The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-02-06

action, I'd lie made no reply did not
get from him any information about cipheFs
nor negotiations until | saw them pub
lished. l did not believe Peltou had any
power because he had no authorization.
Edward Cooper came 10 me and said he had
received a proposition TO get the votes Of
South Carolina for money Tie substance
Of our conversation was that the votes were
for sale. / never heard of any attempt TO
bribe until the publication Of the fact.
first heard Of the Florida bribery from Mr.
Marble He simply mentioned the circum-
stances after lie returned from Florida. He
gave me no details, and made no inquiries
| made no inquiries from my nephew about
these corrupt propositions to buy and SELL
Q-Then you had no interest in il?
A.-Only an interest in stopping il. Mr..
Tilden admitted he had confidential rela-
tions with Mr.. Marble; that the latter be-
fore going u Florida called 10 bid him good
bye. There was nothing in their converse
ton at the meeting bearing on this ques-
ton. 1t was little more than formal
leave-taking. He reiterated, III reply TO
questions, that in his interview with Mr.
Cooper about accepting the proposition the
purchase of votes was not debated between
them or thought Of for a moment. As for
Col. Pelton, he was the last man in the
world that he (Tilden) would have selected
if he had intended to enter into such trass-
actions as purchasing the electoral votes
Being asked why, in his card to the pub
lie, lie did not refer TO the Baltimore tran
saction, Mr.. Tilden replied that 1t was not
pertinent.
Q.-Do you not see that your statement
that you had no knowledge of negotiations
except through the Tribune is likely TO de-
ceive, because you had heard of the Balti-
more negotiations?
| This question seemed to stagger Mr.. Til
den somewhat, but he said he didn't know
of the cipher kilograms which had passed
on the subject, nor of any negotiations, but
did know there had been an offer in
South Carolina, which lie had put an end
to by his Intervention.
Q.-You made your statement conscious
that you knew something which the public
didn't, and which you did not make known
in your published statement?
Al made my statement in accordance
with the truth.
Odd you intend to convey the idea that
you had no knowledge of this affair?
4 Al did not intend to convey any idea
on the subject. / had been advised by a
| 4,
and didn't think ii necessary to refer to the
fact Of the Baltimore transaction.
In reply to very able, close examination,
Mr.. Tilden reiterated that it was not peril,
nent to the subject to refer in his statement
to the public to the corrupt offer he had
| heard of, and denied that he drew up his
statement with the special design of keeping
this information from the public Cross,
| ~, ii, NJ
sionally requested to be frank, failed to get
him to admit that he remembered any con.
versatiOn at the Third National Bank with
Mr.. Smith Weed prior to the latter's de
parmre for North or South Carolina. This
finished Mr.. Reeds ss-examination Of
Mr., Tilden.
Mr.. Hiscock now took him in hand. II
reply to a question if he was informed of the
nature of the dispatches received by Mr.
Smith Weed from Florida, he said: 81 did
not occupy myself much with the progress,
OF the Florida proceedings. l never saw
the dispatch advising the employment o
some man who could be trusted for 6
a week. / heard l had one majority il
Florida. but did not see the dispatch referred
TO as conveying that and other informa
ton. l did not see the dispatch tC
George W. Smith saying, See my dispatch
to Spain l have no recollection of seeing
or hearing read any such dispatch. I as
sumo the Democratic National Committed
here were in communication with gentlemen
in Florida during the canvass.
| Q-You have said that if you had any
idea of influencing these boards venally
the last person you would have chosen
would have been Colonel Pelton. Why
/ did you deem it improper to call Mr. Coop
er's or Mr. Hewitt's attention TO the mat
ter and ask them TO take charge of the mat
ter, lest Pelton might compromise the
j psrnoeraiic general committee
h-ln the first place | supposed they has
snowledge and would be able to TAX,
that nothing wrong would be done
III law does not recognize purposes
htil they are embodied in actions. Tn,
,hurch Furnishes purposes of criminals even
they are not carried out The atmos
phere at that time was full of rumors o
frafir,I!. boards, - Gse4aTee -hhee
fore God and my country that the votes o
Louisiana and Florida were bought-mean
ing by Republicans. / would scorn an(
condemn my righteous title if the Demo
cratic party had secured my seat b,
fraud. Hiscock said McLinn testified TIA
he was approached by Manten Marble will
an offer for the purchase of votes, and h
deemed it his duty to make this REPUTATION
in the face of Governor Tilden's aspersionS
or his character.
Mr.. Hiscock-Governor Tilden, are yol
entirely clear? Was McLinn influenced il
his action by the hope of office?
. Al swear no, TO the best of my recol
lection. 1 believe l shall be just TO every
/ one in this examination, and shall protec
, myself fully without going into matters con
corning my family relations.
Mr.. Hiscock-Ths investigation is 70
the benefit of the whole people, and be
lieve it to be in the conscientious discharg
of my duty to fully investigate Col. Peltont
relations with you.
Q.-Had you any information at the tim
that the returning board of South Caro-
lima or Florida were for sale? Give the nam
of the gentleman who told you.
Al can't give you the name of an,
: man, or state it on evidence that will con
Wet anyone.
| Q-Give me the name.
At appeared in the papers.
Mr.. Hiscock-We will 20 back to tn
time when Pelton visited Baltimore and as
you again to give me any evidence tina
you may have that those boards were bein
, corrupted by Republicans. limit You n
, to the time of the final action of thos
boards.
Al have no evidence up to that time
what learned was subsequent investiga
ton. Mr.. T;lden admitted that up to tn
time Pelton went to Baltimore he had non
/ except newspaper knowledge about allege
corruption Of the Republicans in dealin
with the returning boards. Hiscock Gale
! Mr.. Tilden's attention TO dispatch nun
Der 81, dated Tallahassee, November 2.
and signed Marble. He said don
now understand what it means. He couldn
i say whether or not any large sum Of none
was raised by the Democrats in New Yer
/ which might be used for political purposes
4 In regard TO dispatch No, Il, addressed l
J. Smith Weed, signed Denmark" he sal
a Colonel Peltou did not consult him about /
) He did not know Pelton was in commune:
n ton with Weed and others in the SOuu
e These kilograms never came 10 my hous
4 with my knowledge.
4 After brief examination of one or tw
v other witnesses. without elieititing any in
+ portant information, the committee decide
: | 10 examine no more witnesses. and leave 4