The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-08

| Especial dispatch to The Philadelphia Telegraph.
How Mr.. TiIden Escaped the Presi.
Dental Chair..-SOmeihiDgN Not Gen
orally known About the electoral
Tribunal Of 20.
| WASHINGTON, January "a gentleman
who was member of the Electoral Com.
mission, a Democrat, and who WAS cOgni-
Zant OF all the circumstances attending the
inner workings connected with the creation
of this tribunal and the selection OF It's
members, has furnished some additional
light on this important question. He states
| that after the commission was determined
upon the question arose as to the selection
OF it, members. The persons whom Mr. Til
den was supposed TO favor were Judge Abb
bolt, OF Massachusetts, and Representative
| Paine, OF Ohio. The members OF the House.
however, were DESTROYS OF naming other
prominent Democrats; but in Difference TO
his wishes, and at the suggestion OF Mr..
Hewitt, who was managing Mr.. Tilden's
affairs, these two gentlemen were selected.
| 1t appears that after the Commission had
! heard the case OF Florida, and when it was
understood that Associate Justice Bradley
| had prepared a written opinion in favor OF
| counting the vote OF Florida for Mr.. Til
den, the Democrats were much ellcd, and
congratulated themselves that their case
was in a good position. When this Opn-
ion, however, was delivered by Justice
Bradley, il was contrary to what they bad
anticipated. \ number OF prominent Dem
ocrats met in caucus, at which were pres
ent Messrs. Blyard, Thurman, and those
who were Instrumental in bringing about
the tribunal, and consultation was held as
to what course ought 10 be pursued under
the circumstances.
A number OF Suggestions were made,
amongst others the Withdrawal OF the Dem
ocratic members from the Commission. At
this iunciure Mr. Bayard said that, while he
regarded the action of Justice Bradley in
this matter as infamous and clearly in viola
ton OF every principle OF law and equity in
the presentation Of the case OF Florida, yet,
so far as he was concerned, he would not
consent to allow the Electoral Commission
TO be broken up in this manner. In this be
was oyerruled by a majority OF the caucus,
who favored the Withdrawal OF the Demo
cratic members. a committee called upon
Judge Abbott and Representative Paine
and stated the views Of the majority
OF the caucus, and suggested that, un.
der the circumstances, it was their
duty TO withdraw from the Col1mis.
sion. Judge Abbott, in answer TO their
request, said that he could not consent 10
be placed III such position, and giving as |
an additional reason for his refusal that evil |
dence had come into his possession and the !
possession OF other members Of Congress
OF an attempt on the part OF Mr.. Tilden and |
his friends to secure by unfair means an |
electoral vote from the State OF Oregon, and |
he was not disposed to adopt any extraor-
binary measures 10 secure the election OF
gentleman to the presidency who would
enter into any such bargain and sale for the
purpose OF securing an electoral vote, and
he therefore omphatically informed the
members OF the committee that he depre-
Gated the course OF Mr.. Tllden's friends,
and would not be 2 party to any arrange
ment for forwarding their scheme.
The committee were greatly surprised at
the action OF Judge Abbott in the matter,
and, finding 1t utterly useless to attempt to
avert him from what he regarded as his
duty, left him without accomplishing their
1t was owing to Judge Abbott's
trm determination to carry out the provis-
ons OF the electoral bill, even though the
Republicans should secure the States Of
Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. that
bis Not failed. Had he and the other Dem.
,cratic members Of the Commission acceded
o the demands OF the Democratic caucus,
here Is Modelling what would have been the
esnlt, Us they had enough support to pre-