The New York herald., 1879-02-09
IILDEN BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
Some Very Hard Raps at the Con-
greSSiOnal lnqniSitOrs.
COMPETENT TO GUARD HIS OWN HONOR.
Uncle Sammy Swears He Knew Nothing
About the Cipher Dispatches.
AND ALWAYS OPPOSED BRIBERY.
Before God and My Country ! Believe the Votes Of
Florida and Louisiana Were Bought"
WHERE PELTON ERRED.
II Would Enter Into No Auction for the
Purchase Of the Presidency"
TESTIMONY OF OTHER WITNESSES.
AND ALWAYS OPPOSED BRIBERY.
Before God and Ny Country ! Believe the Votes o.
Florida and Louisiana Were Bought"
WHERE PELToN ERRED.
~ Would Enter Into No Auction for the
Purchase Of the Presidency"
TESTIMONY OF OTHER WITNESSES.

The announcement that Ex-Governor Tlden would
and testify to his connection with the cipher de-
spatchcs must have exercised potent magnetic spell
upon the public, for it attracted to the Fifth Avenue
Hotel crush Of curiosity seekers unparalleled since
the days Of the Bsecher trial. The committee to
meet again at halfpast ten O'Clock. but at halfpast
nine all the approaches to the committee room
clogged up with of officials politicians and
genteel Ganeurs generally. The "jam was great
that the committee themselves and the representa-
tves Of the could hardly get in without leaving
their coats behind them. Among those of the city
and ex-city dignitares whose imposing presence
secured them the first admission were Corporation
Counsel Whitney and ex- Mayor Wickham Mr. Whit
aey. with kindly farethought. that Ex-Governor
rilden could push through this unruly and
clamorous throng of people who wedged in the
hall leading to the door OF the committee room, and
kept careful watch to see that open passage be
kept clear for him-a socitude which probably
saved Mr.. Tilden from having his hat knocked of or
his coat torn.
EX-GOVERNOR TILDEN APPEARS.
At half-past eleven o'clock Mr. Tilden appeared in
company with his brother, Henry A. Tilden, and
Secretary of State Bigelow Mr. Tilden was dressed
in black and had air of great solemnity on his
face which looked IS imperturbable and sphinx
he seemed to have aged considerably. and
yesterday he looked quite ill and feeble
As he afterward explained he was suffering from
severe cold. 1t was. indeed. quite painful specta
Gle to the slow halting lame walk with which he
passed the table and reached his scat. His figure
was stifay drawn up ana seemed incapable of
bending, as though he were suffering from
paralytc contraction Of the limbs. As he entered
every eye was curiously turned upon him. Not
. muscle of his face relaxed with animation or
expression he stifiy extended his hand to Mr..
Reed. Of Maine, who received the sslutation with
something like profound bow. Then Mr. Tlden
gave his hand to Mr. Hiscock. the other republican
cross-cxaminer. and after saluting the democratic
members took on his elegant. silk-lined ovsrcoat.
stiy turned round and seated himself the table.
while settling at tho time large handkerchief
In his breast pocket.
HOW MIR. rILDEN TESTIFIED.
Ex-Governor Tilden sat erect in his chair for
two hours and half and during the greater portion
of this time he gave his testimony in that calm;
quiet imperturbable manner peculiar to him, and
without hardly moving a muscle or changing the
expression OF his countenancc His voice. which
hoarse. started very feebly. almost inaudbly. But
as Mr. Tilden to the corrupt negotiations
alluded to in the cipher dispatches his hoarse
voice suddenly to q pitch Of loudness
observed in the Ex-Governor during the most
exciting periods of his life. During these portions
Of Mr.. Tilden's evidence there a flush of deep
feeling over his face, and the mental excitement had
such mastery him that his lips twitched. and
of his hands, said to he smitten with paralysis
trembled in most painful manner.
CALLING HEAVEN AND EARTH.
And when Governor Tilden dramatically called on
heaven and earth to witness the protestation of his
innocence Of oil knowledge of the ciphers. bringing
his clcnched fist heavily down upon the table, there
was a sympathzing outburst of applause. There
only relieving glimpse Of humor during his entire
examination, lasting over two hours and half
namely when Mr.. Reed of Maine, questioned
him about corrupt attempts" and the Cover
nor returned dryly, Attempts to sell to buy
which ?" at which there some laughter. Upon
the whole Mr.. Tilden treated with marked con.
sideration by the republican cross-cxaminers when
contrasted with their merciless treatment OF Mr..
Marble and Colonel Pclton When the cross-exam-
ination had been concluded Governor Tilden held
quite whispered conversation with Mr.. His
cock. The moment Mr.. Tilden withdrew which he did
in the same slow, hating imperturbablc manner
in which he entered the interest OF the day seemed
TO have ended. and the audience thnned out within
few minutes. At three o'clock in the afternoon the
committee announced that they wonld hold
then everybody scampered away.
MIR. TILpES's TESTIMONY.
Governor Tilden lin a feeble. almost inaudible
voce spoke follows in reply to the questons of the
committee have not had opportunity to see
Che ithographic copies OF the cipher telegrams thc
publication of the translation of the cipher tee-
grams In the New York Tribune); mean those re-
ating to south Carolina to the 9th of October. 1873;
those relating to the state of Florida pub
lished on the Sth Of October-I read these
tssnsiations; tran. do not rec sse0snizs among
In cipher translation. the contents of which had
In any manner been made known to me; with refer
ence to those of them that relate to negotiations to
induce the members OF the canvassing boards of
South Carolina and Florida to give to the demo-
cratic electors their certificates positively
transatfon; the contents or purport OF any one OF
them was never communicated to me In any manner
never had any knowledge, no information and no
suspicion OF this cipher correspondence Of similar
correspondence or that any such had existed till IT
was announced in the Tribune. followed up by the
publication OF tho same a few days later; no
OF tho Retarnina Board of soutE Carolina.
Of the Board OF state Canvasscrs of florida any
other State was ever entertained by my authority or
With my sanction; no negotiations With them. no
dealings with them. no dealings with any one Of
them. were ever authorized OF sanctioned
Information ever did receive sSat any my such ais
negotiation ever existed between any democrats
or any member Of the Board Of state Canvassers OF
South Carolina to obtain then certificate for the
democratic electors happened on the 10th of Novcm-
ber 1876 am not able to nx that date positively by
my own recollection. but hx IL from other
circumstances; II was the day first learned
that Colonel Pclton was in Baltimore; l re-
collect the fact and hx the date from the
circumstances that have appeared during this inves
tigation; on the morning of November 2O 1870, Mrs
Colonel Pelton mentioned In my presence that her
husband had gone to Philadelphia; Il was a casual
mention; did not know he was going to leave the
city and did not know that he had left tho city till
shc mentioned IL. and her mention of IL was
not such as TO attract my attention particularly;
. little later on the same morning was called on
by the treasurer of the National Democratic Com
mittcc, Mr.. Edward Cooper. apparently on his way
down town who then told me Colonel Pelton was in