Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-05
MANTON MARBLES DIARY,
Mr.. Tildcn and tho Democratic Surrender
of January, 1877 n
IN. Y. Sun, June 30.l


In Mr.. Hewitt's remarks upon the new
electoral bill, delivered in the house Of
representatives few days since, he used
the following language in reference to
Mr.. Tilden and the electoral commission:
III never knew or stated that he approved of
the settlement; but, on the other hand, he
never stated TO me that he was opposed to it;
and he had abundant opportunity to do SO if
he had wished TO make his opposition known.
In what did, l acted on my own responsible
ty,and was governed by my own sense of duty;
but had no reason to suppose that it was
opposed to his judgment"
eff ever anybody should see fit to put a
stone over my grave, hope that care will be
taken to inscribe the fact that was the stead
fast advocate of that solutlon.''
1t is implied in the first of these para
graphs that, though Mr.. Tilden did not
approve the electoral commission
scheme, he did not manifest to MIR.
Hewitt any dissatisfaction Herewith.
1t happened that Mr.. Manton Marble
was present when the project of an cleo
toral commission was communicated to
Mr.. Tilden by MIR. Hewitt. He has made
record of what was done and said on
that OCCASION, and this record cannot be
reconciled with Mr.. Hewitt's implica-
ton. In factit distinctly contradicts any
express or implied assent to that project,
or any federation of it.
The impression Mr. Marble received at
that interview was that MIR. Hewitt had
come on from Washington expressly to
secure Mr.. Tilden's adhesion to the cleo
toral commission, which, so MIR. Hewitt
informed Mr.. Tilden, the Democratic
members of the senatorial committee had
already irrevOcably pledged themselves
to. 1t now appears, from Mr.. Hewitts
recent statement, that he was himself,
also, ga steadiast advocate of that solu-
tion;' that he had come to convert, but
not to be converted.
The following is Mr.. Marbles record ::
On the evening of Saturday, Jan. Is, the un.
derslgned, calling upon Mr.. Tllden, found him
in receipt Of the McCrary House bill. with
proposed amendments, and letter from Mr.
Hewitt advising the governor that his counsel
thereon would be asked the next day. Mr.
TIlden invited the undersigned to call on the
morrow, when Mr.. Hewitt should he there, to
consider this bill--the supposed axis on which
the deliberations of the house committee
were revolving.
The undersigned thus came to be present
Jan. IA, the day and date when Mr.. Tilden re.
ceived from Mr.. Hewitt's lips his first inior-
doned; that the senate conference committee
had just disclosed to the House conference
committee an electoral commission bill it had
been privately preparing; that the house com.
mittee were pressed to accept and adopt the
same, and that the subject he wished to confer
upon was that.
Mr.. Hewitt explained as the senate commit.
tees reasons for secrecy that without it they
could not carry the bill. 1t had been adopted
by arrangement between the three Democratic
and the four Republican members, and was go
strictly observed that when Senator Herman
made inquiry Of one of the former. he was
told that nothing could be disclosed to him
without violating an honorable understand
ing. So well was the secret kept that Senator
Barnum, now chairman of the national COM
mittee, passing through New York on Friday,
the 18th, had expressed his conviction that a
majority of the senate. as Mr.. Tilden's plan
anticipated, would concur in denying the
right of Ferry to make the count.
Before he read the new bill, Mr. Tilden was
told by Mr.. Hewitt that the Democratic men,
bers Of the senate committee were already
committed to it, and would concur with their
Republican associates jim reporting it to the
senate, whether the house committee should
concur or not, and whether MIR. Tilden ap-
proved it or not.
Ills it not rather late, then," said Mr.. Til
den, to consult me 2"
"They do not consult you" replied Mr..
Hewitt. They are public men and have their
own duties and responsibilities. consult
you"
1t will be clear, from the kilograms below.
supplementary to the interview between Mr.,
Tilden and Mr., Hewitt, of which some mem
oranda are now to be given. that So long as
the matter was open Tor elaboration there was
no ground for imputing to Mr.. Tilden any
disposition to raserve. Nor indeed was there
ever any ground for such an imputation ex-
cept that he would not be drawn into the
slightest expression OF personal sanction to
the electoral scheme, after it had been adopted
on the 18th with unanimity by the Democratic
members of the committees of both houses,
and thus practically supDant his own pre-
ferred plan OF party action, and when his de.
clared dissent would have been unavaling to
reinstate that plan, and only effectual to en-
barrsss the experiment, in which, without his
concurrence and against his counsel, the
rights, interests, and hopes Of the Democracy
from the elections of 1876, had become mex.
tricably involved.
Mr.. Tilden, in his interview with Mr.. Hew-
| lit on the 14th, did not withhold the grounds
of his objection to the hill, as policy, or in
| in its details Expressing some some surprise
| at the fact, OF which he was repeatedly assur-
ed by Mr.. Hewitt, that the Democratic senate.
| ors had already determined upon their course
whatever his advice or wishes might be, and
some surprise at the secrecy which had
| shrouded the CESSATION of the project, Mr.. Til.
| den observed that secrecy, in respect to any
plan duplicating the rights and interests of so
many, was mistaken and unfortunate policy
| He recommended the widest publicity, the
fullest discussion, the freest consultation, as
| Democratic method always excellent ia itself
and contributing to the prosperity and stabil.
| ity of all self-gOvernment, and in the presen.
instance no way hurtful, but advantageous
rather, to the interests of the Democratic
party.
To the argument of haste, Mr.. Tildeu re.
| piled:
There is time enough. It's month before
the count. 1t had best be used, all of it, in
making the people and their agents fully &C.
| quainted with their rights and duties"
To the statement that the senate committee
would not delay for this to present their bill
with the unanimous approval of Its three
Democratic members, to the Republican sen.
| ate, Mr.. Tilden replied:
ut is the panic Of pacifcators. They will
| act in haste and repent at leisure.''
To Mr.. Hewitt representations of the danger
Of collision of force with the executive, Mr.. Ill
| den replied:
Nevertheless, this action is too precipitate
The fears of Collision are exaggerated. And
| why surrender now? You can always sur.
| render. That is all you have to do after being
| beaten. Why surrender before the battle fol-
| fear of having to surrender after the battle is
| over?"
Mr.. Tilden's criticisms of the details of the