"The crime in the Presidential count of 1877 was not against you, nor was it against the Democratic party. It was a crime against the American people and against popular government. If the American people are worthy of popular government they will visit their wrath upon the authors and abettors of that crime. The most effective way to do so is by your re-election. You have no right to deny them the opportunity of doing so. You have no right to deny to the Democratic party the privilege of presenting your name to the people, nor have you the right to relieve the party from the shame of refusing to present your name to the people. "For three years the Republicans have been laboring to destroy your good name in order to avoid the issue the presentation of your name will make. Certain Democrats aided them in committing the great fraud, and they have been aiding them to destroy you for the same reason. They say they have succeeded. They seek to impress the public that you are not available. I do not believe the American people are idiots or knaves, nor are they ready to consummate their own degradation at the bidding of this coalition of Republican and Democratic politicians. "I was a new man here in 1877 and was myself entrapped. If I had known certain men then as I know them now, I am almost vain enough to believe the electoral bill would not disgrace our history. Be that as it may, I feel anxious to atone for the wrong I helped to consummate by that bill. "Some very recent events have added to my information, and strengthened my convictions in regard to motives, persons, and things potential in the wrongs of 1876-7. "I have spoken frankly because I feel deeply, and expect your favor only because I have spoken briefly. "With highest regards, I am, yours very truly, "BENJ. H. HILL, of Georgia." R. T. MERRICK TO TILDEN "_Private and personal._ "WASHINGTON CITY, _June 11th, 1880_. "MY DEAR MR. TILDEN,--It may be desirable that you should know something of what transpired at the Maryland convention, in order to determine correctly the character and sentiments of those by whom its proceedings were directed. "Maryland is, as you are aware, the theatre for the operations of a ring not unlike that which you hate in New York. "This ring is under the control of Gorman, Colton, and two or three others, with Governor Carroll as a subordinate but confidential copartner. "Carroll is violent in his hostility to you, and equally violent and unreasoning in his devotion to Bayard. "These gentlemen, though at one time committed to you, came over to this city last winter and 'pledged' the State to Bayard. "Bayard himself, I have occasion to know, designated some of the delegates and advised the defeat of others. Five days before the convention assembled he visited the residence of Governor Carroll, where about a hundred and fifty men of that particular Congressional district were invited to meet him.