Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-04

COCK, Oo1 ana heeo, presented their report
this afternoon. In it they dissent from the
views presented in the report of the majority,
both as to pertinence of the same to tho in
vestigation and to the conclusions expressed
upon the testimony taken, but they take
pleasure in testifying that the rulings of the
chairman and his manner of directing business
were marked by the most equitable and even
generous spirit. They differ from the majority
as to some of the resolutions adopted by them
limiting the scope of the examination, but
this difference of judgment did not diminish
their sense of the personal courtesy shown
them.
They then refer to the origin of the commit
tee, pointing out that the original resolutions
for its appointment did not ask for general
investigation of all the frauds connected with
the last Presidential election, but |only what
might be found in the acts of officials and per-
sons of one political party in two of the States
in which fraudulent practices were charged
They took this view in committee, and treated
the investigation as on the whole unnecessary,
made without prOvOcation 30 far az the indi-
viduals named were aimed at, and are likely to
add nothing of value to the public information
on the general subject. They confined them
selves, therefore, to the task of trying to make
the inquiries instituted by the majority some
thing more than Democratic investigation of
Republicans SO that whatever was put before
the world might have,some of the elements of
an examination of both sides. This would ex-
plain why they did more for original inquiries
beyond those commenced by the majority, and
did not ask for new Investigations of frauds
in Oregon, South Carolina, Mississippi and
other States.
When the Florida investigation was began
they offered resolution that the alleged
frauds at the ballot-box, az we'll as those
charged upon the cauvassers and returning Of
oh ho a.
down by the majority, although it was mat
ter Of notoriety and was by them brought to
the attention of the majority that both kinds
of charges were made They understood the
majority to base their action upon the limita-
tions they thought were put to the investiga-
quarrel with their Judgment, though this
would show the original resolutions to be un-
fair and partisan in their character. They
have conducted the examination on the inter-
pretatlons thus given, but what surprises them
and what they desire most cmphatically to dis
sent from, was the action of the majority in
affecting to report for whom the vote of Flori-
da was actually given.
After they had thus refused to examine both
sides of that very question, while their work
was IN progress, publication was made in
leading journal of the cipher dispatches. The
startling character of the revelations made in
the action lof the minority appear singular
course the majority would feel it necessary to
take. They had learned the majority treated
these dispatches as separate matter of invest
igation and report. They could not so regard it,
A report upon the frauds of Florida, with the
cipher dispatches omitted, would be like the
play Of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. The facts
were too notorious to be left out, and therefore
they dissented from the method of making up
the report suggested by the other side
The majority report that they would have
preferred to sit with closed doors, but yielded
to the wish of the minority. This was true,
and they saw no reason to regret this course.
They thought the same also of the cipher invest
igation, that publicity was necessary.
Upon the cipher dispatch investigation the
minority report that they present their views
under the disadvantage of not possessing any
indication Of what the views of the majority
will be. They would confine them selves to the
investigation they themselves had made with
regard to which it might be fairly said the
whole investigation rested upon what enter
prise and wonderful skill the translator brought
to light.
The original subject of this investigation was
honesty or dishonesty of the election in Florida,
Louisiana and South Carolina. For two years
prior to October, 1878 Mr.. Tilden and his
agents, in season and out gof season, had iterat-
ed and reiterated the charges that the can
wasting boards of doubtful States had acted
traudulently and corruptly in the discharge of
their sworn duties. If these charges had neen
of those fortified by any proof, the character
of those who made the charges
would be of no consequence what
ever, but in the face of the whole
investigation, with its 5000 pages of hearsay
and falsehood, had not afforded the slightest
proof of what was asserted. No man had come
forward to say that any bride was accepted, or
that any member of any canvassing board in
dictated any desire to betray his trust. Every
init Of bat I'D l,ol -
some Democrat, and that Democrat had never
been brought before them. MIR. McLin to
whose testimony reference is made, although
goaded by sickness and imaginary wrongs,
never for moment admitted improper con
duct at the time. He only thinks, from after
knowledge, that he may have been mistaken.
Gen. Barlow. whose conduct has received the
compliments of the majority, after full
knowledge of the workings of Cowgilrs mind,
admits his honesty of purpose and that of all
others. As to the South Carolina board, the
full, free and uncontradicting testimony of
MIR. Dunn satisfied every man who heard of it
of the absence of fraud in South Carolina.
&These charges, then, of fraud and corruption
with which Mr.. Tilden and his agents had fill
ed the air were nothing but unsupported as
sertions of itigants, against whom the courts
have decided. The tribunals in three States
have decided in favor of the Hayes electors
where his agents set up the assertion of wrong
doing. Pelton says he told Cooper not to tell
Tilden. Phat night Cooper did not, but on re-
Election the next day, probably thinking that
he had already over-advanced and that if Til
den wanted the Presidency in that way he had
better pay for it himself, he came to Tilden.
OF course Tlden could take part in no such
open transaction as it had now become Add
to these circumstances the fact that no demand
had ever been made by Tilden for an oppor-
tunity to vindicate himself until the last no
ment, until, in fact it had got to be choice
between coming by. process or
appearing to come voluntarily, the minority
were driven to the conclusion that if Tilden
had told all he knew of these transactions they
would have been in possession of the material
to form an undisputed Judgment. without
which the investigation would neither be full,
searching nor systematic. They did not say
this in any spirit of criticism on the action Of
the majority. The lateness of the commence
ment of the inquiry precluded thoroughness.
The next question to be considered was
whether either the Florida or South Carolina
returning boards were for sale. The South
Carolina part is quickly disposed of. The tes-
timony of Dunn, uncontroverted, clearly shows
that Smith Weed was played with by shrewder
men than himself for purposes entirely proper,
and in manner entirely justifiable. As to
Florida, Wooley had not been called, and
the full facts of his attempt So far. however,
as he indicated the source of his proposition or
danger signals, it ended this way: Mr.. Dyke,
the party named, telegraphs that he never knew
anything about it himself. He was told by a
Mr.. Robertson that Republican Congressman
said they could be bought. Marbles statement
amounts then to this: A man told him that a
man told him that third man told him that q
canvaasing board could be bought. This may
not be consistent with his preparations for