National Republican., 1880-06-21
Characteristic Letter from Samuel
J. TiIden.
He ProclaIms Himself n Martyr for the
Cause-Forty Years of Patriotic Devo-
tion-An Arraignment OF Congress
No Reference TO the Cipher
Dispatches Seymour
Positively Declines.
Sunday Before the Meeting.

OHIO FOR THURMAN.
Last night most delightful reception was
given the Ohio delegation by residents of
Clifton. Speeches we're made by Theodore
Cook, George II. Pcndleton, William S. Grocs-
beck, John McSweeny, John w. Stevenson
and Richard Smith. To-day the Ohio delega-
tion had two meetings, at both Of which great
enthusiasm was manifested for Thurman, and
ID was resolved to stand firm. 1t was stated
that Jewett's candidacy was not TO be consid-
cred so long as Thurman WIS in the field.
Much bitterness was expressed toward the
supporters of Payne II was decided that W.
ID. Hill should make the nominating speech,
and that John McSweeny should second the
nomination.
THE NEW YORK DELEGATION.
Tonight the New York delegation held
meeting mt the Grand hotel, and organized by
choosing Daniel Manning chairman and s. b.
Halliday secretary. Mr.. Peckham read tue
following letter from Samuel j. Tilden:
Mr.. TfLDEN's LETTER.
New YORK, juno 18, 1880.
To fhe Delegates from the State Of Ncw York 10 he
Democratic National ConreatioR:
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 arc commits
stoned to make in behalf of the democratic
party of the United States. Having passed
my early years in an atmosphere filed with
traditions of the war which secured our ma.
tionaf Independence, aud Of the struggle which
made our continental system government
for the people and by the people, / learned TO
idolize the institutions of my country, and
was educated to believe 1t the duty of citizen
OF the republic to take his fair allotment of
care and trouble in public affairs. fulfilled
that duty, 10 the best of my ability, for forty
years as private citizen. Although, during
III Il - 4.
and effort to public affairs rs to all
other objects, / have never accepted
official service except for brief period
for special purpose, and only when
the occasion seemed to require of mo that
sacrifice of private preferences to public in.
terests. My life has been substantially that
Of a private citizen. 1t was, l presume, the
success of efforts in which rs u private citizen
l had shared to overthrow corrupt combina-
tion then holding dominion in our metropolis,
and to purify the Judiciary which had be-
come its tool. that induced the democracy of
the state in 1874 10 nominate me for governor
This was done In spite of the protests of n
minority, that the part I had borne In those
reforms had created antagonisms fatal to me
MS u candidate. l felt constrained to accept
the nomination as the most certain means of
putting the power of the gubernatorial office
on the side of reform, and of removing the
impression wherever 1t prevailed that TIE
faithful discharge of ones duty rs n citizen Is
fatal to his usefulness as public servant
The breaking up of the canal ring, the better
management of our public works. the large re-
duction of taxes and other reforms accom- plshed
during my administration doubtless occa-
stoned my nomination for the presidency by
the democracy of the union in tho hope that
similar processes would be applied 10 the
federal government. From the responsibili-
ties of such an undertaking, appalling as it
IL - = g.. A..
shrink. In the canvass which ensued, the
democratic party represented reform in the
administration of the federal government a.d
a restoration of our complex political system to
the pure ideas OF its founders Upon these
issues the people of the United States by 4
majority of more than quarter of million
chose u majority of the electors to cast
didates for president and vicepresi-
dent 1t 10 my right and privilege here to
say that was nominated aud elected TO the
presidency absolutely free from any engage
mcnt in respect to tue exercise ofits powers or
tho disposal of its patronage. Through the
whole period of my relation to the presidency
did everything in my power to elevate and
nothing to lower moral standards in the COM
petition of parties. By what neiarious means
the basis for false count was laid in several
of the states / need not recitc. These are
now matters of history, about which whatever
diversity of opinion may have existed in
either of the great parties of the country at
the time of their consummation has since
practically disappeared. | refused to ransom
from the returning boards of southern states
the documentary evidence by the suppression
of which aud by tho substitution of fraudu-
lent and forged papers pretext was made for
the preparation of a false count The con-
stitutional duty of the two houses of congress
to count the electoral votes as cast and to give
Of 4 tI,n,
their suhrages was never fulfilled. An elect
oral commission for the eXisistence of which
i have no responsibility WAS formed, and to il
the two houses OF congress abdicated their
duty to make tho count by II law enacting
that the count of the commission should stand
as final unless overruled by the concurrent
action of the two houses. Its false count was
not overruled owing 10 the completely Of n
republican senate with the republican major
ity Of the commission controlled by its rcpub.
can majority of eight TO seven. The elect.
oral commission counted out the men
elected by the people and counted in
the men not elected by the people
That subversion Of the election created Il new
issue for the decision of the people Of the
United States, transcending in importance all
questions of administration. ltinyoved the
vital principle Of sclf.government through
elections by the people. The immense growth
of The means of corrupt influence over the
ballOt-bOX, which 10 at the disposal of the
party having possession Of the executive nd
minstraton, had already become a present
evil and II great danger, tending to make
elections irresponsible TO public opinion
hamperng the power Of the people to change
thoir rulers, and enabling the men holding the
machinery of government TO continue and
perpetuate their power. 1t was my opinion
in 1876 that the opposition attempt
ing 10 change tho administration needed tC
include at least two.thirds Of the voter,
at the opening of the canvass IN
order 10 retain majority at the election. L
after such obstacles had been overcome and
majority of the people had voted TO change
the administrations Of their government III,
men in office could still procure . false count
founded upon frauds, perjury and forgeries
furnishing protoxt Of documentary evidence
on which to base that false count and if sucl
transaction were not Ouly successful, but IL
after allotments Of its benefits were made L
its contriyers, abettors aud apoogists by thu
chief beneficiary Of the transactions, it wer,
coudoncd by the people, q practical destruc
tion of elections by the people would have
been accomplished,
The failure to install the candidates chosen
Wy the people, contingency consequent upol