been suggested from here to the
thcate in favor of the ineligible eector 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
Q. Look the translation; have you any recol
lection of having receivedit? A. have not.
Q. Have you read tho Tribune cipher d sclos-
ures? A. did not at tia time they came out.
Q. Did Smith, your private secretary, show you
any Of these dispatches? A. He did not.
q. He must have had the cipher. Do YOU know
if he did? 4. do not.
@. What do you know of the ciphers? A. I
know nothing about them.
C,
what was the nature OF your interview with him :?
A. said something to him about his action, and he
made no reply. did not get from him any infor-
nation about the c phsrs or negotiations until saw
them published. [ did not believe that Peton had
any power, because he had no authorization.
q. What was your conversation with Edward
Cooper? A. lie to me and said he had re-
ceiGed 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 corrupt attempt
n any State? A. never heard.
q. Do you mean to say you never heard OF any at
tempt to bride? 4. Not till the publication OF the
fact.
Q. When did you first hear Of the Florida brib-
cry? A. From Marble. He simply mentioned the
circumstance after he had returned from Florida
He gave me no details, AID made no inquiries
Q. Did you make any Inquiries from your nephew
about these corrupt propositions to buy aud sell? A..
did not.
@. Then you took interest in it? A. Only in
In reply 10 question: Tilden said Col Pe,ton
ceased about the first OF January to reside at his
house.
aQ Did you make any request to Pe1top to cease
being secretary Of WARP a. 1 did not. 1 mani
tested my d!spIeasre but did ask him to resign
his position.
Q. Did you keep up confidential relations with
Smith Weed? A. Not in regard to these transac-
tons. knew nothing of Weeds presence in South
Carolina
@. Did you hear from him of this proposition to
buy votes? A. did not. mad not the most kind
ly feeling towards Weed.
MIR. Tden continuing, said he had confidential re-
called to bid him goodbye There was nothing in
their conversation at the meeting bearing on this
question 1t was little more than formal leave
taking. TiideD reasserted tiat in his interview with
Cooper no idea of accepting the proposition to mr.
chase votes was debated between them, or Thought
of for moment. AS for Pelton, he was the last man
in the world that he (Filec) would have selected if
ne had intended to enter into such transactions as
purchasing electoral votes. Asked why in his card ia
the public he did not refer to the Baltimore transac-
ton, Mr.. Tildsn replied that it was not pertinent
q. DO you not see that your statement that YOU
had no knowledge of the negotiations except thronoh
the Tribune is likely to deceive, because you mad
heard OF the Baltimore ncgotiatons2 Mr. Tilden
answered that he did not know of the cipher tele-
grams which had passed On the subject nor of any
negotiations, but did know there had been an offer
in South Carolina which he put an end to by his
intervention. made my statement in accordance
with the truth.
Q. Did you intend to convey the idea that you had
no knowledge of this offer? A. did not intend to
convey any idea on the subject. had been advised
by hundred people to do one thug and another
and did not think it necessary to refer the fact
the Baltimore transactions.
Reed conducted this portion of the examination
and occasionally requested Mr.. Tilden to be frank
but failed to get an admission that witness remem.
bered any conversation at the Third National bank
with Smith Weed prior to the latter's departure fo1
North or South Carolina.
Mr.. Hiscock then continued the examination OF
Mr.. Tilden.
Q.-When dispatch was received in New yorl
saying: You are imperlliug the result here" ad
vlslng that some man should be found who could bt
trusted for a week, did you that dispatch? Al
did
Q.-Did you not know the information 'ha6
reached here in dispatch to Granercy Park that yo,
had one majority in Florida. Al heard had one ma
Jorlty in Florida, but did not 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"
y. Governor, you learned from Cooper and coulf
have learned from Pelton your nephew, who hat
been engaged i'll Il transaction connected with th,
obtaining of electoral votes in North or South Caro-
lima; did you not feel called upon to find out Col
Peltons relations to the national committee? A.