The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-02-12

Mr.. TILDEN's DENIAL.-A Phenomenon of
Innocence and IgaorGnce--A Natural Kn0o
Nothing Neger San Single One Of Hun
dreds Of Dispatches Receioed at HIS Oaon Home
Concerning the Great Dream of HIS Life
NEW York, FEB. S.-Mr Tilden gave evil
dence before the Potter Committee to-day in
which he denied in the most positive terms
that he knew anything about the ciphers
and said Pelton went South ON his own re-
sponsibiity.
lie stated that he had read the cipher pub
LEGATIONS, but had never seen one of them be-
fore. Never entered into any arrangement to
purchase the vote of South Carolina or Flori-
da, and had no intimation of such a negota-
ton. Had no knowledge of dealings with
any party.
Mr. Cooper informed him that an offer had
been made to buy the vote of South Carolina.
He said he would authorize no such TRANSACT
tion, nor spend money for any such purpose
Mr.. Tilden reiterated his denial of any of the
cipher dispatches, either from Florida South
Carolina or Oregon. The Southern Demo-
cratic visitors were not his personal friends,
but represented the party. He never entered
into any competition to secure Electoral GER
tificates by venal Inducements. There never
was an hour nor one minute in which enter
tanned any snch thought. Mr.. Tilden was
examined at length and reiterated his denial
of all knowledge of the operations Of Pelton
and Weed.
To Mr. Reeds first question on cross exam.
nation, Mr.. Tilden answered 90 | don't recol-
lect," and this was sample of the informa-
tjon that it was possible to extract from him
GU the subject at issue. When pressed into a
corner he deliberately swore that he had TAX
en- no special interest in the election that he
had received no kilograms informing him OF
the probable results in the contested States
that no such information obtained by the
National Committee or anybody else was i'm
parted to him, and that all he knew he learn
ed from the newspapers. At another time,
worried by the persistent questions OF his
tormentor, he so far forgot himself as to speak
sightinnly Of his nephew, and then, recognize
ing the meanness of the act he violently as
sailed the Republican portion of the commit
tee for, as he charged, prying without warrant
into his private affairs. Subsequently he
burst out into an appeal to "God and his
country" to witness that his firm belief was
that the Electoral votes of Florida had been
purchased by the Republicans, and that this
had changed the result of the election. He
went on with good deal more to the same
effect, emphasizing his remarks by hammer
ing with his clnched fist upon the table. Mr..
Hscock waited quietly until he had finished
and then demanded the private or other infor-
nation upon which he founded his assertion
and the names of his informants. Completely
taken aback by this demand, Mr.. Tilden tried
to squirm out of it, but was forced to acknowl-
edge that his only information consisted
of newspaper rumors. Then, catching at a
straw he said that his belief had been found
ed upon McIn's testimony before the Potter
committees. Mr. Hiscock denied that Judge
McLin had testified to anything of the kind
On the contrary, he had explicitly maintained
that in his action as an Elector, he was guild
ed by strict conscientiousness. Mr.. Hiscock
appealed to his Democratic colleagues to say
whether he was not right. Mr.. Tilden turned
his head supplicatingly toward these gentle
men, but they were mute.
So it went on for nearly three hours. Fl
nally, at Las p. NJ, the committee gave Mr..
Tilden permission to GO.