The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-19
LETTER of HORACE GREELEY

WHiie at iowa lily recently, W.T. ITeely
addressed letter to the Iowa City Republi-
can, inrelation to the story about his receiv-
ing $1,000, from the ID. N. s. r. Co., for SER
vices at Washington city, which had been re-
ported with all the changes by some of the
Administration papers in this State. The fol-
lowing concluding paragraphs of the letter
give the facts of the case, from which it will
be seen that Mr.. Greely's calumnators have
mistaken and mis-stated the character of that
transaction in every particular. IL Horace
Greeley don't become hero it will be no
fault OF his calumniators. But to the extract:
g AS was leaving Washington for the last
time up to this present, on or about the first of
July last, a friend handed me draft for one
thousand dollars, drawn on the Treasurer, in
New York, Of the Des Moines Company,
which he asked me to take with me and use to
pay draft which he said would probably be
drawn on me by an agent employed by said
Company. ! took this draft, accordingly,
home with me, and held it until l was appraised
nearly four weeks thereafter, that draft on
me answering to this one, was coming on from
Washington. Immediately, and for the first
time in my life, visited the office of the Des
Moines Company, and found therein an old
and valued friend, Mr.. A:vah Hunt, form
erly Treasurer of our State, and now Treasur-
er of this Des Moines Company. / said to
him, "Mr. Hunt, do you know of draft for
one thousand dollars on your Company, pay
able to my order?" He answered g Yes,
understand it." rejoined, "Do you know that
have no interest in said draft?" He said,
I" Yes, know all about it. . "Then,o said /,
"shall accept and pay the draft drawn
against it?" He said, GO Certainly >, and /
presented the draft in my hands, which he
paid, and with the proceeds | paid the one
thousand dollar draft drawn from Washing
ton on me. That draft is how in my posses
sion.
These are the facts in the case, to which,
Immediately on the story beng started that |
had been employed by this Company, made
affidavit, in due form of law, and transmitted
the same to the Investigation Committee of
the iowa Senate, corroborated by the state
ment Of Alvah Hunt aforesaid, that never
was interested in nor employed by said Des
Moines Company, and never was paid or prom
lsed by it one farthing for any service what
ever, believe other leading members of the
Company, familiar with the facts, addressed
similar statements TO members of the Iowa
Senate. AT all events, my affidavit and the
statement Of Treasurer Hunt were forwarded
to Hon. j. B. Grinnell. of that Senate, and by
him handed 10 the Committee of Investigation.
And yet in full view Of these facts, the secret
archives Of that Committee are drawn upon at
pleasure for garbled evidence TO bolster up a
charge which its responsible authors know to
be wauton calumny.
Whether there would have been any culpa-
blity in my acting as agent for said Company,
had done so, it is not necessary to consider,
since it is certain that never did. was
nearly five months in daily attendance upon
the doings of the present Congress; and du-
ring that time never was paid, nor promised
one mill for anything did or tried to do in
Washington TO advance any intere SITS what
ev.r.
lean only stop the deliberate, intentional,
detraction of which have been made the sub
Ject, by asking the verdict of an Iowa jury
upon it. All the favor have to solicit is ihs
in adjudging the case, politics shall be utterly
forgotten, and justice between man and man
only regarded. Yours,
HORACE GREELEY
Iowa Cry, Feb. A, 1857.