The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-06

ec and therefore are pleased to learn that my report
will be completed in two or three days The resolu-
ton of which you speak has relation to my pro-
ceedings of the other Commissioners no call Is
made for the evidence, but simply for tie power under
whichIlhe Commission was created and the expenses
attending it, and the fund out Of which they have
been paid The answer TO this resolution must OF
course be confined TO the CALL and will not embrace
my report or that of my colleagues the evidence
taken by the Commissioners. When these shall be
called for au ready TO furnish my opinions on all
the subjects brought before the Commission at any
moment am aware that misrepresentation, inten-
tonaly made 10 misead you, have emanated from the
guilty custom house officers and their accompces,
and fear that To certain extent they have been sue
cessful This deeply regret, because harmony be-
tween the appointing power and the agent sndIspen-
sable TO give effect to the Investigations when they
shall be communicated TO Congress- and through that
body 10 the Public.
You must be sensible that without union of action
beneficial result can be xpected from any disclo-
sures made under the Commission Of corruption in the
collection and pecuatlon on the public revenue re-
ceiyed at the Custom House in New York, where
twohrds of the imposs of the country are collected.
You cannot expect that those who hold office, and
whose conduct forms the subject of investigation, will
deal candidy with you in their representations otthat
conduct, speak Gvorably Of any Commissioner
whom they cannot bend to THEN own purposes. FL
deity IN the agent TO examine into their Official acts
is the worst crime in their estimation which such
their power to bring to their aid influences which
overshadow my own cannot be deferred from the
Independent attitude which have occupied, and shall
to continue TO occupy in placing their conduct IN
bold relief before the Government and country, what
ever may be the responsibility personal injury which
may incur in the performance ofihis high duty.
The idea that | have unnecessarily delayed re-
port to the Secretary of the Treasury by any Of
the Commissioners is utterly llacious and unbound
ed, which ready to verify and shall verify when
IN dn nd in laite Vr
ten from this city by correspondent of newspaper
IN New York, who is not unknown TO YOU the fol-
lowing paragraph
Old Pons is expected here in day or two, and
then shall learn something about the Custom
House investigation Mr. Steuar has been anxious
to make his report, but Mr. Pondexter had the books
and papers In New York"
This statement is utterly false, come from what
quarter it may. have never, at any time since the
Commission opened in New York, had possession of
single original paper appeltaIning to the proceedings
Of the Board for one sngle moment, otherwise than
had right of access TO them in the hands of the Sc
cretary of the Board
nclose you copytof an order made by the Com
missioners before Messrs. Steuar and Bradley left
New York. which placed all the books, papers, and
records of the Commission in the custody of L. l.
Thruston and George Wood, secretaries, to be dev-
cred at the Treasury Department TO the Commission
ers. This order was executed, and the only books
and papers in my possession at New York were CO.
pies of the originals which We're safely delivered at
The Department The paragraph Of the letter above
quoted is wanton violation Of truth and is of cha
racter corresponding with every thing else which has
appeared in tina print coming through the same chan
mel have had no other object in view from the
commencement of this Investigate down to the pre-
sent time than the public interests and your fame
the Chief Magistrate Of the nation. | have made
great personal sacrifices, both of feeling and interest
in the discharge of my duties. The compensation
has fallen short of my actual expenditures, and my
business in the West has suffered to an extent which
| cannot now estimate wi h any degree Of accuracy.
Bat all this should set down as nothing if my la
bors should result in purifying that kennel of corrup-
tion and fraud, the New York Cusom-house
Toaccomplish this object thoroughly, the Govern
ment would be the gamer, if it done at the cost
OF half million of dollars. But confess, looking
at passing events, my mind despars of reaching a
consummation so devoutly to be wished 1t is not
my intention to press this correspondence further by
asking any reply TO this communication. ! should
not have written line to you the subject had you
invited me to personal conference in relation to it
1t is, however, due to myself and to you that your
mind should, in some form other be disabused Of
the volume Of premedated falsehood which know
has been communicated 10 you to withdraw from me
that confidence which has SO long subsisted between
us, and thereby defeat the great ends for which YOU
caused the Commission Of Investigation to be inst-
tuted. | will add because il is strictly true that
there is not in existence man more sincerely and
dsinterestedly your friend than myself do not
deal in deceitu iattery to recommend myself to any
favor in your gift for seek none, and have sought
none at your hands but when all the devices put in
requsition by such Curtis and Webster to de-
stroy your estimation shall be detected and eX
posed you will find that there more value in unpleas-
ant truths than in receptions practsed under the guise
of friendship, which never fail to end in cruel disap-
pontment.
Accept assurances of my high respect and consid-
Grafton.
GEO. POINDEXTER
The following is the Presidents reply
Letter from the President 10 Coz. Poinderter.
WAsHINaroN, Feb. If, 1912
DEAR SIR must express my surprise at some of
the remarks contained in yours of yesterday more
especially the apprehensons you express that official
harmony between The appointing power and the agent
(myself and you) may have suffered interruption
through representations made to me by guilty Gus
tom house officers and other accomplces.' | leave
the remark without comment
Nor can do less than express my regle, that you
have found it necessary TO couple the name of Mr..
Webster with conspiracy ito destroy you in my es.
mation, procedure which, if it have existence in
any quarter, has not come TO my knowledge Ger
tam it is that Mr. ebser has uttered one word
of dsparagement of you to me, nor Anu | aware OF
his having been in the slightest degree connected
with any matter to your prejudice. And ! submit il
it be not poor compliment to myself 10 suppose ME
deceived by any cabal, conspiracy Of guilty
om-house officers, any others even if existed
Be perfectly assured that there exists no cabal at this
end of the avenue of which am cognzant, Of any
sort or description
The commission, on chch at my o,cn request you ana
others consented 10 serre, instituted and the report o.
The Commissioners is now icaned, by me for my own
information. do not doubt but that ii iciH contain
many suggestions cih regard 10 the Custom Houses and
the mode Of rasacting business most uothy to be
mended by me to Congress find should il bring 10 M,
knowledge any facts duplicating those no,c in office 10
ertent upon grounds requiring he Executive action IN
regard to Them shall wthoi any pronptings by Con-
greSs uho hare rghUdly nothing 10 do Nth IT, discharge
my duty TO the country icithom fear. That hare for
considerable time most anrousiy desired the report to b
made I,ciH not deny. Whether when made shall deem
it best TO communicate The entire report to Congress
oher1oise make il public, content myself ,oh adopting
is recommendations and urging them upon The delibea
! u. = IL