S. S. COX TO TILDEN
"House of Representatives,
"Washington, D. C., June 17th, 1878.
"Dear Sir,—In rummaging over and burning up the documents which have accumulated through twenty years' service, I found your old pamphlet, which gave to me many lessons during our perilous days before and during the war. Thinking that it might be of more interest to you now than to one who has learned it by heart, and knowing how valuable, after many years, are one's own thoughts for memory and suggestion, I cannot refrain from tendering it to you—if only for a retrospect. It may be more useful to you than to myself.
"We are just closing up the long session. You will see by my last vote, all alone from New York—though for one, if alone—I would never consent to quiet bad title, even though technically legal. The worst things that I have ever known in public life have been statutory.
"If ever the devil took a walk upon earth, according to Coleridge's poem, he took more delight in seeing a bad lawyer cheating by statute than by any other mode.
"Yours with respect,
S. S. Cox."
"P. S.—Excuse the mutilations; you can see that I have used the pamphlet in various ways and at various times. The clippings are significant.
"Vide: 'Logical result after disunion—'
"P. S.—This is an interesting as well as curious coincidence, and will please you, I am sure; so I have told Mr. Cox to let his friendly and charming letter go to its destination. As I wrote you on Friday, Keith was the only speaker on the right side—but there were some staunch men who stood by him. I shall get to see you Wednesday morning, when I shall hope to be able to make our visit to Mr. O'Conor.
Sincerely,
H. W."