Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-30


MR. ccNKILSo Arp TEE LoursIASA VOTE.
The action Of the late Roscoe Conklins, then
on the door Of the SsIhte, has been more than
once alluded to, and a. was one Of the friends
OF Gov. Tilden in charge of his interest here I
am enabled to relate what occurred on the occa-
sion 80 often referred 70. It was we'll known
that Mr.. Conkling was unwilling to support
these frauds, especially that Of Louisiana, and
had expressed himself % ready 10 denounce
them il he could be assured of sufficient votes
in the Senate to sustain him in opposing the
count Of the vote Of that state. Eight votes
wore required to defeat the action Of the cleo
toral commission in the case Of Louisiana and
they we're secured. The Senator from the
on the subject held by Mr.. Conkling,
had satisfied himself that this support
awaited Mr.. Conkling's lead, and on Sunday
night (the Louisiana case would come mp the
next day. he was with the late Senator from
New York until long past midnight and from
the Arlington drove to the room OF the veteran
Ohio editor. now . resident Of Washington,
then at Willard's, and there 1 learned Mr.
ConklinR would that day, for II was then Mon
day morning, rise in his seat when the state Of
Louisiana was called and make the effort of
ais life," and I 90 reported it to the friends Of
Gov. Tilden, and had the supporters Of Mr.. G.
on hand, but. alas! his voice was unheard the
to counted in Louisiana and the Senator
from New York threw away the presidency.
say about the influences which caused his
change Of purpose.
THE oIPHEs DIsPArcHKa.
So much has been said about the cipher dis
patches which figured 20 conspicuously in the
press and before the congressional investiRat-
ing committee that will only briefly allude to
my connection with them. The New York
Tribune accomplished the feat of translating
them with wonderful precision, and held me
responsible for some Of the most important
and Objectionable ones. When summoned to
testify before the congressional committee
Gen. Butler conducted the examination, and
after that told all knew about the effort Ito
purchase Justice in Florida, and having offered
the committee a little book containing an ac-
count OF all my expenditures, the principal
items Of which were for wine, brandy and
cigars furnished 1.-The visiting statesmen. /" 1 was
handed book Of fac simie kilograms and
asked to explain them, and then for the FIRST
time saw that every telegram sent
by Mr.. Charles w. Woolley from ITALIA
hassee and signed Fox" stating that for sums
ranging from fifty to two hundred thousand
dollars he could secure the vote of Florida (as
the Tribune deciphered them), was in my
cramped handwriting. I was surprised, of
course, and then recalled the fact that Mr.
Woolly wrote his kilograms In pencil and asked
me 70 copy them. l knew nothing Of their
contents. his cipher was entirely different
from mine, and never dreamed Of any object
he could have other than to make them
plainer-which was grave mistake-but when
made my explanation to the committee and it
was flashed over the wires Mr. Woolley's health
required that he should leave at once for Cuba,
and there he remained until Congress ad-
journed, and consequently deprived himself of
the pleasure it would doubtless have afforded
him to exonerate me. The committee how
ever, did that, and the New York Tribune ac-
eepted my explanation Of what knew about
Florida"
BEFORE THE RETURNING BOARD.
left New York on the 9th Of November and
the Senator from New Hampshire, Mr.. Chand-
Ter, was day in advance Of me- The eminent
lawyers who came down to argue before the
returning board went through that legal farce
with the same forensic ability displayed by
them in the courts of Philadelphia. ST. Louis
and other cities from whence they came. From
Philadelphia, Mr.. George ". Biddle, Mr. David
W. Sellers, Mr.. Cuisine Thompson, Mr.. John
X. Reed and Mr.. Malcolm Hay, who WAS SUBJ
sequently appointed assistant postmaster gen.
eral by MIR. Cleveland; Gov. Brown, Gen p.
III. B. Young and Gen. Lawton from Georgia,
Mr.. Charles Gibson from st. Louis. and we had
the aid OF Senator Call, the late Mr. Daniels,
Gov Drew Of Florida and others. Mr.. Wooily
was free lance and he bore the weight Of re-
sponsibility, self assumed, like an atlas.
Mr.. BLACKS APPEARANCE.
One more incident of that period. The gen.
tleman who was to have argued the case of
South Carolina before the electoral commission
ut late hour sent word to Col. Pelton he was
too i'll to appear, and though it made but little
Odds for the eight to seven went on with the
regularity OF Q clock on the solar system, un-
varying, the roll was called and always the
rnonotonous eight to seven; but the record must
be made up, and started at midnight to find
some one to plead the case. reused Judge
Montgomery Blair, who consented to appear
and he suggested Judge Black. The Judge
had refused to appear before the commission
not recognizing it as legal. l found him that
morning at breakfast and taking seat beside
him said Judge, we want you to appear tins
morning and argue the case of South Carolina
before the commission" He was startled
at my request, as he had so often in my pres
ence denounced that tribunal He struck the
table with his fist and said he'd be d il he
would. Mrs. Black reproved him, and l then
explained the situation, but he said no! he
knew nothing about the case Of South Carolina
and he would not take the trouble at that late
hour to read it, urged him, however and
said the less he knew about the case the better
few minutes and said: swell. Coyle, If go-I
don't say will-but if do 20 you must take
the responsibility for what l may say. Tell
Pelton what l say; and now who goes With me?
Montgomery Blair" I said.
"Well, tell Blair to call and will think il
over"
He did 60, and the stream Of invective he
poured upon the commission has never been
equaled.
TIE HANCOCK CAMPAIGN.
Gen. Hancock was nominated at Cincinnati
In 1880 by reclamation and up to August his
election seemed almost assured. Again that
marplot in the democratic party, who had sim
gle-handed and alone, caused the defeat of
Gov. Tilden, proved himself equal to the occa-
sion when the democratic party had again sue
cess almost in its grasp. He did not originate
the Morey letter but he Endorsed it, gave it the
weight OF his opinion, which to the general
public was conclusive, a. he said he had COM
pared it with Gen. Garfeld's handwriting and
pronounced it genuine. Thousands and thou
sands Of that forgery were circulated by the
committee with his Endorsement, and when the
proof ct forgery was forthcoming the reaction
told fearfully against the success OF Gen.
Hancock. That and the unfortunate tariff
letter he was induced to write by the late
Gov. Randolph, whose political horizon was
bounded by New Jersey, lost US the election,
and Gen. Garfield for . few months enjoyed
that elevated position, when, after q martyrdom
OF months, he was borne to his grave with the
sympathy Of the whole world On one occs-
sion when the democratic party had been sue
cessful met the late Senator Jim Nys and
was exulting over our victory and said, This
settles the next presidency" "Oh no." he said.
'Tho democratic party can be relied on to do
something between now and then to give US
another term, and while valandigham lives We
are safe" And SO while Hewitt lives fear he
will exercise thst baleful influence which only
his wealth and connections give him aud
which defeated Gov. Tlden and Gen. Hancock.
PRrsrDENr AnrHup