The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-15


The investigation Of ihe cipher dis
patches has developed but little beyond
what Was already known, The kilograms
wers lrst obtained BY order Of Senate
Committee ffcm the Western Union Tele-
graph Company Upon examination they
were found to contain matter relating to
the bargain aud sale of the presidency.
Those between Republicans we're burned,
and those Of Democratic origin were pre-
served, and number Of them were sur
reptisiously HE'D away to New York and
published in the Tribune. These were
enormously or partially translated, and
the mysterious part Of them was supposed
to b very damaging to Mr.. Tilden and
the Democratic party, Upon superstition,
then, the Tribune built its mountain Of
scandal. Mr.. Tildcn, shortly after the
publication Of the dispatches, made a pub
lie denial Of any knowledge of the subject
matter contained in them, or that he had
ever seen them, or that they were sent BY
him or by his authority.
The Potter investigating Committee, by
order Of the House Of Representatives, re-
Gently included in their examinations the
cipher dispatches, and the facts elected
show that certain members Of the Demo
cratic party, some of them near to Mr..
TiIden, bad received propositions for the
purchase of the Returning Boards Of South
Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. These
transactions were merely inehOate, and
we're promptly checked by Mr.. Tilden when
he heard that his nephew PeltOn had gone
to Baltimore to receive proposals on the
pr,Shasc Of the presidency. Mr.. Tilden
voluntarily went before the Potter sub
committee last Saturday, aud again cleared
his skirts of the cipher dispatches. He
said:
ssThere is none either in cipher or transla-
lion the contents Of which had been eommuni-
Gated to me. In respect to those which re-
late 10 negotiations to induce members OF the
eanvassing boards Of South Carolina and
Florida 10 agree to give the Democratic cleo
tors certificate Of election on payment Of a
certain sum Of money | know nothing
never saw q word Of those kilograms either in
cipher or translated. and none Of the contents
have ever been communicated to me in any
manner whatsoever. | had no knowledge
and no information, aud no suspicion Of that
correspondence o, Of any similar correspond
ence or proceeding until the publication OF il
in the Tribune, nor Of negotiations on behalf
Of any member Of the Returning Board OF
South Carolina or Of the State Canyassers OF
Florida or any other state. None such were
ever entertained by my authority or with my
sanction. No negotiations. no dealing with
them, no dealing with any one OF them was
ever authorized or sanctioned by me IN any
manner whatsoever. The first information l
ever received ihet any such negotiations bad
ever existed between agents OF the Democrat
ie party and any member OF the State Ian
vassers Of South Carolina to obtain their GER
tificatss that the Democratic electors had
been chosen was afler Colonel Pelson went to
Baltimore ! am DOT able 10 hx the date
positively in my receolleetion, but Il was alter
coloasl Pelton went On the morning Of the
18th of November, 1876, Mrs Colonel Peiion
mentioned in my presence that her hrsband
had gone to Philadelphia II was casual
mention. | did not know he was going 10
leave the eity-did not know he had left IL
4 lit.lc later in the morning | was called on
by the Treasurer Of the National Democratic
Committee, Mr.. Edward Cooper, on bis way
,lown town. and be told me that Colonel Pei
Ion was in Baltimore, and told me that Col
onel Peltnn had received or was recsising an
oter ia regard to the sale Of the vote, from
somebody who represented or claimed to re-
present the Canyassing Board Of South Car
DINA 10 give the vote of the state 10 the Dem
oeralie party. | immediately said that no
such Offer should be entertained, and no ne
eotiatiOns Of that nstars should be tolerated;
that not a cent of money should be advanced
for any sach purpose; and Colones Pelton
ras Immediately tslegrAphed to return to New
ferk. Ny conversation with Mr.. Cooper
was very brief. The whole matter vas dis
posed Of within FIVE minutes. | made no in
auiry into the details, and there was no dis
cstssiOn between rs. obtained from him
Colonel Pelton's address in Baltimore, and
caused a telegram to be sent 70 him ordering
him peremptorily to return 70 New York.
The despatch was in the ordinary language.
I think i was some ten minutes after Mr..
Copper Ieft that the despatch was sent, and
he tMr. PelioH) returned that dayto New
York.
In respect 10 Florida, l never saw any OF
the Florida kilograms, either in cipher or
Translation; and none of the contents have
ever, 80 far as know, been given TO me in
relation 10 this subject. / did not know, and
xas not informed, that there had been there
anybody representing or claiming to represent
any committee of the Democratic party until
after certificates had been given to the cleo
tors. That was the frst information on the
subject and had that after the sixth day Of
December Some time after Mr. Marble re-
turned--I don't know when--he mentioned
10 me one day, as OF abygone affair, that there
had been an offer 70 sell florida, and he said
The nisss had been declined. Some time last
snu1ssf. aboat the time Of Mr.. Marbles let
Ter o. M< Eieeiorai Commission, ] made
reszfk 70 EssSsel Psltop that that was the
srx hpcwse&se ! kat on the subject He
aassGssd - : sSfzis zeEiepce that al offers
iad bser ceehsed. Daring tbe whole time
from DE I'll 81 November. lsfC, which was
The day 81 ase election, Bnssi khe gtb day OF
December, he zane yeaS, which vas the d.
hal the eleeteFs met aBd cast their votes for
10 Washington, ! maintained
one uniform astitnde--undeF no circumstance
70 enter lotto any competition TO obtain the
votos--to obiain the certificates Of the can
wasting boarda--of the disputed states, eFen
DC those to which thought we were entitled,
except BY discussion, BY argument, by reason,
By truth, by justice There never was time,
not moment, not IA instant, 10 which ever
any aDch iden Of Seeisiag to OBJ
ain those certificates BY any genal indgce-
meat or any promise ofreward Ny purpose
IN that subject was perfectly distinct, and was
BY al my friends, and i was new
Il dasiatod from il word 0raet. To the peo-
nla ml.s. ~ / believe, elected me President
sf the ruied States BY four and a-quarteF
millions Of votes, 10 my fellow citizens who
gave mo their snfiraeez. owed duty, service
and gratitude which forbade the surrender Of
one jot Or title Of my seHse af right or my
sslfrespecf; and determined, BhAtesar The
not TO snifar BY agy set of mige
the &lbvtrAion Of the elective system, BIZ
which aione free goyefnment--selfg govern
meni--ean be carried on. ] was resolved,
it fhere Vas to be an auciion Of the chief
rnasissrecy Of my country, would not be
among ,he bidders
Dari1g hiserozs-examiasiion Mr.. Tildsn,
"a azsEsr % . question as to Why he did
rot eau tha attsniion Of SIessrs Cooper
and Hewiis % the fact that they must
tske charge 81 ths prorosal of the return