Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-08

~ =" "" " cipneT never knew any.
th'nv "l c'phers When Peit,n returned
IRON Blt'm"re, witness said something 10
h'in about hi5 action and he made no rcpIy /:
got II" information from him about cin},ers
un'i' 'h"y We're published did not believe
fti'on had any owc because he had no
authorization. Edward Cooper told me he
nad a proposition to get votes for money;
d'd not menti"n Pe!ton. new OF no vt.
tempt TO. bride in any state. The
first heard of the Florida bribery
was from Marble. He simply
mentioned the circumstance, bnt gave
me no details, and I made no Inquiries
made no isquisies of Pelton about these
esoarript k1rSppSiltons..y} fAs only sintsr est
Fl'hadSinHt va. stopping it. -Pelton ceased
10 reside in my house about Jan. lat. 1
made a request for him to cease being my
secretary. l manifested my displeasure, but
did not ask him to resign. l kept up no
confidential relations with Smith Weed {;
knew nothing Of hi. presence In South Car
DINA; l heard nothing from him Of the
proposition to buy votes; l had not the mos,
kindly feelings toward Weed. 1 had con-
fdential relations with Marble. Before
going to Florida he called to bid
me good bye. There was nothing in their
conversation at this meeting bearing on this
question it was little more than a formal
leave taking. In his interview with Cooper,
no idea Of accepting the proposition 10 pur-
chase votes was debated between them, or
thought of for the moment. Az for Pelton,
he was the last man in the world, he, Til
den, would have selected if be had intended
to enter into such transactions as purchasing
electoral votes. Being asked why, in his
card to the public, he did Lot refer to the
Baltimore transactions, Tilden replied, it
was not a pertinent question. Do you not
see, governor, your statement that you
had no knowledge Of the negotiations
except through the Tribune is likely to de-
ceive, because you had heard of the Balti-
more negotiations. Tilden answered that
he did not know Of the cipher kilograms
which had passed on the subjec. nor Of any
negotiali ons, but did know there had been an
offer in South Carolina, which he had put
an end to by his Intervention. l made my
statement in accordance W it'll the truth.
Questionable you intend 10 convey the
idea that you had no knowledge OF the offer ?
A!nswer-I did not intend to convey any
idea on the subject. had been advised by
a hundred people to do one thing or another.
l did not think Unnecessary to refer to the fact
Of the Baltimore translation in my reply
In a very able and close examination,
Reed, who conducted this portion of the.
occasionally requested Tilden
to be frank, but failed t. get an admission
that witness remembered any conversation
at the Third National bank with Smith
Weed prior to the %latter's departure for
North or South Carolina.
Hiscock continued the examination.
Q.-When the dispatch was received in
New York. saying, "You are imperilling
the result here" and advising that some one
should be found who could be trusted for a
week. Did you ever see the dispatch? Ans.
i did.
Odd you not know that information
had reached here in a dispatch to Gmmacy
Park that you had one majority in Florida?
Ans.-I heard l had one majority in
Florida. butdid not see the dispatch referred
to rs cover ing that and other information.
Did not see a dispatch to Geo. w. Smith,
"see my dispatch to Spain"
O. Governor you learned from Cooper
aud could have learned from Pelton, your
nephew, had been engaged in a TRANSACTION
connected with the Obtaining of electoral
Votes in North and South Carolina. did
you not fceled called on to find out Col
Pelton' sreiations othe national committee?
Ans.-I thought the best way to act in
the matter was to stop ii. l thought the
same thing Of the Florida case.
Question-You have said, If you had any
idea OF influencing these boards venally, the
last person you would have chosen would
have been Col. Pellon. Why did you not
deem 1t proper to call Cooper or Hexet,'s
attention to the matter, and ask them to
take charge Of the matters, lest Pelton
might compromise with the democratic gen.
eral committee?
Ans.-ln the first place, l supposed they
had full knowledge and would be able to
take care that nothing wrong should be
done. Civil law does not recognize
purposes until they are embodied
in actions. The church Furnishes the pnr.
poses Of criminals, even if they are not car
ried out. The atmosphere at that time was
full Of rumors of fraudulent returning
boards. l declare before God and my
country that the votes of Louisiana and
Florida were bought (meaning by the re-
publicans.) l would scorn and condemn my
righteous title Of the democratic party had
secured my seat by fraud.
GRIMES AND CASUALTIES.