Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-08
Samuel J. Ti!den Before the
Potter Subcommittee.
lie Puts In 4 General Denial Of
Everything Revealed through
the Ciphers
HsH-r-r-FH ..rA' ~ 5 .s..y. Efvs ..-
And Says He Knew Nothing Of those
Mysterious MessagessW Which the
Public Have Devoured So
Eagerly.
THE p H

THE CIPHER BUSINESS.
TIDE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
New York, Feb. Sat the meeting Of the
committee investigating the cipher dispatch
ca, Samuel J. Tilden, Immediately upon Ell.
tering the room, was sworn by Mr.. Huston,
the chairman, who said, Gov. Tilden, we
received your note expressing your willing.
ness to testify.
Tilden-I have a bad cold, and can't
speak very loud. 10 the publication and
translations in New York papers l did not
recognize q single dispatch, either in cipher
or translation, which l had ever seen.
l never heard from them but
once, and that was a communication signed
by Ottendurfer and others. l was very busy
all the time, and did not undertake to cor
rect the idea that they were my personal
agents. They did not represent the demo-
cratic party. None Of them, 50 far as I
know, went to these states authorized to do
anything that gentlemen might
not do. 1 never entered into any arrange
ments to purchase the vote Of South Caro-
lima or Florida. l had no information or
suspicion that any such communications
were being carried on until l saw the,
dispatches published in the New York
Tribune. l had no knowledge nor dealings
with any parties to these negotiations in
any form whatever. On the morning Of
November Goth, 1876. Mrs. Col. Pel,on
mentioned In my presence that her husband
had gone for the day. l did not know that
he had gone or was going out Of the city.
He went to Philadelphia, l believe. Later
in the day l was called on by Mr.. Cooper.
who was on his way down town, and was
told by him that he had received an offer
from ONE party offering to obtain the vote
of South Carolina. said l
would authorize no such transaction orspend
money for any such purpose, which onver-
sation occupied only a few minutes. l OBJ
tanned Col. Pelton's address in Baltimore
and telegraphed him to come home. l knew
nothing Of the ciphers that had been passing
between him and others, and l could not
have translated them. With regard to
Florida, l never saw one of the kilograms.
either in cipher or tranlation. l did not
know-I was not informed-that negotia.
tions were going on in regard to illegally
obtaining certificate of the returning board.
Meantime Mr.. Marble told me in u causal
way about the corruption of the returning
board of Florida. 1 never saw any Of these
dispatches relating to Florida, either in
cipher or translation. In regard to the
Oregon dispatches, I did not know
they came in cipher till at er the meeting
Of the committee to investigate them.
Some Of the dispatches were addressed to
my residence, Is Creamery Park. l do not
know that any Of these 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
a letter recommending CON missioners to so
south to see a fair. count. had nothing to
do with the election Of these commissioners.
Did enter into any combination for seeking
certificates by venal inducements?Ther new
er was an hour, not a minute, that l entertain
ed such a thought. To the people who, as
l believe elected me president of the United
States, to the four milton citizens who are de.
frAuded, l W it to proclaim that l would
not yield one ut or title Of my right. What.
ever evils may result from this snbversion
of tho electoral system of u free gov
eminent, l resolved I would enter into no
action for the purchase Of the chief majest-
racy. [Chcers, which the chairman sup.
pressed. l was resolved that l would con-
trive no protest against the wrong by which
the people we're defrauded out of their
rights.
Mr.. Tilden's voice, owing to a cold, be.
came husky. It required an effort to catch
all his words. Tilden being asked, "Who
is your private secretary ?" answered, Geo.
W.. Smith," l have no knowledge Of the
following dispatch:
Tallahassee, Nov. 27.-Geo. w. Smith, Is
Gramercy park-It has been suggested from
here to the governor Of Oregon, to refrain
from iasuing q certificate in favor Of an in
eligible elector until advised thereon.
Why not obtain and telegraph him UCon-
nor's opinion. See my dispatch to Spain"
Read Tribune's disclosures. bu. This WINS
the first he knew o! cipbcrs In tina, way.
Witness private secretary. Smith, never
showed him any OF these dispatches; did