Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-25
TiIden on the Frauds or 1876.
hE E1fAIiATEs At LgSCTH uPoS THE
ELECTORAL PhocEEDiNOs--PELTos
DEFENDED


ELECTORAL PHocEEDiNOs-PELToS
DEFENDED.
From an interview In Fr1days New Yorh Time.
The reporter said "Mr. Field makes
the following statement But when Mr..
lilden came TO testify before the Con.
gfessional committee, he admitted that
ht tins time he knew, talthough the
pubic dld not know till months after
wards all about his transactions in re.
gard TO the cipher dispatches. Yet,
knowing this, lie presented 10 me a
man who had attempted bribery, and
so been guilty Of crime, IA one worthy
oil my confidence, and the one whom
he specially chose TO represent him.
self"
Said Mr.. Tildcn: "The moral auda.
city, or rather the immoral audacity. is
amazing, of the man who could delib.
efatcly assert in II written paper, under
his own signature, that ! admitted be.
fore the Congressional committee that.
at this very time June, 1871 Il knew
all about his transactions in regard 10
the cipher dispatches.' testified be.
fore that committee that never knew
oi the existence or contents OF any OF
the cipher dispatches until their publ.
cation IN September, 1873, and every
witness examined and every fact elicit.
ed confirmed my testimony IL was
further proved that when / was in.
formed by Mr.. Edward Cooper that
Col. PeIton was receiving. or Was about
TO receive. the communication OF the
first Of the offers, and the only one that
came to my knowledge. to give 10 the
D. 9F nj. a.
q pccuulary induccmcnt, instantly in.
teriercd, broke up the conference. and
crushed the Inclpicnt negotiations. Ii
WAS proved before that committee that
certificates for nineteen votes were in
the market, while only one was lacking
10 defeat the fraud by which the PrcsI.
dcncy was wrcsted from the majority
OF the American people II is now
known beyond controversy that the
four vote Of Florida belonged o. me.
and were diverted from me ~ corrupt
inducements since partly performed.
II Is now known that the eight votes Of
Louisiana also belonged to me. Even
Judge Miller. the master spirit OF the
Electoral commission, ~ reported 10
have admitted the fact in recent in.
ieryiew published IN the Now York
Sun. The frauds, pcrjurics and forgcr.
les to which the ialsc certificates were
supported wcT" numerous and compl.
Gated. To thcrc was supcrnddcd The
forgery o! three electoral votes to SUP.
ply the place OF the original votes sent
from Louisiana and found 10 bc Illegal.
The actors and agents in these wrongs
have been appointed 10, or continued
IN, all the great civic trusts OF the Uni
ted states within the State Of Iyouisi.
ana. 1t was proved that refused to
enter into this shameful compe tition.
1t Is known that / did not obtain any
one Of the certificates asccrtained to be
10 the market. They were all cast
against me- n well as against law and
right. Mr.. Field. pretending To think
that poor Pellon, as he calls him, has
been harshly and unjuslly dealt with
by the public IN the next breath SAYS
that he had attempted bribery and
had been guilty Of a crime. This is
an exaggerated uutruth. Col. Pelton
neither initiated nor contaminated any.
thing. lie merely listened 10 offers
from officers to do what they admitted.
and be believed. TO be their lawful duty
for hire before they violated that duty
under corrupt inducements. HIS
wrong did not go beyond a futile dal.
hance. The bcnefciaries Of the con.
summated wrong. it, instigAiors and
patrons. arc high in the seats Of GOV.
crnmen,al power and honor. Shocked
st lesser wrong, which died in it.
mere meditation TO the great crime &C.
tually contaminated, Mr.. Field crooks
the pregnant hinges Of the knee that
Thrift may follow fawning.