The Portland daily press., 1880-08-31
IN. Y. Tribune.]
More About the Great Fraud of
1876

Having seen how the Democracy tried first
in South Carolina to enable ''the defeated can
didate to bride his way to the seat of ,fsur-
per-" we proceed with the story of their at
temps in other States The first intimation of
bribery in Florida was message from w DOL
ley, transmitted through Marble one day of
the collapse of the South Carolina plot. "Wool
ley asks me to say" wired Marble, ''let forces
be got together Immediately in readiness for
contingencies either here or in Louisiana. ;"
The Florida Canvassing Board consisted Of one
Democrat and two Republicans. 1t was onlv
necessary, therefore, to buy one Republican
and when Woolley undertook this business he
was not long in discovering that Marble was
at work too. This made mischief and was
calculated to enhance the'price; and Woolley
consequently telegraphed to New York ''to
stop Marble from making propositions to the
enemy" The next day, December /, Woolley
telegraphed that the purchase of the Board
might make necessary expenses of half of a
hundred thousand dollars. Can you say will
deposit in bank Immediately if agreed?' To
agreed" On the I'd Marble telegraphed the
result of his negotiation: Have just received
quired Tilden decision of Board and certificate
of Governor for $2OO,000.' To which Pelton
of course replied, Propositions too high" On
the Sd Marble sent in lower bid: PROPOSE
tion received either giving vote of one Repub-
lican of Board or his concurrence in court &C
ton preventing electors vote from being cast
for half hundred best United States docu-
ments" Ii. e., $4,000 in United States notes.
On the 4th Wooliey repeated his first proposal:
MAY winning give hundred thousand dollars
less half for Tilden additional Board mem
ber?" 1t was apparent that the two men were
bidding separately for the same thing. Pelton
autographed Woolley "See Marble and act in
conjunction with him. and to Marble he ans
wered, Proposition accepted if done only
once. Better consult with Woolley and act in
concert" In later dispatch to the same per
son he added: ut is reported Louisiana gone:
all rests on you; see to it that is made GER
tainty beyond question" But if any member
OF the Board had ever been willing to sell his
vote, the negotiations had been two long de-
layed. Woolley telegraphed on the 4th ;
Power secured too late;'' and Marble re-
ported the next day, Proposition failed.''
NAAS "Fo6O Ivy Hltu WulCu Iuo WQOlo
pack of conspirators have since assailed Secre-
tary of State McLin indicates that he was the
member OF the Board with whom they bar
gained, and who deceived them at the last
McLin is now dead.
While the Florida scheme was going for
ward the conspirators turned their attention
once more to South Carolina. They proposed
TO assist in buying quorum of the Legisla-
ture, and establishing all the Democratic
State officers, if the new officers would then
declare the ayes electors intruders and give
fresh set OF certificates to the other ticket.
Smith Tweed remaining at headquarters, an
other agent was sent to Columbia. He tele-
graphed, December 3, "Four votes indispensa.
BILE; expect to raise in State twice and half
times four thousand dollars, if you furnish like
amount tomorrow morning; money to be re-
turned if unsuccessful" The answer to this
was: "Will do as requested if it will secure
several electors. Act promptly" There are
some dispatches in existence, never published,
which disclose curious details of the process of
buying up legislators about this time. But
little later telegram from headquarters pro-
posed to the agent at Columbia an amend
ment to the plan. This was to obtain man
damus upon the electors from Judge Moses,
and if they attempted to meet to lock them up
on charge of contempt of court, and keep
them imprisoned Tin separate cells, lest they
should organize and vote in jaiD until the APP
pointed day had passed. The votes ''indispena-
sable" however to organize Dep aaHfough.
islatqre and State adpaegon. Patrick tele.
bought, andtsnat State: "Must purchase Re-
x-slcan elector to recognize and ACT with
democrats and secure vote and prevent tro,'-
BE: Deposit $4,000 my credit, Kountze
" added at th wan fnnt Senator J. K KEEL
dorse this" and DIR. Miller sent word tn pal al.
Ion, DO Whatever our friend asks PROMPTLY, ),
Pelton replied to Patrick: If YOU make abiisg.-
uo1 contingent on result in March, it can he
pa Vone ana lncremabe slightly, if neces-
car, make fee contingent but he thougIItt
he could get along with Sc, 600 for the Ranusi;
can elector and $1,000 for a newspaper ed;tor
On the "a OF December Pelton telegraphed to
counsel fee as directed. They advised Won Of
your nome. Understand not to be used unless
tney carry out arrangement recognize Demo.
cratic elector, and duly forward his vote to
wee PRESIDENT" But before this was re-
Ieavsu na.llck mad gone to San Francisco,
leaving the business in the hands of Senator
heily, and Kelly could not draw the money
because it was deposited in Patrick's name
there was much telegraphing back and forth
peiore TINS difficulty could be adjusted bv the
VorIs q anotner sum of $4,000 from New
fork, and the fluids did not reach the canital
OF oregon until late on the 9th of Decemher
Iuse atter Ine lawful electors had cast their
votes Tor Hayes and Wheeler. while Cronin in
a corner OF Inc same room, organized COLLEGE
UaIo;ns ~ appolntlng two persons to ''fll
cast;,,o o,,o hoI1o. e. nv, Trough the farce of
'1slng one oa th ior Iilden and Hendricks
1876 to enable "the defeated candidate to by;h ta
his way to the seat of a usurper" Who were
the responsible persons behind the unfortpnste
clerk PeltoD in these transactions? That was
a question for the Democratic Committee of |
investigation TO look into, but they preferred |
70 ieave 1t unanswered. They declared, and
1he convention after them, that it was not Mr.,
-, ,lIeen. An he conspirators say it was MOI
MI. MI lnD'i; Peiton swore that his negotia-
t tJIs mere a., conducted in good faith and he
Iuiiy expected TO pay the large sums which he
promised, though he had absolutely nothino Of
his own. How did he intend to raise the mo,eY9
He believed, as he testified on oath. that II a
=! National Committee would IN nish it; or if not
the committee, then some of the rich memherS |
OF that body. He did obtain the funds for the |
Oregon bribery, and for all that we know to |