The New York herald., 1879-02-09

Colonel Pelton stood to the Democratic National
Committee A. Your question assumes more than
true; did learn that he been there to con-
summate an arrangement; only heard he had gone
| there to receive offer.
q. Well. sir, is there much difference between the
way that state it and the way that yon state it A.
! (resolutely). Yes, sir.
had been indiscreet enough to go to Baltimore to
look into the proposition of sale of certif-
cate of the electors Of South Carolina did You not
think you called upon ascertain his relations
| to the National Committee aud how far he
himself a. thought the best way to deal With
such transaction was to stop it; not to do it myself
and to stop any else from doing it, caustically)
Mr.. Hiscock evidently is trying to probe and search
Mr. Hiscock-No; am merely trying to find out
his relations with you.
Mr. Tilden-Your object is to impute to failure
| to do duty.
| Mr.. Hiscock (courteo teouslyj-Possibly-
"a strBLIMATED STANDARD OF MORALS"
Mr. Tiden--I answer your question this way.
proposed to set up standard OF duty as high as !
could and whether the other gentlemen would
| O. 1t seems to me that the best way to answer
! question is answer it as far you directly,
and not to seek 10 it by assailing ybody
else? A. do not desire to assail anybody but when
sublimated standard of morals is set up propose
to anaiyze it and whether the party who sets it
! up would stand by it himself.
| q You have said that il you had entertained any
idea of influencing these boards venally by venal
considerations the last person in the world that you
would have chosen for that mission would have been
Colonel Peton. Now. l ask You to bear that
can. state why after you learned of his
visit to Baltimore, you did not deem
it proper and perhaps your duty, to call the atten-
tion OF Mr. Edward Cooper or of Mr.. Hewitt-both
of chem distinguished and very able men-to the fact
that they must take charge of this matter and Mr..
Pelton must be left out of the correspondence, and
that they give it their personal attention. lest
you and the democratic party should be embar-
rassed perhaps scandalized. by the action of Col
J onel Pelton? A. In the first place supposed
these gentlemen giving their personal attention
to all these matters; these gentlemen had the real
power and Pelton did not; they able to super
Il. TIM ,uIo had ,1,av<e 20
the money. without which Pelton could not involve
them to the extent of cent in the next place. Mr..
Cooper was the gentleman from whom derived the
information solely and exclusively about the Balti-
more affair; in the third place. regarded the Bati
but still very nchoate transaction; now. the
civil law does not recognize purposes until they
body themselves i'll action; the Church distinguishes
these purposes merely simple faults Pelton had
not so far as knew, done anything except receive
proposition from set of republicans to sell their
State; the proposition died of borning; 1t did not
strike me though there was any possibility OF
its succeeding any similar transaction. without
meaning to excuse Pelton in the least: at that time
the atmosphere full of rumors of the venality
and frauds Of these returning boards in the disputed
States and of their offers Here Mr. Tden in an out
burst of pent up feeling brought down his fist upon
'BEroRE GOD AND MY COUNTRY
Before God and my country believe the votes and
certificates of Florida and Louisiana were bought,
and that the Presidency was controlled by their
| purchase: Pelton seeing that state of things
committed fault, an error--committed wrong: he
adopted the idea it justiiable to fight fire with
|
| dency being taken away from the who had been
elected by the people according to the law. and in
fact. Thought it was Legitimate to defeat that
entirely unjustihable; ! adopted an entirely
different system; scorned to defend my righteous
| title by such means were employed to acquire
| felonious possession; Pelton did not come up to
that standard: he may be tried, convicted. con-
demned public opinion may punish him at the
same time though that fault must be judged OF
according to the facts Of the time and according to
| what was being done and done; his act in
| her
! q complete and consummated one to give up the
of the Presidency of the United States TO
man who not elected, and the representatives,
the champions Of that condition of things were the
men whose consccnces were troubled with the
| inchoate wrong spoke of.
| MIR. HIscocK DIsGUsrED.
| Mr.. Hiscock (dsgustedl-Mr. stenographer. you
will read to me that part of his answer referring to
| returning boards having been bought. sJa
The stenographer here read over the last answer.
upon what Information you base that BELIEF and in
giving your information you will please give the
name OF the party communicating 1t to you! A.
have private information the subject 1t is be-
Q. Do you mean to say that there is any evidence
before this committee that the Returning Board was
| Q. You will do me the kindness. sir TO point out
the witness who testified to it. and the evidence to
| that effect? A. McLin testified that he held the
casting of the State of Florida; he testified that
he gave false certificate contrary to the evidence
and contrary to the law.
| Mr.. Hiscock-I say you mistaken. He has not
sworn to anything of the kind. McLin swore to
the purchase Of the Board and he that at the
time when he signed that certificate he did it con-
scientously honestly and faithfully. and. believing
that the facts OF the case justified him
| in making that decision; he did swear that
certain facts which came to his knowledge he might
not have acted he did There is not cintilla of
evidence III the Florida from Mr.. McIn that his
action conduct was in any way venal but. on the
contrary that he acted most honestly and conscien
tiously. 1 willing TO appeal to my democratic
colleagues on that question.
| Mr.. Tildcn-McLin said further that his mind
| probably influenced by promises of Office he was
Immediately afterward appointed United States At
| torney of New Mexico; Mr.. Noyes. who down
there at the same time, was appointed Minister to
Paris.
sworc that he influenced by the hope of being
appointed to Officer A. think he said so.
GUARD OWN HONOR.
Q. will you swear that he said so A. swear
that il my recollection that he substantially said
so; now. gentlemen. believe that am competent
to be the custodian of my own honor; do not think
that virtue is of delicate texture that IL needs
that should practice brutality towards body ese
may be erring in judgments but think that in all
my dealings with Pelton have been able and shall
be able to do what is right to protect everybody from
any wrong. so far rs l have any control; in this
of examination. the object of which is to crimi
nate me. you .ntrude yourself into my domestic
family relations and II is fair to compare you with
your own standard.
Mr.. Hscock-You are entirely mistaken with re-
gard TO that. This investigation has only one OBJ
ect and that is for the purpose OF enlightenng the
people and nstructing them upon the facts which
transpircd and upon all the motives. 1t has been
cerning Governor Tildcn. but matter in which the
public is supposed to be Interested
O. tReturning to the charged will ask what evi-
dcnce you have that the votes of Florida for
sale for vcnal consideration? A. tCurtly.) have
no personal information.
Q. do not ask for personal explanation; You
have stated here your belief. appealing to high
heaven that these men were debauched and inhu-
enccd by republicans Now. sir. 1 ask you
to state your authority and the of
the gentleman who communicated tnat fact
to You? A. l state that is conviction; cannot give
you the of any man who told me-; state my
belief from evidence that. in my judgment. would
convict anybody before common jury; the evidence
was public.
.. Then you mean to- say that you have made that
serious charge against these returning boards upon
what you in the papers and upon public rumor?
A. No. l dout: make the charge upon evidence be-
fore your committee and before other committees.
O. call your attention to another fact. that limit
you by the question. to the time about when Pei
ton visited Baltimore and in reference to which you