Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-02-13
T1lden's Examination by the Potter
Committee.

New York, Feb. Sat the meet
ing Of the committee inveeugatinR the
cipher kilograms, Samuel J Tilden
appeared, and immediately upon en-
tering the room was sworn in by Mr..
Hunton, chairman, who said:
"Gov. Tilden, we received your
note expressing your willingness to
testify"
| Mr.. Tilden-I have cold and can
not speak very loud. The publication
and translation in the New York pa
pers ] have read, and / have not rec
ognized single dispatch, either in
cipher or translation, which / have
ever seen before. 1 meyer entered
into any arrangements to purchase
the vote of South Carolina or Florida
had no information, no suspicion
that any such communications were
being carried on until / saw the dis.
patches published in the New York
Tribune. | had no knowledge, no
dealing with any parties to these ne.
gotiatioHs. / never authorized such
negotiations in any form whatever.
On the morning Of November 20,
1875, Mrs. Col. Pelton mentioned in
my presence that her husband had
gone away for day. l did not know
be had gone or was going out Of the
city. He went to Philadelphia, / be.
lieve. Later in the day / was called
on by Mr.. Cooper, who was on the
way down town and was told BY him
be 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 lasted only
few minutes. / obtained Col. Pelton's
address in Baltimore and telegraphed
him to come home. / knew nothing
of the ciphers chat had been passing
between him and the others, and /
could not have translated them. With
regard to Florida, / never saw one of
the kilograms either in cipher or
translation. ] did not know and /
was not informed that negotiations
were going on in regard to the illegal
ity Of obtaining the certificates of the
Returning Board. Some time Mr.
Marble called and told me in casual
kind of way about the corruption of
the Returning Board of Florida l
never saw any of those dispatches re
lating to Florida either in cipher or
translation. In regard to the Oregon
dispatches, / did not know they came
In cipher until after the meeting OF
the committee to investigate them.
Some OF the dispatches were address
ed to my residence, Is Gramercy
Park. l do not know that any of
those dispatches were ever delivered
there Col Pelton's habits Of mind
and mine are very different. A day
or two after the election, Gen. Grant
wrote letter recommending that the
committees go South to see a fair
count. had nothing to do with the
selection of those committees. new.
er heard from them but once, and
that was q communication signed by
Ottendorfer and others. was very
busy all the time and did not under
take to correct the idea that they were
my personal agents. They did not
represent the Democratic party. None
of them, 80 far as I know, went to
those States authorized to do anything
that gentlemen might not do from the
7th Of November, 1875, until Decem.
Der 9Th Of the same year. Under no
circumstances did / enter into any
competition for seeking certificates by
venal inducements. There never was
an hour nor minute that / entertained
such Thought To the people, who, 40
I believe, elected me President of the
United States. To the four millions
of citizens who were defrauded, /
owed it to proclaim I 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 I would enter
into no auction for the purchase of
the Chief Magistracy. Cheers, which
the Chairman suppressed / was
resolved that ! would continue to
protest against the wrong by which
the people were defranded oot of their
rights. Mr.. Tilden's voice, owing
to cold, became husky, aud it re
quired an effort to catch all his words. I
Tilden being asked "Who is your
private secretary answered, Geo.
W. Smith.
Question-Have you no knowledge
of the following dispatch:
TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 27.-George w. Smith.
10 Gramercy Park 1t has been suggested
from here to the Governor Of Oregon to re.
frain from issuing certificates in favor Of
ineligible electors until advised thereon.
Why not obtain and telegraph him O'Connor's
opinion? See my dispatch to Spain. NJ.
A -Read the Iribune's disclosures
which were the first he knew of the
ciphers in that way. The witness
private secretary, Smith, never
showed him any of these dispatches.
Did not know that he had cipher.
Knew nothing of the ciphers when
Pelton returned from Baltimore.
Witness said something to him about
his action and he made no reply
got from him no information about
the ciphers until they were pub.
Iished; did not believe Pelton had
any power; besides he had no
authorization. Edward Cooper told
me be had a proposition to get votes
for money Didn't mention Pelton.
never heard of any attempt to
bribe in any State. The FIRST heard
of Florida was from Marble. He
simply mentioned the circumstances;
gave ms no details. and made no in
quiries of Pelton about these corrupt
propositions. The only interest I
bad in it wac in stopping it. Pelton
ceased to reside in my house about
January first. l made no request TO
cease being my secretary. / mani
tested my dispIeasure, but did not
ask him to resign. / kept up no
confidential relations with Smith
Weed knew nothing of his pres
ence 10 South Carolina. knew
| nothing from him of this proposition
to buy votes. I had not the most
kindly feelings towards Weed. Had
con 6dential relations with Marble.
Il