New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-27

ness opened in South Carolina, whence Smith
Weed telegraphei, on the very day OF ms
arrival at Columbia, eff n few dollars can
abe placed in the Returning Board 10 insure,
"what say you = Later on the same day he
asked, eff Returning Board can he procured
absolutely, will you deposit $4,000 " lie
announced with perfect frankness that the
&" situa ion" was desperate" Tildcn having
Iun far behind Hampton, and the Hayes
electors having clear majority. He thought
it would, perhaps. be better to "caI ture
Louisiana and Florida; and he added,
"Nothng but money will avail" Pelton re-
Piled, "The expense of what You do will be
met" The'ncxt day. November IA, Weed
asked, "Shall increas' to 10000 II required
"to make sure ~ And Peiton imme iiately
answered. "You can go to fifty If necessary F;
perhaps use future prospects tor some part
Offering another suggestion III a Subsequent
telegram. "Try aud make one portion payable
"after votes are cast and another portion AFTER
final result" After various delays weed re-
ported, on the 17ih, Board late last night de-
mandcd $50. 900 for giving us two or three
electors the Intcrccder will want something
"bcsides think ten. What shall do" Pellon
replied that ne would accept ii the price could
he made " dependent on final success OF lilden
" in March, There was some further negotla-
ton. and at last Weed sent this celebrated
dispatch d" Majority Of Board have been Sc
"cured. Cost is $4,000, to be sent as fol-
lows: One parcel OF .S65 600, one OF $4,000
"and one of $1,000; all to be $500 or
81, 900 bills notes to be deposited as parties
"accept, and given up upon vote oil South
Carolina being given to Tilden'S friends"
Then il WAS arranged that Weed should go 10
Baltimore, and safe man." ii possible
Pclton himself, should meet him there at
Blrnums Hotel, with the " stuff"
The Returning Board consisted OF two white
men and three negroes. all Republicans, and
it would be necessary to secure three OF
them. The "intcrceder" with whom Weed
negotiated, was an ex-Republican, ex-banker,
actual grocer. named Hardy Solomon; and
Solomon, on receiving Weeds proposals,
placed himself in communication with one of
the white members of the Board-ContIoller-
General r. c. Dunn-with whom he mad per-
sonal acquaintance. Mr.. Dunn seems to have
been disturbed at the discovery that such
large sums of money were offered for votes
perhaps he was not sure Of the virtue OF
some of his colleagues; and he at once
exposed the plot to Governor Chamberlain.
In order to control the affair, Dunn
prolonged tho bargaining rs much as possible
(his accounts for the delay winch 50 tried
Weeds temper that he tclegraphcd to New
York that the members of the Board were
" all idiots y, and every step III the negOtia-
ton was promptly reported to the Republican
Governor Weed went to Bllii;Aore to get
the money taking Hardy Solomon with him.
At Baltimore he met Colonel Pelton, accord
Ing to appointment. But Peiton had not the
"slun" On leaving New-York, Pelton lad
Informed the Hon. Edward Cooper, Treasurer
Of the Democratic National Committee that
he should need Il sim Of money for political
purposes and would telegraph for il the next
day. He dId telegraph. in "A cipher which Mr.
Cooper gave him, and Mr. Cooper showed the
dispatch TO Mr.. Tiden and asked what he
should d.. Then Mr.. Tilden said that
he WAS very much Gispleascd; and that Pei !
ton NUT b. recalled. The whole paTty-Wced, !
Solomon and Pelton-came to New-Yolk in |
the hope o. raising the money here. The Re- |
turning Board in the meantime had been tied |
up with extraordinary Iujunctions, etc, from
the notorious Chiel-Justicc Moses Of the State
HupItnc Nbult, anu piOiil'lttu lIOHl tctiUilhE /
the result. Al last, on the day its existence
must terminate by law, mandamus was pre-
pared virtually commanding The Board TO GER
tify the election Of q Hampton Legislature and |
Tilden electors. The Board was opportnnely |
warned of this order, and before the papers |
could be served it completed the count, de-
clarcd the result for Hayes, and adjourned |
sine die. After this failure Weed remained |
at headquarters and assisted Pelton in direct
ing the Florida campaign.