The Cipher Despatches.
An amendment offered to the Potter resolution but not accepted, and defeated by the Democratic majority, cited some fair specimens of the cipher dispatches exposed by the New York Tribune. These are matters of historical interest, and convey information as to the methods which politicians will resort to in desperate emergencies. We therefore quote the more pertinent portions.
Resolved, That the select committee to whom this House has committed the investigation of certain matters affecting, as is alleged, the legal title of the President of the United States to the high office which he now holds, be and is hereby instructed in the course of its investigations to fully inquire into all the facts connected with the election in the State of Florida in November, 1876, and especially into the circumstances attending the transmission and receiving of certain telegraphic dispatches sent in said year between Tallahassee in said State and New York City, viz.:
“Tallahassee, November 9, 1876.
“A. S. Hewitt, New York:
“Comply if possible with my telegram.
“Geo. P. Rarey.”
Also the following:
“Tallahassee, December 1, 1876.
“W. T. Pelton, New York:
“Answer Mac’s dispatch immediately, or we will be embarrassed at a critical time.
Wilkinson Call.”
Also the following:
“Tallahassee, December 4, 1876.
“W. T. Pelton:
“Things culminating here. Answer Mac’s despatch to-day.
W. Call.”
And also the facts connected with all telegraphic dispatches between one John F. Coyle and said Pelton, under the latters real or fictitious name, and with any and all demands for money on or about December 1, 1876, from said Tallahassee, on said Pelton, or said Hewitt, or with any attempt to corrupt or bribe any official of the said State of Florida by any person acting for said Pelton, or in the interest of Samuel J. Tilden as a presidential candidate.
Also to investigate the charges of intimidation at Lake City, in Columbia county, where Joel Niblack and other white men put ropes around the necks of colored men and proposed to hang them, but released them on their promise to join a Democratic club and vote for Samuel J. Tilden.
Also the facts of the election in Jackson county, where the ballot-boxes were kept out of the sight of voters, who voted through openings or holes six feet above the ground, and where many more Republican votes were thus given into the hands of the Democratic inspectors than were counted or returned by them.
Also the facts of the election in Waldo precinct, in Alachua county, where the passengers on an emigrant-train, passing through on the day of election, were allowed to vote.
Also the facts of the election in Manatee county, returning 235 majority for the Tilden electors, where there were no county officers, no registration, no notice of the election, and where the Republican party, therefore, did not vote.
Also the facts of the election in the third precinct of Key West, giving 342 Democratic majority where the Democratic inspector carried the ballot-box home, and pretended to count the ballots on the next day, outside of the precinct and contrary to law.
Also the facts of the election in Hamilton, where the election officers exercised no control over the ballot-box, but left it in unauthorized hands, that it might be tampered with.
Also the reasons why the Attorney General of the State, Wm. Archer Cocke, as a member of the Canvassing Board, officially advised the board, and himself voted, to exclude the Hamilton county and Key West precinct returns, thereby giving, in any event, over 500 majority to the Republican electoral ticket, and afterwards protested against the result which he had voted for, and whether or not said Cocke was afterward rewarded for such protest by being made a State Judge.
OREGON.
And that said committee is further instructed and directed to investigate into all the facts connected with an alleged attempt to secure one electoral vote in the State of Oregon for Samuel J. Tilden for President of the United States, and Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice-President, by unlawfully setting up the election of E. A. Cronin as one of such presidential electors elected from the State of Oregon on the 7th of November, the candidates for the presidential electors on the two tickets being as follows:
On the Republican ticket: W. C. Odell, J. C. Cartwright, and John W. Watts.
On the Democratic ticket; E. A. Cronin, W. A. Laswell, and Henry Klippel.
The votes received by each candidate, as shown by the official vote as canvassed, declared, and certified to by the Secretary of State under the seal of the State,—the Secretary being under the laws of Oregon sole canvassing officer, as will be shown hereafter,—being as follows:
| W. K. Odell received | 15,206 | votes |
| John C. Cartwright received | 15,214 | „ |
| John W. Watts received | 15,206 | „ |
| E. A. Cronin received | 14,157 | „ |
| W. A. Laswell received | 14,149 | „ |
| Henry Klippel received | 14,136 | „ |
And by the unlawful attempt to bribe one of said legally elected electors to recognize said Cronin as an elector for President and Vice-President, in order that one of the electoral votes of said State might be cast for said Samuel J. Tilden as President and for Thomas A. Hendricks as Vice-President; and especially to examine and inquire into all the facts relating to the sending of money from New York to some place in said Oregon for the purposes of such bribery, the parties sending and receiving the same, and their relations to and agency for said Tilden, and more particularly to investigate into all the circumstances attending the transmission of the following telegraphic despatches:
“Portland, Oregon, Nov. 14, 1876.
“Gov. L. F. Grover:
“Come down to-morrow if possible.
“W. H. Effinger,
“A. Noltner,
“C. P. Bellinger.”
“Portland, November 16, 1876.
“To Gov. Grover, Salem:
“We want to see you particularly on account of despatches from the East.
“William Strong,
“C. P. Bellinger,
“S. H. Reed,
“W. W. Thayer,
“C. E. Bronaugh.”
Also the following cipher despatch sent from Portland, Oregon, on the 28th day of November, 1876, to New York City:
“Portland, November 28, 1876.
“To W. T. Pelton, No. 15 Gramercy Park, New York:
“By vizier association innocuous negligence cunning minutely previously readmit doltish to purchase afar act with cunning afar sacristy unweighed afar pointer tigress cattle superannuated syllabus dilatoriness misapprehension contraband Kountz bisulcuous top usher spiniferous answer.
J. H. N. Patrick.
“I fully endorse this.
“James K. Kelly.”
Of which, when the key was discovered, the following was found to be the true intent and meaning:
“Portland, November 28, 1876.
“To W. T. Pelton, No. 15 Gramercy Park, New York:
“Certificate will be issued to one Democrat. Must purchase a Republican elector to recognize and act with Democrats and secure the vote and prevent trouble. Deposit $10,000 to my credit with Kountz Brothers, Wall Street. Answer.
J. H. N. Patrick.
“I fully endorse this.
“James K. Kelly.”
Also the following:
“New York, November 25, 1876.
“A. Bush, Salem:
“Use all means to prevent certificate. Very important.
C. E. Tilton.”
Also the following:
“December 1, 1876.
“To Hon. Sam. J. Tilden, No. 15 Gramercy Park, New York:
“I shall decide every point in the case of post-office elector in favor of the highest Democratic elector, and grant certificate accordingly on morning of 6th instant. Confidential.
Governor.”
Also the following:
“San Francisco, December 5.
“Ladd & Bush, Salem:
“Funds from New York will be deposited to your credit here to-morrow when bank opens. I know it. Act accordingly. Answer.
W. C. Griswold.”
Also the following, six days before the foregoing:
“New York, November 29, 1876.
“To J. H. N. Patrick, Portland, Oregon:
“Moral hasty sideral vizier gabble cramp by hemistic welcome licentiate muskeete compassion neglectful recoverable hathouse live innovator brackish association dime afar idolator session hemistic mitre.”
[No signature.]
Of which the interpretation is as follows:
“New York, November 29, 1876.
“To J. H. N. Patrick, Portland, Oregon:
“No. How soon will Governor decide certificate? If you make obligation contingent on the result in March, it can be done, and slightly if necessary.”
[No signature.]
Also the following, one day later:
“Portland, November 30, 1876.
“To W. T. Pelton, No. 15 Gramercy Park, New York:
“Governor all right without reward. Will issue certificate Tuesday. This is a secret. Republicans threaten if certificate issued to ignore Democratic claims and fill vacancy, and thus defeat action of Governor. One elector must be paid to recognize Democrat to secure majority. Have employed three lawyers, editor of only Republican paper as one lawyer, fee $3,000. Will take $5,000 for Republican elector; must raise money; can’t make fee contingent. Sail Saturday. Kelly and Bellinger will act. Communicate with them. Must act promptly.”
[No signature].
Also the following:
“San Francisco, December 5, 1876.
“To Kountze Bros., No. 12 Wall St., New York:
“Has my account credit by any funds lately? How much?
“J. H. N. Patrick.”
Also the following:
“New York, December 6.
“J. H. N. Patrick, San Francisco:
“Davis deposited eight thousand dollars December first.
Kountze Bros.”
Also the following:
“San Francisco, December 6.
“To James K. Kelly:
“The eight deposited as directed this morning. Let no technicality prevent winning. Use your discretion.”
[No signature.]
And the following:
“New York, December 6.
“Hon. Jas. K. Kelly:
“Is your matter certain? There must be no mistake. All depends on you. Place no reliance on any favorable report from three southward. Sonetter. Answer quick.”
[No signature.]
Also the following:
“December 6, 1876.
“To Col. W. T. Pelton, 15 Gramercy Park, N. Y.:
“Glory to God! Hold on to the one vote in Oregon! I have one hundred thousand men to back it up!
“Corse.”
And said committee is further directed to inquire into and bring to light, so far as it may be possible, the entire correspondence and conspiracy referred to in the above telegraphic despatches, and to ascertain what were the relations existing between any of the parties sending or receiving said despatches and W. T. Pelton, of New York, and also what relations existed between said W. T. Pelton and Samuel J. Tilden, of New York.
April 15, 1878, Mr. Kimmel introduced a bill, which was never finally acted upon, to provide a mode for trying and determining by the Supreme Court of the United States the title of the President and Vice-President of the United States to take their respective offices when their election to such offices is denied by one or more of the States of the Union.
The question of the title of President was finally settled June 14, 1878, by the following report of the House Judiciary Committee: