"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. "With unswerving confidence and sincere friendship, "Believe me very respectfully, "A. E. ORR. "_Thirty-seven Tompkins Pl., Brooklyn._" HOWARD POTTER TO TILDEN "_March 3d, '77._ "MY DEAR MR. TILDEN,--I avail of the leave which you gave me, when we met the other afternoon in the street-car, to urge you, now that the campaign is ended in which the Democratic party has 'lost all but honor,' to give them a few valedictory words of counsel and encouragement, and the country some words of admonition and warning. "You have been the leader of that party, and it seems to me that you owe it--at least to its 'rank and file'--some such acknowledgment of a support which was in the main everywhere honest, devoted, and given upon grounds such as must be just those upon which such a man as you are would desire to be supported. "And what an opportunity this is to say something which the country may ponder! "What to say no one knows so well as yourself--who have been one of the keepers of the true Democratic 'sacred fire'; and you may be sure that everywhere throughout the land whatever you may say will be read attentively by men of all parties. "But I won't enlarge. It seems to me that it is a great opportunity to do your party and the country a lasting service, and I have not known how to refrain from urging you again to avail of it. I am, with sentiments of the highest esteem and regard, Yours faithfully, "HOWARD POTTER. "_Hon. S. J. Tilden, &c., &c._" GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN TO TILDEN "ST. JAMES HOTEL, BALTIMORE, _March 5, 1877_.