The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-26
HORACE GREELEY AND THE REPORT OF TIL
COMMITTEE ON CORRUPTION

Frequent reference is made in the newspapers the fact
that during the late investigation Of the committee on
gressiona corruption, there proof taken going show
that Horace Greeley, the immaculate philosopher of the
New York Tribune received fee of thousand dollars
to the passage of law for the benefit of the Des
Moines River Company. As Mr.. Greeley did not appear
before the committee in consequence of his absence in the
West have RETAINED from abiding to the serious
charges made against his poess integrity until he should
be heard in explanation of his conduct He has addressed
letter to his paper from Chicago which contains his
sion of the affair." and proceed to lay both sides of
the before readers. We begin with SO much of
the proof taken before the committee bears upon the
charge against Mr.. Greeley
Extracts from the testimony Of John Sykr before The Special
Committee on Congressional Corruption.
BY Mr.. Orr Have you any official personal connex-
ion with the Des Moines River Company, in the State of
Iowa2
executive committee of that company
BY Mr. Orr Do you know OF any resolution or bill hay
ing been introduced during the present Congress for the
Witness Yes sir for the benefit Of the State of Iowa and
BY Orr Were you here during the frat session of the
Congress for the purpose OF aiding in the passage
Witness. Yes sir; came here under the directions of
board somewhere about the last of June, think
was there for q week. and perhaps two weeks my
route from the West presume arrived here about the
25th of June. .
By Mr. Orr VIII you state what arrangements you made
for the passage of the BILL if there any made other
than those you have already statedp
Witness All that did was this: made draft in favor
of Horace Greeley for 900 which RENTED in letter
addressed to him. stating that if the report of the commit
tee should be made should become necessary to OBJ
House, he was to use it, had conversed with Mt.
Greeley upon the subject myself but he was intimately
quainted with Of stockholders and, as under
Stood had taken strong interest in the passage of this
resolution. Having made this draft went home and
ceived h sanction of the executive committee for 30 doing
have had no other connection with the matter.
BY Mr.. Orr What was that 81 900 for2
Witness. 1t retainer for counsel and advice to aid
in procuring the passage OF the bill.
By Mr.. Orr Was it merely as counsel fees
Witness. The letter wrote explained it 1t was to be
used entirely in his discretion to aid in the passage of this
bill If the bill passed the House. we were willing to pay
this $1,000
Witness To Mr. Greeley. If the bill passed the House,
considered it as good as passed by Congress IT was
here no longer and left it entirely with him to make
| such arrangements as he saw proper
By the Chairman Then this ST. 900 you sent him to
employ to here to attend to the passage OF
the bill in the House2 '.....@
Witness No. sir not to come here left it entirely in
his discretion to be used he thought best supposed
that he was so connected with Mr. Hunt treasurer,
and with other members Of the company that he was
safe man to leave the matter with. a .... ....
By the Chairman Was not Mr. Reverdy Johnson en-
ployed the agent of the company
| Witness He relied upon by the company as coun-
but thought he did not pay the matter sufficient at
tention. did not him while here The presi-
time, not here had to advise WITH and as
Mr. Greeley had been strong friend of the measure left
the matter in his charge The money was not to be paid
the bill passed the House. and had very little ex-
pectation of having TO pay anything whatever
By Mr. Orr Did you give any instructions how to dis
Witness No. sir only gave instructions not it
except in the event of the passage of the bill through the
House. ~ "g.'
By Mr. Warner: At whose request did you draw this
draft in favor of Mr.. Greeley? .... ...
Witness. At the request of no one
By Mr. Richie Do you know whether this 1000 was
Witness Yes, sir; it was
By Mr. Richie Do you know what disposition was made
Witness did not know it had been used until four
months afterwards. do not know what became of it, !
| only have my suspicious .." ". .E
BY Mr. Orr. Did Mr.. Greeley ever exhibit to you any
make any returns to you of the expenditure
Witness No, sir went West, and never heard word
from Mr. Greeley at all had not the slightest idea that
had been paid and had not the slightest idea that had
been used until late October. had the first init
nation OF it in this way had letter from one of Mr.
Mattesons political friends charging and charging Mr.
Johnson the president Of company with having used
certain letter written by Mr.. Mateson to Mr.. johnson
against him. for which he used threats and expressed
great indignation. made no reply, but stated when
the gentleman that there not word of truth in
i-hat had alluded to the letter. learned then
for the first time that this draft had been paid. have
not Mr. Matte5on more than twice since that time
and then not to speak of this matter but met Mr. Gree
ley three weeks ago in New York Hetod me that he
received the money but that he had personal inter-
est in it. He did volunteer to tell where the money
had gone did not like to ask him, because thought
could ascertain in other way thought the treas
urer of our company would know; but when saw him
afterwards he did know Mr. Greeley stated that he
had carried the draft for time expecting to the
parties to deliver 1t up that 1t went to Mr. Hunt the treas
caly before executive committee and the money paid
before my arrival II had been present. it would not
have been paid without knowing something more about it.
By Mr. Orr Then, although you drew the draft, you did
not know what disposition had been made of the funds2
Witness No, sir did not know the draft had been
paid until four months afterwards
BY Mr. Orr Do you know that paid through your
treasurer
Witness The document went out to Iowa, amongst the
other accounts of expenditures and have doubt
that il had the endorsement of Horace Greeley The treas
urer told that he had paid the draft that Mr. Greeley
had asked him il it to be paid and that be told Mr.
Greeley it woald be paid
the draft was transferred by Mr. Greeley
Witness have not had suspicious, but they may be
entirely wrong.
By the chairman Have you seen the draft
Witness. No, sir, except at the time II was drawn.
By the chairman. And you do not know to whom the
money was paid
the State of Iowa. amongst the vouchers of the company
By Mr. Warner You say that you deposited this draft in
the hands of Mr. Greeley because you supposed him to be
a friend TO your treasurer
Witness. Yes, sir; thought him TO be proper man
with whom to deposit it until the contract was complied
with.
M.