New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-06
THE nPEN[NE-

! If ANYTHING could be more astonishing than
Sir. Smith NJ Wccd'S cipher dispatches it
would be Mr. Smith ~ Weeds testimony.
Called to the stand yesterday at a quarter
past twelve, he entertained and instructed
tie Subcommittee until a quarter be
fore six, and then resumed the stand
for an hour in The evening" and in the conrSc
of this protractcd seance he was enabled TO
make an exhibition of political morality which
none VINO witnessed it are likely ever TO for
get That we may relieve public curiosity
without unnecessary delay, let Us premise that
ne admitted the substantial accuracy OF the
entire narrative of his dealings with the South
Carolina Canvassing Board, rs il has been pIe-
scented IN TIE tribune, and that he assured the
Subcommittee that the principal for whom
he acted in that affair was snpy-Colonel
Pelton. The Democratic line Of defence,
therefore, is just what we have several times
predicted that ii would be.
Up to a certain poirs Mr.. Weed was refresh
ingly frank. Although he repeated several
times that he had never taken the trouble to
examine any of the keys or TRANSACTIONS III
TIE TRIBUNE, and had been at no pains to
refresh his memory even on the most essential
points he did bring with him written paper or
memorandum which ne desired TO read, because,
a, ne remarked, d" if far statement Is de-
sired, a witness must give some thought to
cit =; but he was not allowed to introduce
tins document, and his testimony was accord
mgly given by word of mouth, with an
occasional dip into the memorandum by
way of q refreShcr. He said that he
was requested TO go South after the
election, and supplied with a cipher to
use in correspondence with headquarters.
After some pressing he added that Colonel
Pelton was the man who requested him to 90,
and who gave him the cipher; yet, on further
reflection, he believed the cipher was one
he had already used in telegraphing from
Ohio 10 the National Committee. On his
way to Columbia he heard two strange
gentlemen i'll the cars say that the Canvassing
Board was for sale He promptly resolved to
buy il, and tclcgraphcd to New York TO know
whether money could be furnished. Receiving
what he understood to he an affirmative
! reply, he opened negotiations with
one Hardy solomon, an eX-baDker i'll
| Columbia. Who introduced him To Solo
mon Oh, probably, there was no formal
! introduction, but solomon seemed to he very
! thick with the Canyassng Board, and it was
understood" that the business was all hight.
He was negotiating with Solomon pretty
much all the time from Monday, the date of
! his arrival, until Saturday, the date Of his de-
partIrc Al last can arrangement was made
"nO, | don't mean an arrangement, but u
"proposition to sell out for Il certain sum
''of money" (Mr. Weed thinks it WAS only
500, 900. hut is not sure The TRIUNE's
TRANSACTIONS make it undoubtedly $50, 900;
and to that arrangement or proposition he
received from Ncw-Iork what he considered
10 be an assent.
Mr.. Weed accordingly went te Baltimore TO
get the money, Just as related in The lIIB-
, uNE, and Hardy solomon went with him. At
Baltimore he did meet Colonel PeltOn he
was inclined TO think that he rather expected
"to meet PeltOn " ; and lac believed that Pei.
! ton was to get the money from the Democratic
National Committee. or else the Executive Com
mltee But when he and PeltOn encountered
each other about noon in Baltimore, Mr.. Weed
was disappointed to learn that the affair was
Z" pretty much bmsted.' Colonel PetOL had
received that morning telegram from Mr.
Edward Cooper, treasurer OF the Committee.
saving that there was no money for him,
and " the old man. moreover, had got some
information about the contract and tcle-
graphed the scapegrace nephew to come home.
Hereupon the whole party, including Solomon,
repaired to New-York, aud in the course of
the next thirty-six hours Mr.. Weed and
tho South Carolina nterccdcr had as many
a. dozen interviews in this city on
the subject of raising the money by other