Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-08
NEPHEW PELTON.

The nephew of his uncle testified on
Thursday relative to his part in the cipher
dispatches and the negotiatiations which they
in part explained, and proved himself to be
both knave and fool of rare capacity. If
we may believe his own story he displayed a
tact for idiocy combined with positive ras-
cality that stamps him as the champion OF
his breed that the country has yet produced.
He acknowledged that he prompted Smith
Weed and others to enter into negotiations
for the purchase of returning boards and
electors in South Carolina and Florida, and
promised to consummate the bargains when
they should be made by the payment OF
whatever money might be required. This
he did, according to his own story, without
consultation with either Mr.. Tilden or any
member of the National Democratic commit
tee, with full knowledge that he could not
fulfill his agreement. he further testifes
that he was soundly damned for his imper-
Thence both by his uncle and Mr.. Cooper,
the treasurer of the committee, and ordered
to quit his nonsense.
Mr.. Pelton refused to answer certain
questions put by Republican members of the
committee on the ground that they were dis
courteous. This, to say the least, is refresh.
ingly cheeky. What right has fellow such
as he to ask for courtesy? It would be i'm.
properly bestowed on so consummate q
kEave, and we sincerely trust that the COM
mittee will insist upon his an
swering all questions bearing upon
this disreputable business, or commit
him to Jail for contempt. A man who
confesses that he deliberately engaged in a
conspiracy to bride electors and returning
boards, and in the course of his negotiations
compromised the regulations of many men
who had hitherto borne unblemished reputa
tions, besides calling in question the charac-
ter for honesty of great and honorable
party is deserving of no consideration what
ever, and ought to be made to divulge every
fact connected with his infamy that the COM
mittee or the public may for any reason de-
sire to know.
In one particular Nephew Pelton's testi-
mony agrees with that of Mr.. Weed on the
previous day. He acquits both MIR. Tilden
and Mr.. Cooper of all knowledge of the
transactions, and furthermore he testifes
that the indignation of those gentlemen
when they heard what he had done knew no
bounds. This may or may not be true.
One thing in connection with the matter is
little singular. 1t will be remembered
that Tilden, in his letter to the public at the
time of the New York Iribune's publication
of the dispatches, solemnly declared that
until that publication he had known nothing
of the passage of any such kilograms OF of
any such negotiations as they indicated.
Now Mr.. Pelton testifes under oath that he
told Mr.. Tilden all about it shortly after he
had been assured that the bargain could be
made, but that his action was repudiated.
There is al Inconsistency here that some
body ought to explain. 1t is certainly a
little queer that man having such intimate
personal relations to Mr.. Tilden should have
undertaken such a scheme wholly unauthor-
lied, well knowing that the money to carry
out his contracts would have to come from
Mr.. Tilden's pocket. One would think
that he would first have ascertained if the
contracts could be carried out in the event
of success. But we suppose that to man
so assinine as Mr.. Pelton such common
sense idea never occurred. If it did, he
does not seem to have acted upon it.