The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-02-13


The Governor came in smiling and took his seat
quietly.
He was at once sworn by Mr., Hunton, Chairman,
who said
Governor Tilden, we received your note ex-
pressing your willingness to testify.
Mr. Tilden replied
have read the publication and translations in
New York papers, l did not recognize single
one, either In cipher or translation, which had
ever seen before. never entered into any ar
rangements to purchase the votes Of South Caro-
lima or Florida
THE CIPHER COMMUNICATIONS.
had no information nor suspicion that any
such communications were being carried on un.
til saw the dispatches In the New York Tribune.
had no knowledge nor any dealings with any
parties TO these negotiations ! never authorized
any such negotiations in any form whatever. On
the morning Of Nov 2O 1876, Mrs, Colonel Pelton
mentioned in my presence that her husband had
gone for the day. ] did not know that he had
gone, or was going out Of the city. He went to
Philadelphia, believe. Later in the day was
called on by Mr. Cooper, who was on his way
down town, and was told by him that he had re-
ceived au offer from some party Offering to obtain
for money the vote of South Carolina l said
would authorize no such transaction, nor spend
money for any such purpose The whole Conver-
sation occupied only a few minutes, obtained
Col, Pelton's address in Baltimore and telegraph
ed him to come. knew nothing of ciphers that
had been passing between him and others, and l
could not have translated them with regard to
Florida l never saw one Of the kilograms either
in cipher or translation. / did not know, was
not informed that any negotiations were going on
in regard to Illegally oDtaiHing certificates of the
Returning Coard.
THE CHARACTER OF THE FLORIDA BOARD.
Mr. Marble told me in casual kind of way
about the corruption Of the Returning Board Of
Florida. l never saw any one Of those dispatches
relating to Florida either in cipher or translatlOn
In regard to Oregon dispatches l did not know
they came in cipher until after the meeting OF
the committee to investigate them. Some of the
dispatches were addressed to my residence, No
15, Gramercy Park | do not know that any OF
these dispatches were ever delivered there, Col
Pelton's habits Of mind and mine are very differ.
ent.
GRANTS ADVICE TO co SOUTH.
A day or two after the election Gen. Grant wrote
letter recommending that committees so South
to see fair count. had nothing 10 do with the
selection of those committees, l never heard
from them but once, and that was communities
ton signed by Mr.. Ottenderfer and others. l was
very busy all that time and did not undertake to
correct the idea that they were my personal
agents. That idea has no foundation. They rep
resented the Democratic party. None of them, so
far as l know went to these States authorized to
do anything that a gentleman might not do.
WOULD ENTER INTO No.vENAL COMPETITION.
From the 7lh Of Nov, 1876 to Dec. 9th, of the
same year, under no circumstances did l enter
into any competition for seeking certificates by
venal inducements. There never was an houl
nor minute tnat entertained such thought
10 the people who, as l believe, elected me Pres
ident of the United States to four millions Of cit
zens who were defrauded, and owed it as du'
ty to proclaim would not yield one jot or title
of my right. Whatever evils may result from this
subverson Of the electoral system and free gov.
ernment, resolved would enter into no auction
for the purchase Of the Chief Maglsracy. [CheerS
which the Chairman suppressed l was refolved
that would continue to protest against wrong by
which the people were defrauded out of theil
rights
EXAMINED BX THE REPUBLICAN, MEMBERS.
The Governor having q cold, spoke in a very
low tone of voice. and a: times was scarcely aud
ible at little distance from the committees
table.
In answer to Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Tilden said that he
had no recollection of having seen the following
dispatch;
Tallahassee, Nov. 27-George W. Smith,
GTamercy Park, New York; II has been suggest
ed from here to the Governor of Oregon to refrain
elector until advised thereon. Why not obtain
and telegraph him OConOr's opinton2 See my
dispatch TO Spain. M
The witness said that George W. Smith was his
private secretary; he had no recollection Of this
dispatch whatever; he did not think Mr.. Smith
had the cipher; the matter might have got some
one else to translate the dispatch.
Mr.. Reed-These dispatches seem to indicate
that Mr. Smith had the cipher.
RELATIONS WITH PELToN
The witness said he had an interview with Col
Pelton after the latter returned from Baltimore
the expressions Of the witness were merely an
outburst Of imDatienCe and displeasure with Col
Ptlton's conduct; he did not remember that the
latter made any reply; Col. Pelton was sometimes
called acting secretary, for he had no power and
no money to do anything without the concur
renee of another man; the witness did not know
that Pc ton had made any engagement OF encour
aged any offer in regard to the sale Of the South
Carolina vote; after witness had promptly and ef
fectually stopped any proceedings of the sort hi
did not suppose they would be renewed he un
derstood that Col. Pelion had merely received al
offer.
In his interview with Mr.. Cooper in regard L
Col. Peltons visit to Baltimore, Mr.. Cooper begar
the conversation, the latter did not say that hi
had seen Col PeltOn the night before, or that tht
latter had not cautioned him to tell the witness
about the matter
ATTEMPTED TO SELL AND NOT TO BUY.
Mr.. Tilden said he never heard of any sttemp
to buy an electoral vote, before the publication
these three dispatches, and he regarded these a
attempts to sell, and not to buy he was first tolt
of the Florida matter after Mr.. Marble mentioned
the matter to him.
Mr.. Reed-Was 1t before the publication o
what is known as the Ark and shechinah let
teri
Mr.. Tilden-Yes, sir.
The witness said that Mr.. Marble merely re
marked to him that the Florida vote had been 70
sale; he did not speak to Col. Pelton about it, a
he did not think it was necessary whether tn
sending of dispatch reporting an offer to sci
would indicate a disposition to buy would de
pend on the motive Of the man who sent It,
Mr.. Tilden said that Col Pelton, his nephew
ceased to be an inmate Of his house on the first
July; the witness was not pleased with havinI
Colonel PeltOn act as Secretary Of the Democratic
National Committee, and expressed his objection
to Colonel Pelton end others; he did not, howev
eT, go to the length Of insisting on Col. PeltOn'
retirement.
Mr. Tilden said that he knew Smith NJ. Weed
his relations with him were not more confiden
tial than they were with other prominent Demo
Gratis, he did not know Of Mr. Weeds presence ii
South Carolina until after his return; Ne then had