The sun., 1879-02-08
TIE CIPH Err DISPATCHES.
uR. MtNTON MARBLE'S TESTIMONY RE
tORE THE SUB- COMMITTEE

-..,cyius that lie Transmitted the Propo-,-
,,on. for Purchasing the Florida Electors
s,m,iy ns ~ warning to the National Conn
-,,,,ce-uc did not Himself. nor did IIe
,,tnk the Committee would Entertain these
rrcpo.als-Mr. ridden TO Testify To-day.
Mr. Manton Marble testified yesterday, in
..,o,ion to the cipher dispatches. before the
p.,,or Sub. Committee. Tho hearing was begun
-t,r,iv before If o'clock. and was continued
u.,,h,nt interruption until o'clock. when re-
- ,r,s taken for dinner and the cross-exami-
s,,ion Of Mr. Marble was resumed at the even
a., session. Mr.. Marble testified in calm
.rJ nerfectly self possessed manner and. with
b,, few executions. without the slightest hes-
,o,ion. He desired. when lie began. to use his
,ro nublished letters in relation to the cipher
Aoanotehes as the basis of his testimony. but
,bis was refused "a it conflicted with rule
.don,ed by the Committee. AS in the exam
,rs,ion Of Mr.. Smith NJ Weed and Col. Pei
,or tho first hours of tho hearing were
dovoted TO a critical examination of the
cnher dispatches which were alleged to
bave been sent and received by Mr.. Marble
while he was Watching the Presidential count
In Florida. in November and December 1876
Mr. Marble admitted having sent and received
almost all Of the dispatches ms printed. but in
,sted that the TRANSACTIONS OF some OF them
we're Inaccurate. and that in the case OF others
memeaning had been distorted; while Of others
ne import had been correctly stated in the
iransations.
Mr. Marble. after the preiminarles OF the ex-
animation. said that he went TO Florida at his
own instance. No one directed him to 20. and
bs selected Florida because he thought that this
s.,te was ia danger Of being overlooked. as tho
attention oi the visiting statesmen seemed
In h, directed 10 South Carolina and Louisi-
nna Two hours before starting from New
York he called for few moments upon
Gov. Tildon hado him good-by. and then drove
4. ths Everett House whore he got the cipher
lev from Col. pelton. After reaching Florida
h. was satisfied that there would be no means
la.f uatried g. thwart the will OF the people Of
florida rs he believed 1t had been expressed
~ the ballot box. and that the most
vgIIant waichfuness was required on the
part Of the Democratic gentlemen present He
communicated the information that he received
and the steps he was taking to Col. Pelton. acting
Secretary Of the Democratic National Commit
tee: and some Of the dispatches were sent in
cipher some in the regular way Coming 10
the most important kilograms. Mr.. Marble said
that he had transmitted TO Col. Peton the
two propositions made 10 him for the pur-
chase OF the electoral vote Of that State. simply
for the purpose Of showing the Executive
Committee in New York what was going on in
Florida; in other words TO let the Committee
know that the vote Of Florida was in the market.
He denied with the greatest emphasis that he
transmitted these propositions with view 10
their acceptance by the Committee. In regard
to the FIRST proposition. that which related to
the sale OF the vote for 100000. the enormous
ffaal ha nd ~ ha a
surdi,y of the belief that any one would
think Of taking 1t up. He received
a reply from Col. Pelton declining the proposi-
ton but Mr.. Marble insisted that he did GER
tAinly not understand that the proposition was
declined because tho figures were too nigh
even II Col Pelton did testify Thursday that
such was his motive in declining ii. Mr. Mar
bic said that he never supposed that II would bt
accepted; he did not send II for any such pur'
pose. and told the gentlemen VINO made the pro-
p0sa that IL was utterly impossible for him ol
the Committee 20 entertain IT,
In regard 10 the second proposal. the sale o
the vote Tor $4,000. Mr.. Marble said the offcl
was conveyed 10 him by Mr.. Dyke. a Democratic
editor Of Florida. and he at once told Mr.. Dyke
that IL could not be entertained Tor IN instant
However he regarded IL as matter that should
b. atonro transmitted the Committee througl
Col. PeltQn, so that there might be underst9ot
iu New York Just whore were the dangers tina
lay IN the path. To use his words, though
II was time 10 hoist a danger signal" aud tha
was the purpose Of transmission. Nhutrvel
may have been the idea of any one else. Mr.
Marble ms sted throughout the direct eNamina
ton that the cipher dispatches he s'nt were 81
transmiiei simply TO keep the CQmmittee II
New York informed regarding the situation. fO
II the Returning Board We're for sale. he re
gnrded u as ~ the utmost importance that !
should be known and prevented. .
The cr0ss-eXaminatiOn was conducted Will
great periinacity by Congressman Reed an'
Hscock. and with the single purpose OF draw
ing from Mr.. Marble admissions which woul'
show that his assertion that he iransmitted tn
proposals simply 10 warn the Committee IN New
YORK Was not substantiated by the facts. but ina
his purpose was 10 secure action from the Com
miiiee or from one else as the proposals sug
gested.
The hearing will be resumed this morning q
lOa. and Mayor Cooper viii probably be recall
ed 10 the stand. During the session of tn
Committee yesterday a eommunication was r.
eeived from Mr.. SamuelJ.Tildcn requesting thn
D. De allowed 10 appear and testify before ~
Committee before it should close its session II
his city. II was agreed after some discussion
as 10 the best hour that Mr.. Tilden should b
heard during the morning. Following hi
statement be Will De cross examined thereon.
Manton Marble being sworn. his examina
u9n by the Committee proceeded as follows;
Q.-lBy the tnalrmanl-Mr. Marble pleas
staie your iuA name. age residence and occu
A.--Manton Marble New York; have no oc
,,Q.-Dd you. after The termination Of the Pres
So. when and which onet Al won't to Florid
AuQut The middle of November. 1876,
QTTsWh9t induced y22g T. e. 10 torIda sir
Committee following President Grants prov
ons publication on the subject that the preSenc
count
nQ.-You went to Florida Mt the instance Of tn
Democratic National Committeef A-No;
cannot say that AT my own instance. wa
aware Di the decision of the Committee. ana
sought t1 Undue" several gentlemen To- 20.
number hhl already gone 10 New Qrlran-
oiLer- 20 South Carolina. and it seemed 20 N
l"Nt Iorlda Wl- being neglected. Ana, IN III