Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-14
THE BURLINGTON. VI. FREE PRESS
SIS, FRIDAY MORNIN


The cipher Inquiry.
TESTIMONY OF MANToN MARBLE.
Mr.. Marbles explanation on the stand, Of
his connection with the ciphers. conflicts di'
rectly with Pelton's confession Of the day
before, besides being intrinsically improba-
bic. 81 want it understood he said, "that
none Of those pecuniary propositions were
mine. | merely telegraphed them as a mat
ter of news. Yet, a few minutes later in
his testimony he said that the returning
board made an offer to sell its vote for $50 :
900, and that he "told the members that the
sum named was too high. and he could not
possibly obtain it lie admitted receiving
Pelton's telegram telling him that the prop
osition was accepted "if done only once
and says he never replied to it ''nor spoke
of it to any mortal being" lie denied that
he intended or expected the proposition to
be accepted 4; he meant it as "a danger
signal for the information Of the national
committee. lie was sure no despatch came
to him declaring the proposition too high. -
To repeated inquiries as to the meaning of
| hhoNClcu, w UDl huON,
amid the incredulous laughter of the specta-
tors. Reminded that Colonel Pelton had ad-
initted the accuracy of translation which
he pronounced incorrect, Mr.. Marble re-
| piled that Pelton must have said that when
he was "iatigued."
On the whole, Mr.. Marble fell far behind
Weed and PeltoI, in frankness.
Mr. TILDEN's TESTIMONY
The publications and translations 10 the
New York papers have read did not
recognize a single one, either cipher or
translation, which have ever seen before +;
| never entered into any arrangements to
purchase the vote of South Carolina or
Florida; had no suspicion that any such
communications were being carried out un-
til published 10 the New York Tribune
had no knowledge of, no dealings with any
party to these negotiations. | never au-
thorized any such negotiations 10 any form
whatever. On the morning Of November
20, 1876, Mrs. Colonel Pelton mentioned in
my hearing presence that her husband had
gone for day didn't know 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 he had received an offer from some
party offering to obtain for money the vote of
South Carolina | said would authorize no
such transaction nor spend money for any
such purpose the whole conversation occu-
pied only few minutes, | obtained Colonel
Pelton's address in Baltimore and telegraph
ed him to come knew nothing of the
ciphers that had been passing between him
and Others and could not have translated
them
With regard to Florida | was not inform
ed that any negotiations were going on in
regard to illegally obtaining the certificates
of the returning board sometime Mr.. Mar
bic called and told me in casual kind of
way about the corruption of the returning
board of Florida
| never saw any one of those dispatches
relating to Florida. either in cipher or trans
lation. In regard to the Oregon dispatches,
did not know that they came in cipher
until after the meeting Of the committee TO
investigate them. Some of the dispatches
were addressed to my residence, Is Gramercy |
Park. do not know that any of those
despatche1 were ever delivered there. |
Colonel Peltons habits Of mind |
and mine are very different. Under
no circumstances did | enter into any |
for securing certificates by yenal
inducements. There never was an hour nor
n minute that entertained such thought. |
To the people who, as believe, elected me |
President of the United States, to four
millions of citizens who were delrauded, | |
owed it to proclaim that | would not yield
one jot or title of my right. Whatever
evils may result from this subyersion of the
electoral system and of free government. |
resolved | would enter into no auction for
the purchase of the Chief Magistracy. | |
was resolved that | would continue to pro-
test against the wrong by which the people
were detrauded out of their rights.
Mr.. Tilden denied any knowledge of the
cipher kilograms relating to the attempted
Oregon corruption addressed to his private
George W. Smith, at his (Tiden's)
house. lie never heard of any attempt to
bride officials in any State, till the facts ap-
peared in the papers. Mr.. Marble mention
ed to him the Florida bribery; but he gave
no details and he (Tilden) made no in
luiries. He expressed his displeasure to
Pelton but did not ask him to resign his
position as his secretary. He had no con-
identlal relaticps 18th Smith NJ. Wa ""a
lau nOt l.4os', s.adly rc1iius toward him.
As for Pelton he Was the last man in the
world he (Tilden) would have selected if he
lad intended to enter into such transactions
Is purchasing electoral votes. Being asked
Why, in his card to the public denying all
knowledge of the negotiations, he did not
efer to the Baltimore transaction which had
'ecn made known to him, Tilden replied
hat 1t was not pertinent.
| declare, said Mr.. Tilden, before God
md my country that the votes of louisiana
nd Florida were bought (meaning BY Re-
'ublicans). | would scorn and condemn nv
lghteous title if the Democratic party had
ecured my seat by fraud.
Being questioned a. to who informed him
hat the Florida and South Carolina return
ng boards were for sale, Mr.. Tilden said he ,
ouldnIt given any name. lie further ad- ,
litted that, up to the time that Pelton went |
D Baltimore, he had nothing except news
aper knowledge about the alleged corrup- :
ION OF Republicans in dealing with the re- l
lrnng boards. lie couldn't say wheth- '
r any money was raised by the Democrats c
New York for political purposes or not.
Mr.. G. W. Smith, Mr.. Tiden's private
'cretary, was next put on the stand and I
wore that he had mo recollection Of any of d
lc kilograms at all. p" though a number of C
hem were addressed to him.
The subcommittee having got through at
ew York, have returned to Washington.