them and their future that induces me thus to write to you."

One of the F. F. V's wrote:

one

"HONORED SIR: In these times of unusual exigency unusual expediency suggests itself, and the train runs not with the extremity. Your own high and unquestionable position is such as to bear the light of a mid-day sun, but the same elevation weakens, sometimes, your best purposes by exposing to your adversary the very movement made with the best intent. To meet this emergency, do you not want a secret emissary who can go from point to point at a moment's notice to convey and secure information, who can accomplish diplomatic interviews without being suspected as your representative, and who can contrive movements without their being heralded to the reading and gossiping world? I am a woman old enough to be discreet, ugly enough not to be noticed, intelligent enough to sift, compare, and reason, wit enough to evade, wise enough to be silent, and ready enough to report, and if you can or will employ me in this official capacity, you will find me faithful, trustworthy, and efficient. I can give you the best reference in the city and in any part of the country, especially in the South. I am a Southern-born woman, familiar with all Southern influences, especially acquainted with carpet-bag rule, having been a victim of their oppression in taxation. I am personally acquainted with politicians of both parties; and, having the entrance to all circles, I have an advantage not usual. I have lived in a political atmosphere all my life, but have now no family. ties to restrict my movements, or to give my confidence. My large landed estate in the South is now almost worthless ruins, owing to the working of the new régime; consequently I would seek employment of a remunerative kind, -not extravagantly so, but sufficient to my simple needs. The employment I suggest would be congenial to my taste; and in peace or war I am sure that I can be useful. The times are portentous of discord; and if strife should prevail, such service as I could render I know will be in demand. If you will entertain the proposition, I will call to see you at any time. The very proposition is a secret with myself.

and I hope you will also respect it in any event. I only purpose to be in town a day or two."

A widow from Illinois, with four children, two boys and two girls, wrote:

"I cannot keep my children in school and give them food and clothing; therefore I write. I beg you to adopt one of my fatherless children, a boy thirteen years of age, the oldest boy, change his name to Samuel J. Tilden, place him in one of the best schools, watch his progress in his studies, and your generosity shall be remembered for years and years. Please write me when you can come or send to this city for the boy."

A hoosier from Indiana wrote:

If you will send me some money ill help you along with a grate many more votes as there is a grate maney around here that will sell there votes fore anything then if you send; Express to Brownsville Union Co. Indiana."

Another hoosier, who may be presumed to have passed the early part of his life in the land o' cakes, wrote:

"i have written you three letters and i think you election is very dootful in the Western States i have traveled threw indiana illinois, masura, iway cansas peter cooper and hayes and you name is scarcely mentien and you haf to do something soon or you air beet i can sell you twenty eighty hondred votse for eight hundred dolars myself if you air willen to hep you self i Will hep you i have pledge myself to the people that i Woold give four hundred dolars porvided you would give me four hondred dolars i think that is the best i cando for you now jus send me the for hundred dollars if you think best to do so and if you send it i Will use it fur your lection. if you send it you had better send it in a register letter they air all watching me at the expres ofis and Peter Cooper friends has ofered me a thousand dolars to throw my influence to him and I wouldent noy axsept it."

A man who was not at all proud wrote from Yankee

town:

"As you are a man that goes in the best and highest of society you must have a great many old clothes that is good but out of fashion and you cant ware them in High Society. i wish that you would send them to me as im have a hard time to git along and winter is adrawing neare all the way that i can pay you is at the November election that is the ticket i have voted the last 20 years.

An assiduous member of a Tilden and Hendricks club wrote:

"I have been out every night and I am out of work and cannot get any. my shoes are all worn out carrying the Tilden banner and I cannot carry it any longer unless you will send me a new pair."

A Kentuckian who adds Rev. to his name, but whose early education had hardly been what it should have been for one of his profession, wrote:

"As i antisipate a Short tower through the mountains of Ky and should like to have from five to seven hundred dollars more than i have i will therefore ask you to send it to me forthwith By adams express and if i dont make a show of the same i will double the same five times. if convenient Send Silver fore it looks Quite pleasant all is Rite here. you shall hear from me Soon after the election. your. O.B.T.”

A Pennsylvanian who was "anxious to free our government from a mass of corruption," and "is foreman of a factory of 37 men of which 11 are Republicans," wrote:

"I am prepared to buy their votes at $5. each. If you can remit me the required amount my influence is at your command and the rights of our country."

A Jersey patriot of a frugal mind, but trusting he was honest, and who believed in fighting fire with fire, knew

of over one hundred persons in Trenton who will vote for Hays because they will get 1 dollar a piece for doing so. there never was a time when such a little money could get so many votes. I am a poor man, yet I trust I am honest, yet, I cannot see ware it is wrong to give a man a dollar to vote for the one he wishes to get in when if he dose not do so, the other party will give him the money and get his vote."

"A friend and a brother" of the negro wrote:

Mr. TILDEN:

"SIR: I wish you to send mez as much as $5. to Buye Whiskey to get all the colored votes I can for you.”

A friend of the laboring man from New York writes that he is president of a secret society which cast more than 13,000 votes in 1874, and almost 17,000 in 1875." He rebukes Mr. Tilden for not having responded to his application for $2,395.20 to save himself and party from defeat.

"Our votes," he says, "will be cast in view of resulting benefits to labor and to securing legislation in that direction rather than from the ordinary motives of party men. If in the end you and the party which has put up your nomination are defeated by us, you must remember that the work was entirely your own, and that we gave you a fair opportunity to have avoided that result."

A patriot from Minnesota wrote:

"I feel very confident that with $10,000 I can get seven thousand votes."

Another patriot from Ohio informs Mr. Tilden that two of the "electoral commissioners" are relations of his, one a school-mate, and all three Republicans; that he asked them privately what they would take to throw their influence for Mr. Tilden; that they answered him confidentially if he would give them $5,000 each they would give their vote all the time for his man. Mr. proposes to give $5,000

out of his own pocket if Mr. Tilden would give the other $10,000 in greenbacks, not in checks, as they might create suspicion.

An editor writes that he publishes a religious paper in Virginia, which is burdened with a debt of $500. “It did all a religious paper could do to promote Mr. Tilden's election."

A gentleman who had spent $100 on the election asks. Mr. Tilden "to palliate his temporary difficulties with a remittance, which he promises to return in six months.”

A New Yorker asks for the loan of some money with which to purchase bees from Brazil.

A modest mamma from Missouri named her third daughter, who was born in 1876, Maggie Tilden —. "You would admire her," she writes; "she is an interesting child and in possession of more than ordinary talent; and in order to cultivate her mind, I make a special request of you, and that is to make her a present. You will confer a very great favor upon our little daughter. You are in possession of millions of dollars and would never miss, say, $10,000; in fact any sum you may wish to give. You are a bachelor and should render assistance."

Another Missourian, a confederate, but with more zeal than discretion, says he met with a man in Douglass county who claimed that Hayes was elected President. The confederate claimed that Tilden was elected. The Douglass county man said, "The Republicans have had the reins of govt. too long in their hands to give it up to a Rebel like you. So," adds the confederate, "I giv him a billet of wood; he soon recovered and come at me for a tussel and the result was I was left a blind man forever.

"You can see from my picture which I send you in this letter, the condition my eyes are in. If you are willing to help me I would be very glad.”

His statements were fortified by four certificates as to their truth, all apparently in the same handwriting.