"Until I have the pleasure of a personal greeting, I remain,
Very truly and faithfully,
"Yr. friend and obt. servt.,
Robt. M. McLane."
"To Hon. S. J. Tilden.
A. E. ORR TO TILDEN
"Brooklyn, Mch. 3d, '77.
"My dear Governor Tilden,—I regret exceedingly that illness has confined me to the house for the past few days.
"I wanted to say to you personally what I feel towards you in my heart.
"Under cover of law—justice has no part in it—a great wrong has been committed, and you are deprived of a position to which all honest-minded men believe you were fairly elected.
"Knowing you as I have had good opportunity of doing, and the earnestness and truthfulness of purpose which were the incentives to your every action, and your courage to carry out what you deemed to be the path of duty irrespective of consequences to party or persons, I am led to deplore the finding of the electoral commission as a national misfortune—an injustice done to the whole country in greater measure, if possible, than to yourself.
"The good seed of reform which you have sown has not fallen on stony places; it has taken deep root in the hearts of the people, and will bring forth its fruit in due season. Time will show you that you are loved, trusted, and appreciated, and although the people have at this time been denied the pleasure of seeing you enjoy the noble gift they had bestowed upon you, depend upon it, my dear sir, this pleasure on their part has only been postponed for a season.