The New York herald., 1879-02-06

treasurer of the National Democratic Committee
saying in substance that no money could be fur-
nished that all the negotiations must stop and one
from Governor Tlden, may be. at his direction,
requiring him to return Mt once TO New York city.
The Canvassing Board of south Carolina held its
decision open nearly days. waiting to hear from
me; OH Wednesday morning. the day that tie Can
vassing Board was obliged by law to complete the
count Hardy came to me and informed him that it
could not be done; he ut once sent despatch to
Columbia to that effect; he showed it TO me. all but
tho address; the despatch read to the effect that ho
could not get the goods that he had failed TO get
tho goods he used the word goods" that afternoon,
within four hours from the time saw him send that
despatch, tho Canvassing Board of South Carolina
gavo certificate of election to the Hayes electors
AN UGLY DESPATCH.
The Chairman next questioned Mr.. Weed on the
Tribune dispatches. Some of these purported to
have been sent from Florida Witness said he had
never been in Florida in his life. The accuracy of
many of the other dispatches denied.
Mr.. Weed then read the Tribune translation OF
despatch as follows:
Majority Of Board have boon secnred Cost is 10000 to
% and ali to be vo hundred or tSoS
sSsn si~ Ss up upon sos vote land smp"n
receive telegram from me countermandng shall try e
sssaf p force and
Board Fo GoSs 3" Be- as IN
Florida Africa 4. Do this at once. and hays cash ash
cdedly whether it will be done. W.
Mr. Weed said that he could not tell what parts of
this translation were correct ana WllaJ were nOts
from his recollection of the events they occurred
he thought the translation was substantially correct
though his memory was that the sum named was
o. You did not send any despatch signed "Pope ?"
A. cannot remember whether Pope was Haskell,
the chairman Of the South Carolina Committee or
not.
O. Did you ever sign the name "Nead p A.
don't know. Very likely did. 1t is my middle
He then looked through the bound volume of lith-
ographc copies Of the dispatches at the direction of
the chairman, and marked those which were sent by
him.
plot was formed to buy fo"r e%Scr men Of
thus obtained control OF the State TO put tho
Hayes electors in jail and lock them in cells
until the day for casting the electoral votes had
STILL THE WITNESS KNOWS NOT.
Q. Have you any knowledge OF such plot? A.
None whatever According to the text the fair infer
ence is that had something to do with it, but in
reading these dispatches see of them either to
me from me.
Florida the place for the greatest exeron to be
made?
O. Did you say anything about Florida? A. Well.
there were a hundred Of together almost con-
stantly down there. and we were talking over the
political affairs OF the whole country ana tried 10
keep the people here as well posted as could
Witness then read the despatch translated -"Tele.
gram received too late to answer last night Don't
quite understand. Do you want me to 30 to- home
OF Stearns (Florida)? Board late last night de-
manded $4,000 for giving us two or three electors
$4,000. What shall do? Get no aid from Hamp-
ton party. who. to say the least are Indifferent.
lection of the facts, but could not say what this
particular despatch means
Q. What aid from the C., Hampton party Is referred
there was that the Hampton party was taking care
of itself.
Mr.. Hunton-As to securing the count? A. Yes.
Mr.. Hiscock-On the State ticket? A. Yes.
q. 1t is your opinion. from all the circumstances
within your knowledge that If this money had been
a Of tho vote bapn
for the Tilden electors? A. 1t was my opinion at the
time and have never changed it since.
THE BEST LAID PLANS o. NICE AND MEN.
@. Can you give the time of your arrival in Balti
more and how long you were there A. arrived at
three four A. NJ. and went to bed; met Mr. Pelton
about noon.
O. What conversation did you have with him ?
A. He said that the "od man.. meaning Governor
Tilden had got some information and that he had
ceived two dispatches, from Edward Cooper say
ing that there was no money to be had aud that he
must break of the negotiations. The other was from
Mr.. Tilden, from somebody representing him,
telling him to come home.
Mr.. stenger-Did you make any communica-
ton Mr. Tilden in reference to these negotiations
and, if so, what was the communication?
The witness paused moment and then spoke
slowly and deliberately.
A, had no communication, either directly or indi-
rectly with Mr. Tden from the day before the elec-
tion-the day when lett home-until after the
announcement OF the determination of the Board 3
deliberations; SO far as know he had no knowledge
up to that time of any of my tfansactions
Q. Did you have any communication with him
after the determination? A. Yes.
o. What was it? A. Soon after the news came of
the settlement met Mr.. Tilden-I think it was at
the Everett House-and he rather took me to task,
though cannot give you his exact words for having
entertained these propositons do not think he told
how he found out about it: he said in substance,
that l should have known better-that he would not
have consented to take the Presidency on any such
terms: replied that looked upon it as paying
money for the recovery of stolen goods; it was a
ransom to robbers, and thought 1t more legitimate
to pay thieves doing what they ought to do
when they had us in their power.
O. That view? A. Yes.
q. This was u week after the determination Of the
Board? A. Yes. desire to give. also. Mr.. Tilden 3
reply to me. He said that IL the Presidency was to
be sold he would have nothing to do with 1t. He
would not pay money to felons l heard him also
substantially the same words since in different
Several other dispatches were then read and the
witness answered to the same effect-that he had no
recollection of the precise meaning. One despatch
in reference to ''reconcing the Board" which he
to Florida had reference to healing differences
OF opinion between gentlemen who were in Florida
in the interest of the democratic party. He was
utterly unable to remember who Portugal or "Ai-
rca was, but after thinking little. said that very
possibly Portugal meant Chandler and Africa meant
Chamberlain.
The committee at this point telegraphed to Wash
ington to know il any original South Carolina de-
spatches were accessible and so, to have them sent
to New York.
DEFECTIVE MEMORY.
The next cipher dispatches Mr.. Weed was also un-
able TO explain. and the chairman said he would get
Mr.. Weed to transpose them by means Of the pub
lishcd key. Then came despatch. dated Columbus,
Mr.. Tilden had certainty elsewhere the signer.
Thomas (AIr. Weed would go to Florida. The wit
ness said he supposed it was substantially correct.
The next despatch asking:-"Shall l increase to
$4,000 IL required, to make sure? Am watched and,
If WELL think betcr turn over matter here to Gov
ernor Randolph" Mr.. Weed did not recollect send
ing. The answer was NO., and he therefore, did not
turn matters over Governor Randolph. of New Jcr
sey who there at the time. and did not speak to
HIM the subject In telegram dated Columbus.
November IL. and addressed. like the rest to Henry
Haycmeyer, MEAD (Mr. Weeds middle nafne) asks
''if few dollars can be placed in Returning Board
to insure, what say you?' and the witness said he
had recollection about it,
Mr. Recd-You have no doubt that you sent 1t
Mr. weed-I shouldn't like to say that.
Mr.. Springer now called the attention OF the wit
ness to a despatch translated as follows:-"H Re-
turning Board can be procured absolutely, will you
deposit $4,000 May take less
Mr. Springer-Have you any recollection of this
despatch?
Mr. wccd-Not Independently; have doubt
that IL has been correctly rendered.
Mr.. Springer--Have you any explanation to make
of it?
Mr.. wced-only that il was part Of the general