The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-21

ham read the following letter from Samuel
J. Tilden:
TILDES's LETTER.
NEw YoRx, June Is, 1880.
To he Delegates from The State of Nar York,
10 he Democratic National COnuention:
Your first assembling is an occasion on
which it is proper for me to state to you
my relation to the nomination for the
Presidency, which you and your associates
are commanded to make in behalf Of the
Democratic party OF the United States.
Having passed my early years in an atmos.
phere filled with the tradition Of the war
which secured our national Independence,
and OF the struggles which made our con.
tinental system government for the peo-
pie, by the people, learned to idolize
the institutions OF my country, and was
educated to belieyeit the duty Of citizen
OF the republic to take his fair allotment OF
care and trouble in public affairs, ful-
filled that duty to the best OF nv ability
for forty years as a private citi.
zen, although during all my life
giving at least as much thought and ef-
fort to public affairs as to other objects.
/ have never accepted official service ex.
cept for a brief period for q SPECIAL pur-
pose, and only when the occasion seem
ed to require OF me that sacrifice OF pri.
vate preferences to public interests. My
life has been substantially that OF pri-
vate citizen. II was presume the success
Of efforts in which as private citizen had
shared to overthrow corrupt combina-
ton, then holding dominion in our metro.
polls, and in purifying the judiciary
which had become its tool, and that in.
duced the Dem ocracy oil the State In 1874
to nominate me for Governor. This was
done in spite OF the protests OF a minority
that the party had been in those re-
forms had created antsgonism fatal TO
me as candidate. felt constrained
TO accept the nomination as the most GER
tain means Of putting the power OF the
Gubernatorial office in the tide oil reform,
and Of removing the impression, where
ever 1t prevailed, that the faithful dis
charge OF ones duty as q citizen Is fatal to
his usefulness as a public servant.
The breaking up OF tue Canal ring,
the better management OF our pub.
lie works, the large reduction OF
taxes and reforms accomplished during
my administration, doubtless occasioned
my nomination for the Presidency by the
Democrats OF the Union, in the hope that
similar processes would be applied TO the
Federal Government. From the respon-
sibilities OF such an undertaking, appall-
ing as 1t seemed to me, l did not feel at
liberty to shrink. In the caucus
which ensued the Democratic par
ty represented reform in the
administration Of the Federal Government,
and a restoration Of our complex political
system to the poor ideas OF its founders:
Upon these issues the people OF the United
States, by majority OF more than a quar-
ter Of million, chose majority oil the cleo
tom to cast their votes for the Democratic
candidate for President and Vice Presi-
dent. It is my right and privilege here
to say that ! was nominated and
elected to the Presidency, and absolutely
free from any engagement in respect to the
exercise OF its powers or the disposal OF It's
patronage. Through the whole period OF
nv relation to the Presidency, Ibid every
thing to elevate and nothing TO lower the
moral standard in the competition OF par.
ties. By what nefarious means the basis
for false count was laid In several oi the
States l need not reiterate.
These are now matters oil history about
which whatever diversity Of opinion may
have existed in either OF the great parties
OF the country at the time oi their con-
summation has since practically disap-
peared, / refused to-Fansom from the re-
turning boards OF the Southern States the
documentary evidence by the suppression
OF which and the substitution oi fraudulent
and forged papers pretext was made for
the perpetuation OF a false count. The
Constitutional duty of the two houses OF
Congress to count the electoral votes as
east and 10 give effect 10 the will ot the
peopIe a. expressed by their suffrages was
neyer fulfilled. An Electoral Commission,
for the existence OF which l have no
responsibility, was formed, and 70 It
the two houses Of Congress abdicated their
duty 10 make the count by q law enacted
that the count OF the Commission should
stand as final, unless oyerruled by the con-
current action OF the two houses. It's false
count was not oyerruled owing 70 the COM
plicity Of a Republican Senate with the
Renuhlican Commission, controlledby tfs
Republican majority OF the eight to seven
electoral Commission counted out the
man elected by the people and counted IN
a man not elected by the people. That
suhyersiou OF the election created o new
issue for the decision OF the people OF the
United States, transeendipg In importance
ali questions administration. 1tinvolved
the vital principle OF self.goyernment
through elections by the people. The IN
creased growth OF the means oi corrupt IN
huence over the ballot box which Is at the
disposal Of the party having possession o.
the executive administration, haa
already become present eyiI
and q great donor tending 70 make
elections irre1ponsiye TO public optn'
ion and hampering the power ol the peo'
pie TO change their rulers, and enabling
the men holding the machinery Of the
Government TO continue and perpetuail
their power. II was my opinion In 1S7t
thst the opposition, In attempting 4
change administration, needed 10 include
al least tWo.thlrds Of the votes 4
the opening Of the canvass IL
order 10 retain q majority at the election
III. after such obstacles had been over
come and majority Of the people hal
voted 10 change the administration Q
| theif government, the men in Office coul
ls6li prepare Q false count founded o.