The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-09
THE CIPHER DESPATCH ES.


bUTolnU VI INC lbtn OF OriODcr. 1873. ana tnOSO
relating TO Florida Of the Sth Of October. i97s-
l read those translations did not recognize
hmong them single one that had over seen.
either the ciphers or TRANSACTIONS. the contents
Of which wero In any manner brought to my
attention. In respect to those OF them that
relate to tho negotiations 30 induce
members OF the Cauvnssing Board Of
South Carolina and Florida to give the Demo
critic electors the certificates | am positive
never saw ono OF those kilograms. either in
cipher or TRANSACTIONS. and mother the contents
Of nor the purport OF any one Of them WIS ever
communicated to me. In any manner whatso-
ever. had no knowledge or information. or
tupDosition that such correspondence. or any
similar correspondence. had existed until the
publication was announced in the Ne,o York
Tribune. n few days later. No offer. no nego-
hations. on behalf Of any member Of the Re
turning Board OF South Carolina. or the Board
OF State Cnnvasscrs OF Florida. or Of any other
State. was ever entertained by my authority or
with my sanction. No negotiations with any
body. no dealings with them or relating to
thom. or any one Of Thorn. was ever authorized
or sanctioned by me in any manner whatsoever.
The first Information ever received that any
such negotiations had ever existed between any
Democrats and any members Of tho State Can
vassing Board Of South Carolina to obtain tho
certificates OF the Democratic Electors. hap
penod upon tho Goth day Of November 1876 |
am not ablc TO Ak the date from recollection but
1 1x II through n circumstance developed dur
ing this investigation. On that day. which was
Tho day Col. Pelton was in Baltmore-I remom-
Der tho fact and fix the date from circum-
stance. During that morning OF the goth OF
November 1876. Mrs. Col. Pclton mentioned in
conversation that her husband had gone TO
Philadelphia. II was n casual mention. did
a mn
city. or had left the city. Her mention OF it wns
so casual that II attracted no particular attention
from me. A little later
Tho Chairman-In Philadelphia Did you
say Col Pcton was In Philadelphia?
Mr.. Tildcn-In Philadelphia. A little later tho
same morning was called upon by the Treas
Juror OF the Democratic National Committee. Mr..
Edward Cooper. apparently on his way down
town. Hc told me Col. pelton was In Baltimore
Ho told me Col Pcton had received. or was to
receive. an offer on behalf Of somebody repre-
senting. or claiming 10 represent. the Republi-
can canvassers or Board Of tho State Of South
Carolina. TO give certificates to the Democratic
electors for n sum Of money. Immediately said
no such offer should be cntertancd; no such
Negotiations Of that natnre should be tolerated
not cont OF money should bc furnished for
any such purpose. and Col Pcton should DO
Immediately telcgraphed 10 return 10 New York
/ did not at that time know that Mr.. Smith NJ
Weed had gone to South Carolina. or that he
was there. | had not seen him after tho eloc-
don. and did not know Of his whereabouts at
hat time. The conversation was very brief
Tho wholc mntter was disposed Of within I've
or ten minutes. | made no inquiry in regard
to details. and there was no discussion between
us. Mr. Cooper concurred with mo entirely in
the measures to bo taken. Although took
II for gruutaI Tint ha xv.ulI all
communications. did not leave It to that.
obtained from Mr.. Cooper Col. Pclton's adj
dress in Baltimore, and caused to be- immcdi-
atcly tcegraphed to Col. Pclton. in pcremp-
tory manner. 10 return TO New York. Ny de-
spatch was in ordinary language. l had no
ciphor-could not read n cipher-could not
translate to cipher. 1t never occurred to me
that there was any reason for conccament My
belief is that that despatch was sent to Col Pei
ton in my own name. and | think 1t was sent
within ten minutes after Mr.. Cooper's CONVEX
bation with mo. Col. Pelton returned that night
10 New York.
With respect 10 the Florida matters. never
saw any one Of the Florida kilograms. either In
cipher or in translation. The contents Of no
ono of thom. 30 far rs l know was ever COM
muni'aied 10 me relating to this subject. do
not think the contents OF those relating to the
Course Of the controversy down there were
communicated 20 me.
l was not able. in looking them over to recall
any one that had ever seen. did not know.
was not informed. that thcre had been any
offer from anybody representing or claim
Ing to represent the Florida Board. or
any member Of it. 10 give their vote 10 the
Democratic electors, and / did not know OF il
until afterwHrd-uniil after the certificates had
been given and the vote OF tho electors deposit
cd Tor trans mission 10 Washington. My first
Information upon the subject was subsequent 10
rhat-aitcr the 9th day Of December. 1876.
Some time after Mr.. Marble rcturned-I do
not know whether ii was before | went TO Eng
land or after-he mentioned ono day. as II by
gone affair that the vote Of the State OF Florida
was offered. or the electors certificate which
would yield US tho vote. he said. was offered
and declined
some time last summer. about the time Mr..
Marbles letter on the Electoral Commission app
poarcd. made n remark TO Col Potion about
the affair Of Florida. He answered in single
sentence. that all oGgrs had been declined.
That was all tho knowledge had on the sub
iect until the publication Of these dispatches.
In respect to Oregon. / mover saw any ono Of
those dispatches. owrefer 10 two des patches
contained in the Tribu,e extra "A.
Tho Chnirman-The pamphlet
Alr. Tilden-I never saw any ono II these
substance OF no one Of them was ever COM
nunieated 10 ne except the despatch from Gov.
Grover. stating that he should give the certl-
cato to the Democratic elector. Cronin. Tho
Substance OF that despatch was communicated
% me soon.
Tho Chairmnn-What was that2
Mr.. Tllrn-The substance Of II was commu-
ncated 10 mo by somebody. ! did not know
that il came in cipher until after it appeared on
tho examination by Mr.. Morion's committee,
IL whut form tho communication was made 10
mo cannot now state, but l was aware Of tho
fat.
some Of these cipher kilograms appear 10
have been hd dressed 10 CO.., Potion at -
Grnmercy Park. which ia my residence |
asked one Of my young men to look at them
and toll mo how many there were. lie said
there wcre fifteen Florida dispatches, chiefly
from Marble. So iar as know not one Of those
Dispatches wis ever delivered at my house.
Mr.. sEring Those that were chiefly signed
by Mr.. MarblrI
Mr.. Tlldcn-Chiehy signed by Mr.. Marble,
Col Priton's habits and hours and mine wero
60 entirely dinrrrnt-l was stil Governor Of
New York. md hal many executive duties 10
perform. ! WAS burdened by receptions Of the
people who cnme 10 see mo from nll pnrts Of the
United States and from three 10 five hours n