The New York Herald Newspaper, February 8, 1879, Page 3

HANTOY MARBLE'S CIPHER The Way He Obtained It and How He Used It. FLORIDA'S VOTE FOR SALE. eee Mr. Marble Declares that No Purchase Was Intended. “INTERCEPTING” HIS DESPATCHES Why He Wanted Governor Tilden to Saddle Blackstone, eee “HEAVENS AND EARTH, NO!” Governor Tilden to Testify Before the Committee To-Day. Mr. Manton Marble, the former editor of the World, and one of the democratic visiting statesmen to Flor- ida, was the first witness at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday before the cipher sub-committee, as it may, for the sake of brevity, be called. Mr. Reed, the re- publican member from Maine, had so systematically tried since the beginning of the sessions in New York to ridicule Mr. Marble’s high sounding declarations of political virtue and morality contained in his let- ter on the electoral contest and to turn them against him that lively time was genevally expected, and the room and all the approaches to it were densely packed. Mr, Marble looked rather wan and pale, as though he was suffering from mental fatigue. He bore him- self, however, with marked and studious composure, though his tone and manner when he alluded to the Tribune displayed a bitterness which he made no attempt to conceal. Mr. Marble toyed carelessly with his eye-glasses as he leaned back in his chair, and ina voice of fearless decision replied to the questions propounded to him. Later on, when in a ringing voice he read his epistolary denunciations of republican frauds and misrule in Florida, his tone became dramatic and occasionally even pathetic. Mr. Marbie’s cross-examination was not nearly as “searching” as that of Colonel Pelton on the previous day had been, and he preserved his self-possession and equanimity of temper throughout. ‘The gist of ‘Mr. Marble’s defence was that he conveyed the propo- sitions to buy the Florida Returning Board only as matters of news, and that he never had the slightest notion of acting upon these corrupt offers. He only looked upon them as snares or as means designed by the board to “raise the price” for the republican side, MR. MARBLE NOT “‘COMMISSIONED.”” Mr. Marble was examined by the Chairman, Gen- eral Hunton. He stated in answer to one of the pre- liminary queries that he had no occupation. He went to Florida at his own instance and not at the request of anybody; before starting he bade Gov- ernor Tilden goodby and obtained a cipher from Colonel Pelton at the Everett House; after he re- turned from Florida he destroyed all despatches; he sent no telegrams to Governor Tilden, nor did he re- ceive any from him while in Florida; it was untrue, as stated by the Tribune, that he went “commis- sioned”’ to take charge of the Florida contest by Gov- ernor Tilden. “It’s all rubbish,’’ Mr. Marble contemptuously ex- claimed, with the Tribune pamphlet before him. Q. Give the committee an idea of what. you did in Florida? A. I have published two letters on the sub- ject in reply to some fictions ascribed to me, and I should like to make them part of my testimony. Mr. Reed—I decidedly object. Mr. Marble did not write these letters under outh and he was not then tanding in the citadel of power.” This sarcastic use of one of the frequently quoted expressions of Mr. Marble’s letter created some hilarity. . ‘Mr. Marble now stated the formal proceedings un- dertaken by the democratic agents to compel an honest count. “THE ONE THING NEEDFUL" OMITTED. “We did everything, in fact, except the one thing necdful. They were for sale and we refrained fiom buying thom.” Q. Under what signatures did you telegraph? A. | My own name, my initials, or “Moses; most fr quently under no signature in my cipher despatche: did not use signature of “Israel.” Photo-lithographic copies of several of the cipher despatches were identified by Mr. Marble as being fac-similes of his handwriting. ‘The first state- mont,” said he, “in this cipher, which I certainly sent, isan explicit disproof of the statement with which the Tribune prefaces that despatch, and, in general, I would like to say that the despatches them- selves, so far as they read, almost exactly confute the Tribune's editorial statements, There is no difficulty at all in deciphering these despatches; it is very easy, with a little patience. The only difficulty, after having transposed the words, is to get the correct meaning of the substituted word: One of the despatches advised Mr. Mazble not to trust a Mr. B. Q. To whom does that refer? A. General Barlow. Another despatch was read by Mr. Hunton, closing with the words “Shall I not ring fire bell in night?” As he came to these words Mr. Marble smiled good- naturedly. “They were trying to cheat us,” he said, “and I thought they ought to be denounced. Thero is no remedy for fraud like publicity.” ALL ABOUT “DOCUMENTS.”” One telegram, not in cipher, referred to ‘“docu- ments” to be received by the Associated Press, Mr. Marble desired to place the documents in evidence and read a statement showing republican frauds, Mr. Hiscock objected. Mr, Reed—-Do you claim that this throws no light on “half hundred United States best documents?’ Laughter.) There has been no claim that they were passed over to the Associated Press, has there? (Lauyhter.) Mr. Springer—Thero might have been. It has been suspected a long time that they were, Hore followed much uninteresting and dreary de- tail as to unimportant cipher despatches which Mr. Marble insisted upon explaining by reading from a monster scrapbook his long published telegrams to the newspapers denouncing the “monstrous frauds,” &e., perpetrated by the republicans, Mr. Hiscock objected to this, while Mr. Springer defended the witness, and Mr. Reed then denounced it as a part of & “system” to cloud up and befog the issue relating to the cipher despatches. When called to account by the chairman for the innuendo conveyed in the word ystem”’ Mr. Reod disavowed ny intention to re- upon General Hunton cr, he added, after a very comical grimace, upon the other democratic meni- bers, which caused some laughter. ‘Lhe reading of such sentences by Mr. Marble as ‘‘venal republican crew who rule and riot,” “stupendous frauds,” “ap: palling villany” and of other choice specimens pro- voked constant hilarity, Mr. Hiscock moved that these despatches be not re- coived in evidence, Mr. Stenger—W: want all “the keen, bright sun- light of publicity” (a quotation from Marble’s letter, used in playful satire by all the members), but we do not want it to come only through the 7'ribune wis- dom. We want to get the entire truth, and want to got it from the witnesses, Mr. Hiscock fiercely contended that tho object of ving these public despatches now was to break the — of the corrupt telegrams and to contradict mn. ‘Lhe Chairman very quictly said the scope of this investigation was a wide one, ombracing not only cipher telegrams, but the electoral frauds generally. Me Soctanee ne Emo ir. Springer urged that witnoxe had a ri show that the State rightfully belonged to the fiten electors. It would make a difference wi the money to be used by the witness in influencing the result was for ransoming his own or for buying what belonged to someboily ise. Mr. Hiscock now formally moved to exclude these ablished tches sent by Mr. Marble at the time 10 the North, and tho motion was promptly rejected by.# strict party vote. Rowl (ironically}—How strange this is, Why, this never occurred in even in the Electoral Comn: nn. (Laughter.) Mr. Reed then sardonically denounced Mr. Marble’s denunciatory telegrams as these “Joseph Surface despatches.” WOOLLEY “LOVES A MYSTERY." Q. What did the word “forces” mean in the des- paten saying “let all the forces be in readiness?” A. r. Woolley had been in Louisiana looking over thé ground there, and he had been ashort time then, at the time of my sending this despatch for him, in Florida, and he came to the conclusion that in both States the Canvassing Boards were likely to cheat the democrats out of the true result, and that was his way of stating the fact. Anybody who knows Mr. Woolley knows that he loves « mystery and would be likely to state 9 plain facc in a clouded way. I will say this, that it certainly did not mean, in my ap- ‘chension of it, either inilitary forees or pecuniary ‘orces, Which I suppose is the intimation that is in- tended to be made. Mr. Hiscock—What makes you draw that suppo- | sition unless it is pertectly plain that that was its meaning? THE TRIBUNE'S “FALSE REPRESENTATION.” A. Ob, it has been alleged several times in the re- publican press, and every time | think it is an error; all the representations ‘of the Triiune's br: adside hinged upon the false representation that we were deprived of every honest hope and consequently lad to resort to dishonest moans; I believed that we car- ried the State; I gave proofs that we carried the State, and I believe now that we curried the State. General Hunton—What did you mean by the words, ‘I decline tocommit Tilden with a man so indisereet? A. That Idid not care to place coufi- dence in Mr, Woolley, ‘Mr. Stenger—Had ’ y any negotiations with, Board concernin; any purpose in mind as to members of the Returning “use of money when you ‘de clined to commit Mr, Tilden?! A. None whatever. Q. Then you had n@wnch reference in the tele- gram? A. None whatever. ‘THE OREGON QUESTION. ‘The next despatch was one senttrom Mr. Marble in Tallahassee, Fla., to Governor Grover in Portland, Oregon, “What I did im respect to Oregon,” said Mr. Marble, ‘was sii is:—L sent this despatch to Governor Grover, the same day sent one to New York sugu that Mr. Charies O’Conor's opinion be obtain sent to Oregon. There is nothing less Ii hicanery” than the sug- gestion that the 4 of the American Bar might possibly enii Grover’s judgment upon a very difficult and tful question, but the state- ment that ‘then it hat Mr. Marble resorted first The Tribune in its broadside witaout date. The date was d met to canvass the returns me could only state its lie by to chicanery’ is ublishes that d November 2 The 7 on the 28th, r ea 7 date, Now, they knew the date, be- yn the 7th of September it printed the date. ite that it was because our hopes were Cashed ‘lorida that something needed to be done in Ore- gon. while telegram was actually sent on tho 27th, the day the Board met and before our hopes were das! The falsehood was impossibie except by suppressing the date. They have cooked their story over four times.” DESVATCHES ABOUT MONEY. Q. Look at the telegram dated Tallahassee, Novem- ber 28, 1876, purporting to be signed by you and di- rected to Colonel ui, at No. 15 Gramercy Park, and see if the lithograph copy of the same is similar to your handwriting? A. It is, sir; the allusion to Coyle being exceedingly ‘useful is explained by the circumstance that Mr, Coyle was then engaged exam- ining copies of the returns, and in that way the ex- pense referred to in the despatch was incurred, and in that manner accounts for Mr, Peltou's allusion to economies; the telegram dated New York, December 1, directed to me at Tallahassee, and signed “P.,” is explained in this way :—I was about to incur a largo expense by sending messengers to the lower Penin- sula counties, and accordingly asked if my draft would be honored here, ana M. Iton suid yes; finally I concluded not to draw. THE TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR PROPOSITION. Q.. Now, sir, will you explain the telegram to Mr. Pelton, dated ‘Tal ee, December 2, purporting to be signed by you, and in which, according to the translation, you state that you have just received a roposition “to hand over at any hour required, Tilden decision of Board and certificate of Governor for $200,000?” Look at the lithograph copy and see if it be a fac-simile of your handwriting? A. It is; that is substantially accurate, but [ won't be certain tis to the accuracy of the figures; it was, I recollect, some preposteroitsly large sum; at that time the air was filled with propositions, and Iwas hearing of them almost every day for a week; that is the princi- pal reason why I ‘cannot recollect the exact figures; for the the same reason it would be unjust for me to try to name the persons from whom the propositions came. Q. You cannot state, then, from whom you re- ceived the proposition to hand over at any hour Til- den’s decision ot the Board and his certiticate of elec- tion? A. I cannot; that 1s all I have to explain about the matter, Q. In regard to the telegram dated New York, De- cemver 3, and directed to you at Tallahassee, without a signature, and the translation of which purports to be, “Proposition too high,” did you receive that? WRONG TRANSLATION. A, (After examining the lithograph copy). I do not recognize the handwriting; the translation does not correspond with the cipher in regard to the proper meaning of the words “proposition too high;” al- though, according to some of the newspapers, Colonel Pelton :eems to have sworn yesterday that he had sent such a despatch, I am inclined to think that when le so testified he was either fatigued by the of the gentleman from New York (fr. Hiscock) or by the wit of the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Reed). (Laughter.) General Hunton requested Mr. Marble not to al- lude to any member of the committee'in connection Door pond ing that has passed in this present inves- ation. ‘Mr. Reed wished the chairman to understand that for his part he did not object to Mr. Marble’s allu- sion, ax he (Mr. Reed) believed that Colonel Pelton was indeed very much fatigned when he left the wit- ness chair on Thursday evening. (Laughter.) NO PURCHASE INTENDED. In reply to interrogatories of the chairman Mr. Marble vehcmently repelled the 7'ribune charge that he had proposed to purchase the Florida Returning Board for $200,000, In explanation of the despatches sent from Tallahassee, on December 3—4, to Henry Havemeyer and Colonel Pelton, the witness said he did not ‘recognize the lithograph copies of the same, | and urged that the false construction put upon the wording of these despatches was mado apparent by the incongruity of their dates, Mr. Marble, while proceeding to demonstrate the correct. ness of his position, was interrupted by Mr. Ki who appealed to the chairman to prevent the witness from continuing in that strain, on the ground that, instead of yiving testimony, he was indulging in an argument. alr. Hiscock intimated that everything sworn to by the witness was apparently in bis own vindication. ‘The chairman, however, overruled the objection and requested the wituess to proceed. Mr. Marble then went on to mention circumstances and continued his explanation of the matters under consideration, and concluded by saying that he origi- nated no pecuniary plans in regard to the Florida business; that when he became apprised of them he merely transmitted them as matters of news. FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A VOTE. Q. Will you explain the despatch dated Tallahassce, December 3, addressed to Colouel Pelton, at Gramercy Park, and purporting to be signed by you, and in which it is intimated that an clectoral vote could be bought for $50,000? Do you recognize the litho- graph copy as Veing similar to your handwriting? A. y Sir, Q. Is the translation accurate? A, Substantially accurate. Q. Do you know where that proposition origin- ated? A. Itcame from Mr. C. E. Dyke, the editor of the Tallahassee Floridian; I told him that no proposition could be considered or acted upon, as it was probably a device of the Keturning Board to put up prices on the other side, or ‘probably ‘a snare, and that whichever it was I could not consent to it, and I was certain that Mr. ‘Cilde: Q. Did Mr. Dyke lead you to think that he w: thorized to act for the Returning Board? A. was the impression I received, altuough I had some doubt out it; there was an intermediary, but his name I cannot reeall. @. In one of these telegrams the phrase occurs, “See Israel; does ‘‘Istael" there nv you? A. It is likely it may mean me, bat I don’t know anything about the telegram, Mr. Marble acknowledged that he received the fol- lowing despateh : “Telegram here. Proposition accepted, if done only once. Better consalt with Woolicy and act in concert. You can trust him. Time very important there should be no divided councils. WHAT Hk DID WITH ‘TILE PROPOSITION, “The representations in the paper to which T won allude,” Mr. Marble added, with a tremor of indigna- tion, “that IT was constantly in consultation with Woolley are entirely false. “It is perfectly obvious from the dexpatches referring to me and Mr. Woolle that we had no conference or co-operation, and suel was the fact. I — want to call attention to what is obvious—that this despatch is conclusive evidence on that point.” Q. When you got this despatch what did you do? A. I did notiring except to throw it in the fire. '@. Do you know whether anything was done in regard to carrying out the proposition thut was made to you ped teanansttent by you to New York, A. I am quite certain that nothing could haye been done, for Lintercepted and suppressed and destroyed the despatch, ©. Reed—What do you mean by “intercepting” a despatch when it was addressed to you? A. Pernaps you can favor me with a better word. Mr. Reed—I have no doubt Lcould if I knew what your idea was, Mr. Marble (contemptnously)—Oh, you quibble about the word as much as you Please, HOW IT WAS “INTERCEPTE:! Mr. Springer—Were you in the habit of laying —_ hoy trey before your brother democrats ? A. Yes, sir. Mr. Springer—This one you did not? A. I did not. Mr. Springer—-Then you “intercepted” it in that sense? A. Yea, sir, Mr. Reed (satiri¢ally}—Thank you. Thank you. That's it, Brother Springer. Whenever you bring your mind to @ foeus on any point you always en- lighten it. (Laughter.) Q. Did you make any reply to that telegram ? A. No, sir; the matter dropped at this point. Mr. Springer—The Tribune says:—“Here was the order to buy the Presidency of these United States for halt hundred best United States documents, And the desired vote? The conspirators rushed out and it was too late.” (Dryly)—Now, Mr. Marble, please where you rushed from and into what you el? t. Marble (laughing)—I moked a cigar, destroyed the telegram and went to bed. (Laughter) Jn reterence to the last cipher despatch from Mar- ble to Pelton :—"Proposition failed. Finished yester- day afternoon responsibility, Moses, Last night may rv M | would not consent to it. | y¢; As ante t | mmittee before—not ; Woolley found me and said he had nothing which I knew already. ‘Tell Tilden to saddle Blackstone.” Mr, Marble said that the Tribune had beon guilty of gross iisrepreseutation toward him im giving the Above translation, which, he said, was a mere guess. He was then asked by the chairman to translate the telegram himself, to which he replied, with feeling, “I yery much that Icannot do 80,” at which there were loud, derisive shouts of laughter, All he could remember was that he never seut a despatch to Pelton announcing the “failure” of any “proposi- tion,” He had deluded himself with the hope that the Returning Board would count the votes honestly, and in that ho; Tilden to saddle his favorite horse, “I wanted to xive Blackstone that cud to chew,” Mr. Marble suid, quite dramatically, “while his master trotted him round the Park.” (Laughter.) “A Lost anr.”* Mr. Hiscock (grimly)—Mr. Marble, can’t we do any- thing to revive your lost art of deciphering this de- spatch ? Mr. Marble (smiling)— my recollection and T eannot. ir. Marble declared that great injustice had been done him by charging that ‘he was at least cognizant of democratic frauds while in Florida, He arrived in Florida on the 14th or 15th, while the entire canvass was closed on the 13th, so it would have been utterly impossible for him, as the Zrhune charged, to ob- serve frauds even if any had taken place, ‘He was still fully convinced, however, that none took place, for the eanvuss was in charge of Colonel Pascoe, graduate of Harvard, aud as upright a man as lived. Here an amusing scene ensued, Tho witness read, in a voice of tremulons emotion, some endless despatches on the republican trauds in Florida, When Mr. Marble came “to the venal republican crew ruling and rioting upon a progtrate people” Mr, Lis cook, less patient than his Muine colleague, broke on my soul, I have tested it, ‘ow, Mr. Chairman, does this stuff come within the rulings of the Chair?” A RAKE PRIVILEGE. Mr, Reed (soothing!y)—Oh, let him; it is a rare privilege to hear Mr. Marble read his own ringing sentences. {Luughter, He seems to do it with a comfort and enjoyment that it would be cruelty to stop him. (Boisterous hilarity.) Mr. Stenger—State whether or not before leaving New York you had any conversations with Mr, Til- den about ihe use of money for the purchase of Be- turning Board officers? Mr. Marble gave his answer in an inaudibly low murmur, and then got up and drank a large tumbler rull of water. “HEAVENS AND EARTH, NO Q. What wus your answer? A. I said, ‘Heavens and earth, no!" I was surprised at the question, Mr. Reed—Certainly. (Laughter. Mr. Stenger—I only asked it becanse it scemed to occur to the brains of the people on the othe ‘Mr. Reed (mockingly)—Oh, uot the (Laughter.) ‘Mr. Stenger—State whether or not you had any conversation with Mr. Tilden, after returning from Florida, with reference to these despatches in rela- tion to the use of money. A. No; [won't say that I have not alluded to them, but any conversation about them we have not bad; Ll think 1 told him after the count that the Board had been for sale and that we had retrained from buying them; [am not sure that that was uot as late us tue first publication of the cipher despatches. . Do you remember what, if anything, was said by him in answer to your remark? A. Ido not. Q. State whether or not while you were in Florida you entered into negotiations with anybody for the nips of procuring the coutrol of the Returning rd for casting the vote of the State of Florida by the uscof money? A. Negotiations! no; 1 listened, of course, to every proposition with respect to their sale, with which I was fatigued, but centered into no negotiations on the subject wuatever; my attitude on the subject in respect to them all was that I could not go into that business. Q. Do you know of any persons making any efforts on the part of the democrats to buy the votes of any of the Keturning Bourd? A. No, sir. Mr. Marble went on to speak of the use of troops in the State of Florida, the en pment of com- panies in Tallahassee and their lighting their camp tires in the State House yard on the night of the gount which, he thought, was hot warranted by any acts. Mr. Reed—I do not think you appreciate the full capabilities ot that gentie people down there. (Laugh- ter.) The direct examination of Mr. Marble was here con- cluded, and the chairman, Mr. Hunton, said he had a communication to lay betore the committee. He then read the following lette: LETTER PROM GOTERNOR TILDEN, No.5 Guamency Park, New Youk, Fob. 7, 1879. Hon. Erra Huntox, Chairman of the Congressional Com- mittee in session at Fifth Avenue Hotel :— Drax Str—I learn froin the public press that it ts the de- siro ot your committee to terminate its session in this city the current week. I take the liberty of requesting that, be- fore you leave, an opportunity be afforded me te uppeat be- fore you to submit somo testiinony wich [deem pertinent to the inquiry with which you are charged. Y speetfuily, x Mr. Reed (somewhat contemptuously)—We have already decided to hear him just like any other of the accused persons in New York. ‘Mr. Springer—You voted to hear him by counsel. Mr. Keed—I should like to hear Mr. Cooper again before Mr. Tilden is examined. Mr. Springer then moved that Mr. Tilden be noti- fied that the committee would hear him to-morrow (Satu: ), at twelve o'clock. This was carried, and it was also agreed that Mayor Cooper be asked to be in attendance at balf- ten in the morning, so that he might be Heard before Governor Tilden. THE CROss-EXAMINATION. The cross-examination of Mr. Marble was then taken up by the republican members of the com- mittee, Mr. Hiscock at first conducting the question- ing. He examined the witness closely as to how he received the cipher from Colonel Pelton, after leay- ing Governor Tilden, before he went to Florida, but elicited nothing new. Mr. Hiscock also questioned the witness clo: and at considerable length in re- lation to the election frauds in Alachua and Manatee counties, endeavoring to elicit from him the acknowl- edgement that he had intimated in his telegrams trom Tallahassee to New York that the alleged frauds had” been narrowed down to — these two counties. Mr. Marble retused to admit that he at any time intended to couvey such au impression, The witness was next asked for au explanation of a despatch dated Tallahassee, Nove ber 22, addressed to Colonel Pelton, and purporting to be signed by the witness, and particularly as to the words, “Let forces be yot together for contingencies either here or in Louisiana.” To this Mr. Marble re- plied that the only explanation he could ofter was, that Colonel Woolley, who was then in Louisiana, was of the opinion that the Returning Board of that State intended to cheat the democrats out of the re- sult of the election, and handed the despateh contain- | ing these words to the witness with the request that he would forward to New York in cipher. PRECISELY SO, SIR. Q. Andin your opinion the only meaning attach- ing to the expression is found in the opinion of Woolley, who thought the democrats were going to be cheated out of the election in Louisiana? A, Pro- cisely so, sir, (Lronical laughter.) Q. In your despatch of November 27 to Mr. Pelton what did you mean when you said:—I advise that you find one person to trust, and then trust him for at least one calendar week, possibly two?” A. That eneral expense, the general manage- ‘paign; 1 considered that some of the other visiting gentlemen in Florida were muddling the campaign; | know of no other reason why Lin- cluded that phrase in the despateh. “MUDDLING THE CAMPAIGN.” The witness then attempted to answer Mr. His- cock’s# question as to what he meant by the word “muddling,” but the latter gentleman evinced a dis- position to shut off Mr. Marble's answers and was mildly rebuked for it by the chairman. Mr. Reed intimated that his colleagne acted rightly in preventing the witness trom continuing, when it was apparent that he was trying to drown his an- swers in # flood of word: In further explanation of the word “muddling,” Marble, replying to questions by Mr, Hiscock, that, while the direetion of affairs at Tallahassee as left to him, he had ascertained that Colonel Pei- ton was sending despatches to others of the parly unknown to the witness, MR. MARBLE ON HIS METTLE, Q. What about the phrase in Me rm to Mr. Peiton which says, “You are « divided coun- cils and imperilling results?” Mr. Marble here com- menced to reply ima m jer evidently not relished by Mr. Hiscoek, who rather abruptly finished the him, wherenpon Mr. Marble curtly hat isnot what I was about to say, and finish my own sentences without your assist- ee Q. When did you first learn in Florida that propo- sitions were being made to sell out the Returning Board? A. It would be difficuct for we to say with- out consulting my despatches. . Mr. Marble, we have copies of all those despatches; they have been before the country now for some time; would it not be the proper way tor you to vindidate yourselt by giving us the key to the pe cone to the despatch in which oeeur the words, “Proposition too high?’ A, L have not got the key in my possession, “WARSAW HLERY."” ya could give us the meaning Q. Don't you of the words “Warsaw here, Bolivia Bras) wished to do so? if you A. Ido not know that Ieould; December 4, to wit-—Marble says plan seut you Saturday inust be acted upon iznmediatels Q. Don't you believe that phrase referred to your dexpateh of De A uber 2 in regard to the purchase of No, sir. the Board? After some further explanation by the witness Mr. Hiscock remarked that it was not @ question of the amotnt named in connection with such purchase, whether it was $50,000 despatch or $200,000 despateh ; it was the plan of bribery that was conceived, Mr. Marble—What do you mean? Mr. Hiscock—I mean just what I say, Mr. Marble—I will allow no language implying tl ny plan ot bribery which I transmitted was a plan of mine. Mr. Hiscock (with mock assent)—Oh, no, ‘no, sit. (Great laughter.) Q. In your despateh is say that that plan itust ‘be acted upon immediately, and in view of the propo- sition of these people to seil out, you say it had no reference to that? A. I say distinetly that it did not. Q. Do you mean to say that you would not in any way have been 9 party to or cognizant of a sale by the members of that Returning Board and the deliv. ery of the certificate of election to the democrats of New York? I distinctly declined any participa- tion in any such a transaction, . Or to be made the medium of doing so? A. (vehemently)—I would not. SOME GUESS WORK, Q. You did not intend to be the medium for the Ear’ here in New York buying up the vote of Flor- N Q sir; A. Precisely not. ) You atthe time, that Colonel Pelton ful mood he wanted to tell Governor | slightest. | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET. was entertaining the proposition? A, When I got | those two despatches Teertainly was obliged to infer that he was considering those two propositions. cepted if done ouly once?” A. 1 can't undertake to say what he did mean. Q. Would not the average intellect draw the con- Woolley both? When you received that despatch and bad no doubt the proposition was being enter- tained here in New York did you suppose it was then suppose it was? Q. Yes; Ido notask what you subsequently sup. posed, A. It was rather my impression, but I could | THE CHOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Q. Now, Isuppone, Mr. Marble, that your own inner consciousness revolted at this transaction? haye since seen executed, in taking away the Presi- deney tron. the choice of the American people A long pause ensued, Mr. Reed remarked that “Complete your answer, please,’’ said Mr. Hiscock. Mr. Marble—Oh, it is not necessary. Q. I would like the answer complete very much, Q. Well, give me an answer at least? cline to answer; your purpose is not to elicit any fucts. proposition from Tallahassee to New York, and know- ing that the proposition had been tolerated by the nephew of Governor Tilden, did it ever occur to you Randall that it would be eminently proper to drop just a hint of this? A. 1 put into the telegram to Mr, Randall all that L thouzht was necessary, Q. You then studiously suppressed all knowledge of fis attempt at bribery? A. No, Idid uothing of the kind, @. What did he mean by saying, “Proposit) clusion that he did not want them to sell to you and being entertained by Colonel Pelton alone? A. Did I only guess. A, Well, in the light of the fraud that I saw, that I | there must be on elaborate close to stich an opening. A. Well, sir, I decline to complete it. A. Oh, I de- Q. Having become the medium for this infamous when you penned that very elaborate telegrain to Mr. COL L PELTON'S ERROK AND FATIGUE. . Vid you communicate it to anybody else A. Q. You sent the despatch, “Proposition failed ?” I never sent such a despatch, . Colonel Pelton has sworn bere on the stand that he received such a despdteh ? A. Well, I should be sorry to believe that, but I say that if he did it was an error, Q. Do you put your want of recollection against Colonel Pettou’'s swearing to his aflrmative recol- lection of what it meant as translated by the cipher, and he at the time acting upon it and failing to raise the money and transmit the same to Florida? A. 1 am perfectly willing to put my recollection of the fuct that'l had no failure to report, and did re- | port no failure, and my recollection of the fact in the last line of the telegram, against his erroneous state- ment. Colonel Pelton was very much fatigued at the time; I dropped in here and saw that; 1 can only a-count for the Colonel's error from the fact that he appears to have receiveda despatch trom Mr, Woolley saying, “Powers secured too late,” and that he has contounded that despatch with mine. It is ob- | viously an crror. ‘The despatch itself is proof that it is an error, . You suy, then, that the words, “Proposition too high,” are not correct translations? A. Undoubtedly not. Q. Now, sir, are you able to gi any of the substituted words? have been contused. (Laughter.) A LOISTEROUS SCENE. Mr. Reed—He was that question after we met again at eight o'clock, and his memory had been efreshed. Itis really too hard to sacdleonetaan the scapegout and the fatigue theory, veus the meaning of A, No, and he may gc (Langhter.) he despatch was again read, and Mr. Marble said he could not recollect the details. Derisive laughter on the part of the audience greeted his statement. General Hunton arose and said he desired this laugh- ing at the witness to stop or he would have to clear the room. Mr. Hiscock said ho thought such declarations as were being made by the witness should be received in silence and with great solemnity. It was rather a case for mourning than for laughter. Mr, Marbie said he would have been unable to identity the despateh as his, except for the last words, “Tell Tilden to saddle Blackstone.” It was an odd phrase, and he remembered using it. Q. In the light of these telegrams is it not a fair meaning to put upon this telegram, “Last uight Woolley found me and said he had nothin, that is, he had no money, “whieh I knew alread, A. That idea never occurred to me until this moment; it clearly indicates nothing of the kind; the language of the two despatches makes that assertion utteriy impossible. A recess was here taken until six o’clock. THE EVENING SESSION. ‘The rush for admittance last night was worse than usual, aud the doorkeeper had to turn the key in order to ea out an overflow of curious listeners. As it was there were about one hundred and fitty people packed into a space that could comfortably ac- commodate about one-fifth of that number. It was a fow minutes atter cight P. M. when Mr. Marble entered the room and took his seat. He was pres- ently reinforced by a solid looking carpet bag of the old school that was brought in by one of the at- tendants. Mr, Hiscock commenced the cross-exam- ination of Mr. Marble. Q. Who constituted the Returning Boara in Flor- ida? A. McLean, Secretary of State; Mr. Foley, Comptroller, and Mr. Cock, Attorney General. Q. Did they unite in their action on the Presiden- tial electors? A. They differed to some extent. Q. You understand, however, that they all agreed upon the electors? A. No, Attorney General Cock iw mot concur. Q. Did he differ in reference to the Alachua county returns? A. Lam not sure om that point. in what did he differ? A. He certified to the election of Mr. Tilden. Q. How soon after the Board declared the result did you leave? A. They made their returns about half-past two on the 6th. We left that afternoon from Tallahassee. SEEING MR. TILDEN ON HIS RETURN. Q. How soon after your return did «you see Mr. Tilden? A, Almost immediately. we Q. L suppose you had a talk abont ‘Florida and the results of the election? A. Yes, | believe we had. Q. Did you then mention anything to Mr. Tilden about the proposition that had been made to buy one of the members of the Returning Board? A. I did not? . Wh y not? A. I did not deem it necessary. @. Did'you say nothing about it? A, No further at least than I told you this afternoon; I think 1 told him some time later. Q. Did you tell him the offer to buy the Returning Board had beeu made? A. I did not. Q. Why not? Did you not feel it your duty to in- form him and enter your protest against such action? A. Tsaid all that [ thonght was necess iry. Q. Did you tell him about the telegraph you re- ceived to Close the offer? A, I knew of no such tele- graph having been sent. : (. Did you not receive a telegram authorizing you to bid $50,000 for the vote? A. Oh yes. Q. Did you not tell that to Mr. Tilden? A, took | particular pains not to, Q. Why not? A. The reasons are obvious. Q. Not to me. A. [shall have to let you arrive at your own views on the subject. Q. Don't you think it is proper that Mr. Tilden should have been told that fact? A. certainly did not wish him to know it. «. You did not allude to it in any way? A. Cer- y not. ‘Chat is all," said Mr. Hiscock. MK. MARBLE EXPLAINS FURTHER, Will you allow me to add a little to an answer I made Uefore recess, said the witness. It was in ref- erence to despateh No. 5. I was asked why I did not yaake some publication or statement in vindication of myself, 1 want to say Ldid make one. About the middle of last October { published a statement, which was all I deemed necessary. Some discussion ensued, Mr. Hiscock mistaking the question referred to, and he then continued the exam tion. (. What I asked you was if you felt no sympathy with this effort, aud were unwilling to be the channel through which the bribery was to pass, why you did not discountenance it at the time? A, Whatl said was in relation to my personal vindication, Q. Was not this atter your connection with the | maiter had become notorious, and not at the time of | its inception? fo this question the witness made no ta d you tell anybody in Florida that you would ti \. jing to do with the n re told every- Whom did you tell? A. Those with whom I was rsing. Ido not care to mention names, A VISIT TO M'LIN, Q. Did you go to MeLin’s house? A, Once. Q. How long before the result of the Board's ac- tion was declared? Tt was as soon as we had ceived the certified copies of the returns from all the and knew that we had catried the State; ved either the documents them- reports of them I went to him. A. It was aday or two before ym the 26th or 26th, I think. ‘ere all the counties then heard from? A. The i copies were not allin, but the missing ones t likely to affect the result. (). Then it was before that that you sent the dos- patch ot November 27 in regard to imperilling the result by divided counsels?” A. It was about that time. Q. Then it was about the time that you learned that cach side was claiming the result by about 100 votes that you went to see MeLin? A. Yes. q. Why did you go? A. To inform him of the condition of affairs and urge on bim to proceed with the eativaes. «. Then you did not understand. that you had cer- tainly won'the election? A. Oh, yes. Then you urged MeLin to proceed with the can- vass? A, Yor, Q. Hadn't the Board had a meeting? A, Not with a quoruin, dow long did you stay at his house? A, About half an hour, Q. Were you alone? A. Yes, OFFERED M'LIN NO MONEY. Q. Did you not say to him that he (MeLin) could have a sum of money if the result was satisfactory? A. (spoken very slowly and earnestly), I did not; 1 never said a syllable which could bear that construc- tion. In reply to inany questions the witness said he thought the visit was made on Sunday; he urged MeLin to go on with the canvass, but Mein did not assent; there was some general conversation but witness could not remember it definitely. VENDICATING HIMSELP. Q. What eftort did you make to find a copy of the bet To find Py of the cipher [never made any effort. Q. Did you ask Colonel Pelton it he had a copy? A. [did not, Q. Did you not understand the importance of your obtaining # copy of the cipher so as to obtain the true translation of the dewpateh? A. 1 adw no impor- tance to it. Q. Is it not important when you are charged with | « an act which you yourself charge as unfair that you Id clear yourself? A. 1 consider that I had elf in my letter of the 15th, Q. You are aware that in the opinion of wore suapected of bribery? A. T e 80. Q. Aud you took no means to clear yourself? I took that means in my letter of the Lith, Q. Now, that telegram of December 3, when did you receive it? A. I should be unable to say what | day; as nearly as T can recollect there was some little interval between the despatch and the answer, Q. How long an interval? A, It came after the se‘ond despatch had been sent. | Now, at the time you sent that despatch of De- cember 3 with the proposition about securing the | one republican vote for 350,000, did you uot expect | to be accused ot bribery? A! [did uot. THE DANGER SIGNAL. Q. In your earlier testimony you describe that as a danger signal, Will you explain to the committee what you mean by a danger signal? A. [don't thing that requires explanation. Q. When you transmit a despatch connected with bribery, you call it a danger signal? xhed to inform the Democratic Committee that the Canvass- ing Board was thought to be venal. ‘ine dangor signal question brought out a rapid passage of arms between Mr. Reed and Mr. Springer, | in which the latter gentleman alluded to some repub: lican cipher despatches connected with two Indian agents, Mr, Reed remarked on that subject that in the presence of such masters of the art the republi- cans onght to be ashamed of their ciphers, Q. Did you suspect that your despatch might be sent to Mr. Tilden? A, What despatch? Q. The despatch of September 3, contains the roposition to purchase the yote of one of the Bo. rd? A, Thad no idea that any one would show any such despateh to him. Why did send your Pelton? A, ‘The canvass was conduc: ocratic Committee, and I kuew Ci proper person to send my despatehe: Q. Even then you sent them some you A. sspatches to Colonel ed by the Dem. 1 Pelton to be a to. ». 15 Gramercy Par . Certainly, When L had to communicate with Mr. Vilden L addressed them to Mr. Tilden. Q. When you sent proposition , did you ex- pect that to be shown to Mr. Tilden ? A. I muke the same answer as beto! Q. Lwish you to r Q. Was No. 2 also a danger 80. TO USE ACC! Q. Did you have any ac understand you. Q. Any financial acceptance ? Q. What is meant by “to use a pears in despatch dated De-embe Tribune muuual ? A. I really dom Q. Did you not receive that despatch + recollect it. Q. You would have if you had received it? think so, Mr. Re patches and uxked him to read proved to be a similar despatch, | Mr. Marble instead of Colonel Woe Q. Do you recollect receiving tt do not recollect paving it, Q. Why should they send it to yon? A. Timagine the word acceptance 4s so used refers to the follow- ing despatch, where it is said, “Proposition accepted.” Q. Oi no, that’s a different story. A. It is obvious to me that it is the same. Q. That is December 4. Q. Can you translate Li No, I cannot. MR. MARBLE GIVES NAMES. Q. You said that you received scores of proposals to sell out when in Florida; why did you not me tion the names of the proposers? A. Iv arose from my desire to be pertectly accurate. Q. Can you recollect the names of some of those that made you the offers? A. I have said I received an offer from Dyke. Q. State another. A. Mr. Cole, who is alluded to in a despatch, communicated with me on the sub- ject. Q. Who is Mr. Cole? A. I know nothing about him. Q. What did you telihim?y A. [told him that no such proposition could be entertained. Q. Where did you see him? A, I met him by chance at the hotel; he lived in Florida and knew the peop! Q. Whom did Mr. Dyke represent? A. He repre- sented some man whose name he gave me who rep- resented the members of the Board. Q. You cannot remember that name? A. I cannot; but I should like to real Mr. Dyke's letter to me. Q. We do not care to hear it, Mr. Marble. ‘A PROPOSITION OB AN ACCEPTANCE. Q. The time that the proposition actually did fail was on the afternoon of December 5? A. Don't you think you had better put that in a form that would not be a misstatement? Q. I want you to answer my qnestion. A. I claim it is a misstatement. Q. How is it # misstatement? A. Youimply “prop- osition failed,” and I deny that the despatch signified “proposition. Q. Well,: if you were too delicate to make propo- sitions Pelton was not? A. I decline to answer such a question. Q. Was it a proposition or an acceptance? A. I de- cline to answer. Q. I want an answer to that question. A. He sent me a despatch. Q. When was that despatch sent? A. My impres- sion is I received it on the 4th. Q. Inthat despatch of December 4—“‘Telegram here; proposition accepted, if done only once, &c.""—what Ft the meaning of “only once?’ A, I do not remem- r. Q. Then it was on account of the indiscretions of this pariah that you refused to recognize him? A. 1 decline to recognize your language. Q. Oh, itis your own. What indiscretions do you mean? A. I decline to state. The question was repeated and a long discussion followed over the answer reluctantly given by the witness to the effect that he did not remember; he had an indefinite impression of indiscreet conduct. The question was repeated in various forms, but with no further result. Considerable laughter on the part of the audience caléd* forth @ little specch from Mr. Springer to the effect that the session was notatown ieeting and that he did not want any laughter. ‘The chairman accordingly announced that there must be no more applause or laughter, and the room was quict for several minutes thereafter. ME. TILDEN AND TI NEGOTIATIONS. Mr. Marble was then questioned as to a despatch whieh he said he thought was missing; but the ex- auiination only resulted in eliciting the information that “he could not recoMect’‘its contents; he thought’ $250,000 was the amount first men- tioned in the negotiation instead of $200,000, but he could not be certain; he had received no reply from New York excepting those he had mentioned; it was a great error to suppose that he said that Gov- ernor Tilden wax managing the details of the cam- paign, as he wae at that time very busy; his house was full of callers all the time, and it was physically impossible for him to attend to detai as to Colonel Pelton, witness understood that he was acting as agent for the National Democratic Committee. Q. Did you inquire of Colonel Pelton after your return whether he had had any authority for sending an acceptance of the proposition which you had not made? A. Lnever spoke to any one about it. Q. You left him, then, to suppose that you had sent a proposition for the corruption of the Return- ing Board without correcting him? A. I had no con- versation with him abcut it. Q. But he says he has with you? A. He is cer- tainly in error. Q. You supposed that Pelton was acting for the Democratic National Committee? A. Inever said anything of the kind. . You supposed then that the acceptance of tho proposition which you did not make came from Pel- ton? A. L was obliged to mfer so, BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT, Q. You thought that the committee had nothing to do with it? A, That was beyond the shadow of doubt. Q. Then you thought Colonel Pelton was not be- yond the shadow of a doubt? Mr. Springer—I object. The question is not a fair one. A. Norie whatever. Al ed then handed Mr. Marble a copy of the ne alond. It t addressed to t despatch? A. I A. So is the other. Bolivia or Chili? A. One of the many tilts between Mr. Springer and | Mr. Reed followed, and after they had aired their wit | fora little time the examination continued with 4 series of questions about the individual words used in the transposition cipher, to which questions the witness with great monotony replied that he did not remember. At length Mr. Keod declared he had no more questions, but after consul said, Did you say 1 a letter d propositions of this kind were ever discussed by me. On the contrary, L repulsed every such proposition on the spot. erinination on this point was never question “Yes, sir,” said Mr. Marble, y the charman—You have now spoken of all the telegrams sent by you or to you that you recollect or know of ¥ END OF MR. MARDI "8 EXAMINATION. ‘ave the stand, he passed out he bly to the by- 1 ect to a notice of recall. As «i and spoke to Mr. Reed, ina standers, and a pleasant smile w Mr. Roed replied, hours that we ha Mr. then sworn. Fia., soon after the Presidential election in 1876; he sent telegrams from that point to Colonel Pelton, Mr. Morris K. King and to Mr. pit ef; Only one was sent to the latt e received certain telegrams there, but could ‘not say from whom; he pre- sumed they were from the committee, He then read in the cipher opy the despatch trans- lated by the Trivune ax tollow: Fori (Perry) Smith’ and acquaint us f Board be prevented ould janter at any cost, Answer. E As he read it was shown that there were several er- rors in the Tribune o Tribune cortect? on't know. Mr. eed—Oh, Mr. Weed explained that despatch, Hoe said the word board meant the board of demo- cratic visiting statesmen. (Laughter.) TRANSLATING THE CIPHRR, Witness said he had the despatch several days | before he translated it, and was never certain that he had it right, He the Springer, attempted key ot the Tribune, publication had it, wrong. It rea Road following to Perry Smith and act in harmony. not antagonism: of board be probable, Should—— At this point the effort to translate was suspended, and the monibers of the committee indulged in more wrangling to no end “WRETUHED MEANT “WOOLLEY, Witness then read from the bhoto-lithographed copy of the despatches toe cipher of a despatch dated ‘Tallahassee, December $,, aud addressed to a, with the assistanes of Mr. eit by the dictionary deciphered it in part as that Another part, however, came out Can. ' | forced to go on the stand, | mise that a vote was purchasable, and the first su, | Marble, Mr. John Coyle and Mr. Henry Havemeyer, No. 15 West Seventeenth street, New York. After it was read it was found that in the photo copy the word “wretched” appeared where “match” appeared in the Pribune copy. In the key “wretehed’’ read ‘Wool so that the ¢ properly translated, read, “Woolley says pla: you Saturday must be acted upon immediately, stead of “Marble sys plan,” &e. Mr. Reed then asked the witness if the dictionary he nsed for the translation was the on@ he had in Florida, Witness stated that the one he bad just used was of INT, but when he purchased it he asked tor a dictionary of 1876. Mr. Reed was trying to show that there was a difference between the publi- cation of 1876 and 187s, Mr, Springer then stated that the preface of the dictionary was dated 1870, ‘The meeting then adjour: until to-day at ten A, M EXCLUDED DOCUMENTS. In connection with the testimony taken at the Fifth Avenue Hotel we reproduce from the Heratp the following docnments, which were excluded from the record yesterday :— [From the Henan, Oct. 16, 1878.) CARD FROM MR, MANTON MARBLE, To Tur Eprrox or tHe HeraLp:— Your request a night or two ago at the Union Club has induced me to look over the Tribune of the last two months and to hand you what I have to say thereto. The Tritune ascribes to me while iu Florida, November and December, 1876, the sending of certain telegrams which I never Sent, the receiving vlegrams which [ never received. One dec! Cipher tele eight (78), as translated and aseribed to m gery. It misstates the situation as I knew ‘it addressed to H. Ha rsent a to or throngh an: The Tribune afirms th line was sent by Mr. Marble, e ciphers, implying a belief that the -any right to the vote of the State. grams show the contrary. My se published by the New York Henan, Worl! and Sun, the Cincinnati vai, the Chicage Times and the Louisville Courier-Journal justify that belief with proofs now sifted and incontestabl ‘This fiction and that forgery are th hinges upon which the Tribune hangs every subse quent falsification of my opinions, purposes aud acts, Ishall let these thirty or forty broadsides of dis paragemont pass on into echoes more or less noisy, because there happens to be no telegram imputed to me, as there can be no telegram verily mine, that conflicts with one tact—namely, I never attempted, furthezea or executed in any manner direct or indi- rect, of ever assented to or concurred in, any propo- sition, purpose, scheme or effort to buy the State canyasser’ certificate of the vote of Florida, or even to hire them to certify that vote as it was cast by her people for the Tildeu electors, Real or pretended brokers overrun Tallahassee finshing the 4: which Noyes bagged. From such people L received many propositions that one repub- lican member of the Board, or both, could and must be bonghe to tell the truth—turn State's evidence and brave republican revenges—else they would never give their certificate in accordance with the truth, confessed since by one of them—McLin—and es- tablished long before the count by all the governmental powers of the State, that the people of Florida on November 7 had chosen the Tilden electors. Thouzh always informing the proper offi- cer of the National Democratic Committee of the course of events, I never reported, for I never had, 3 syllable of consultation with Mr. Woolley or any- body, democrat or republican, which favored or even tolerated the acceptance of any such proposition. None were ever discussed by me. On the contrary, 1 repulsed every approach of that sort on the spot. My decision, never debated, was nowhere ques- tioned, ‘Was that decision an error? The facts, which no candid man now disputes, were then plain, as their duty was plain, to every member of the Florida Board, The foremost republican antagonist in our long contention, General Francis C. Barlow, as I heard and believed, had privately told McLin and Qowgill so. In the behalf of the democrats from the North so had I. And I telegraphed when the Board went into session an intimation of my belief that the right would prevail. A few hours lster their certifi- cate to the reverse of the truth dispelled my illusion, What American citizen could then conceive that a President de facto by means of one forged and two false State certificates, “umself the chiet beneficiary of their purchase, wou reward nearly every known agent and accessory iu that crime with a share of its fruits, and this sovervigu people tax themselves $150,000 for the annual wages of that successful traud? MANTON MARBLE. Octonen 15, 1878. (From the Hreraup, Nov. 1, 1878.) INTERESTING LETTER FROM A FLORIDA EDITOR, TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 24, 1878. To THE Eprron or THE HERALD:— It is probable that the first intimation Mr. Marble received that the vote of Florida could be had for a consideration came from me. I had been told that the vote of one of the republican members of the Re- turning Board could be bought. The sum named as the price was $50,000. I informed Mr. Marble of what I had heard and gave him the name of the party said to be ready to negotiate and the name of the member whose vote was to be secured. We talked the matter over fully. Mr. Marble said, in substance, that the proposal was a piece of strategy designed to get an offer from the democrats and make it the occasion for larger demands from the other side, and that no cir Suaranens would Mr. age det eee = igo va or payment of money, nor wo! eo. is is the sub- stance of what occurred between us om that ques- tion. I have not the least ides that Mr. Marble was insincere in bis prompt rejection of the Propogal, or that he ever entered into negotiation with #hy person having as its object and eud the purchase of @ vote. So far frsm it, I know from associations with him, he had a strong belief that both Cowgill and McLin, especially the latter, would ultimately so vote as to cause the right to prevail. I myself had some faith in Cowgill, but none in McLin. Mr. Marble had faith in both. He thought these pecs knew, beyond any reasonable douvt, that the democrats had fairly elected their State ticket and given asmall majority to the Tilden elec- tors, even after counting for Hayes ali the fraudulent votes claimed as having been cast for him, and that their senae of justice would finally triumph over party prejudice. and passion. He held to this view until, in the informal count, the true return from Baker county was attempted to be concealed and a fraudulent one substituted for it. This tended to open his eyes to the intensely partisan char- acter of the republicans on the Board, and satisfied him that litthe was to be hoped for from their sense of honor or justice if that act was to be taken as an indication of their feelings and purpose. Whatever telegrams may have gone dur- ing those exciting days imtimating a bargain seri- ously entertained, or which failed to be completed for want of time, were either forgeries or were sent by political gamblers. There could not possibly have been any ground for a bargain beyond a mere sur- his most secret democrats had My private tele- “al despatches gestion as to that—to Mr. Marble at least, as I be- lieve—came from me, as already said. 1 will add that the person who professed to be able to secure and deliver the yote was himself a political gambler, from Pennsylvania, who was about that time telegraphing to Mr. Edmunds for money ‘‘to prevent frauds.” [had no confidence in the man’s hohesty, political or otherwise, and had no conference with nim on the subject of his proffer, but obtained my in- information as to it from a democrat. 1 understood that he was to share the money with the member of the Board whose vote was to be purchased. If the Tribune's despatches are genuine and have been cor- rectly translated, any “bargain” they intimate was based on a vayue idea that a vote was purrhasable if the money was forthcoming—only thataud nothing | more. If there had been ‘‘a bargain,”’ as the Tribune asserts ‘was the case, some of us here would have kuown of | it, whereas the first intimation we got of anything of the sort was through those despatches. ©, E. DYDE, Editor Floridian, A “NECESSARY LESSON.” [From the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution, Feb. 5.) The cipher telegrams and their translation will un- Aoudtedly accomplish some good. For instance, it is not at all likely that Colonel Pelton, Mr. Manton Charles We will hereafter mal they are the democratic liumniliating one to all ¢ the mistake ty. 1 Pert Th . bat . highly it necessary that it should be learned by the under. is strappers. THE LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION. A WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT TELLS A STORY— WHAT TESTIMONY COSTS DOWN SOUTH—THE SEARCH FOR MISSING DOCUMENTS. In the Potter Committee, to-day, Joseph H. Mad dox was recalled, and testified, in response to inter. rogatories of the chairman, that the brief furnished him by Mr. Gibson previous to his departure for New Orleaus contained nothing whatever in reference to the duties which he afterwards performed as regards interviewing Witnesses previous to their going on the stand. He stated in connection with the “job put up" on Weber that Swazie endeavored to entrap him (witness) into offering him me to take back the testimony he had given, stating that he had been ut seeing Lis purpose wit- ness addressed a note him incvorming him that there was but one way to recant his testimony and that was by addressing the chairman of the sub-com =— who would evidently give him an opportw nity. MR. CARTER'S TESTIMONY, Mr. George W. Carter, of New Orleans, was the next witness called. He denied the assertion made in the St. Martin affidavit to the elect that he ter) had given or offered Weber monvy to influence his testimony; did not believe Weber ree money for testifying. He corrobora mony of Mr. Maddox, that St. Martin Weber and that Weber spoke of him i. tof « being in his company as @ protection against anticipated violence, The balance of Mr. Carter's direct exanimation did not differ materially from that of Mr. Made After a brief cross-examination by Governor Cox, which developed no new facts, the committee took @ Tecess until half-past two o'clock. A WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, After recess Mr. A. M. Gibson, Washington cor reapondent of the New York Svn, was sworn, and in feply to the chairman testified that he first met Mr, Weber in this committee room; never had any ne tiations with him; never paid or offered to poy fever money for testifying, a8 was charged im tue