New-York tribune., 1879-12-10
MR.. HEUITTS TALK ABOUT Mr.. TILDEN.

4 CARD FROM HUGH r. M'DRgMorT-MR. TILDES's
OPPOSITION TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
BILL.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Owing to absence could not until now
solicit the courtesy of your columns to express
few words relative to n conversation which
reared in TEE TIIBUSY, between Mr.. Abram =.
Hewitt and one Of your reporters. concerning the
passage Of the Electoral Commission bill and Mr..
Tilden, and an article had written. / shall be
brief.
Mr.. Tilden. rs is well known. is not a to
burden any person with bis confidence What he
stated was outspoken and emphatic and not in his
usual whisper. He said that John sherman was
rascal He said that he blamed Senators Thurman
and Bayard for his defeat. by allowing the Electoral
Commission bill to pass, they knowing il 10 be rn-
constitutional. and also cheat and n snare. When
asked Mr.. Tilden whv Mr. Hewitt did not oppose
the bill. understood INN to say that Mr.. Hewitt
did not. nor did anybody else, consult with him in
relation to the merits of the bill as it passed. From
Mr. Hcwtt's statement infer that Mr. Tilden had
in lis mind the alterations in the bill before 1T
passed when he said he was not consulted by Mr..
Hewitt nor anybody else In regard to it, He said
he never gave his consent to the bill in any shape
or form and he intimated that huckStering poll
.icans seemed more alarmed about their invest
lection aud defence of the principles on which
free Government rests.
SO far az know or have ever heard. Nir. Hewitt's
yeracty is beyond question. so IS MIR. llldens. But
il seems to me that some Of Mr.. Hewitps sentences
are very deicately, II no. narrowly drawn. He
says that amendments to the bill, suggested b. Mr.
1ilden, were adopted. Bnt were they passed. Mr..
rlden approached at the first stage of the bill.
He doomed for slaughter, and he was asked
which way he should prefer to die. lie said. Don't
decapitate me-" But they did, and evisccrated him
also. Mr.. 1ldcn Is cautions almost TO tlmldity,
aud, while disappearing of the bill as whole, he
made Mr. Hewitt says, q few suggestions. From
conversations had with Mr.. lilden at his house
while the bill was pending before Congress know
Mr.. Tilden looked upon that bill with suspicion and
disfavor lie considered ii a dangerous trespass on
the written law of the land. Mr. Hewitt SAYS:
"TIldens friends 10 the Senate were diligently
pushing the bill, and Senator Barnun, among
Others. would never have done 50 II iiden had been
opposed to It," This - strong sentence and one
that | am at a loss To understand. Mr. Hewitt
seems to me too pronounced
In regard TO Mr. Pelton. Mr.. Hewitt could have
stated with truth that that gentleman an
thusiast Oh his own responsibility MIR. Hewitt ap-
pears TO cOquet with questions in regard to Mr..
petOn for the purpose OF conveying two meanings,
though may he IN error. For instance: Question
by reporter" Did not Mr.. PeltOn represent Mr..
TIldenp Mr.. Hewitt an-wcrs-"I VIII not say
how much Mr.. Pclton represented Mr.. Hidden in
fact. IL he did not, he thought ho did" Reporter
=" Did he not represent HIM before the National
Democratic Committee T. Mr. Hewitt" Now you
want To commit me, but will say that IN regard TO
Mr. PcOn's connection with the commttee-aud
have repeatedly stated it-that only knew him
beng Ia charge OF the document bureau" To the
first question think II wOud have appeared beftCr
bad hr. Hewitt said Yes no, stated be did not
know. The second question 1 hope l. incorrectly
reported. II would apparently commit Mr. Hewitt
to a meaning which his subsequent remarks would
HUGu f. McDrRMo1L
Jcrscs Ciiy Dec. .. 1870