New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-11
TIE COVODE INVESTIGATION.
Testimony Of John B. Hsskin before tho Committee.
THE QUARREL BETWEEN HAsnN AND surrtawuaTa
The President and the LecomptOn Question.
WASHINGTON. Saturday, June 9, 1860.


they were bought by promises q the printing OF the
Post Office blanks, &e. Miller stated that he was
Postmaster at Columbus appointed the last of Novem
her, 1853; was removed IN March, and restored on
the lat Of December, 1858; was appointed irss and
removed on Cox's account; there was understand
ing between Cox and myself, directly or indirectly, or
in any other way, as to my appointment; know Of
was here 10 November, 1858, and heard WAS to be
appointed; wrote TO Postmaster General Bro wn, and
said would rot take the Office, but bad no more
knowledge Of being appointed then than you had the
frst ntmston got Of an intention TO appoint me wss
when Depver had resigned and Medary was To be
Governor Of Kansas, and that thers would be va
cancy, which was TO ll Cox insisted that Should
aoceps the Office; did it without pledge be denied
that he bad avoided the subpoena of the Committee; HI
wss anxious TO testify, RS he told Mr. Galloway OF
Columbus Col. Medary was also willing; his tes;i-
mopy would corroborate his lMer'sl and Sini his;
neither Medary nor Smith nor himself ever got dollar
Of patronage. In reference 10 certain Post Office
blanks Miller sad he heard Of them from Col Medary,
and sad he would like TO get share of them TO print
bpt that the last OF it, they did not get any OF IT,
In answer to question Of Ccvodes he said that at the
election of Cox in 1853. there no pecunary con-
alteration given him from the GoverBment-nota dol
lar directly indirectly in any other way, unless
ifly dollars or for advertisements from the DEPART
ments. L.a a.
After this testimony was taken the Committee, con-
sdering that ineulpated one thought Of striking
all out but left il to Cox to say whether it should
be retained for his benefit as 1t complete refaa
ton of certain charges 1t was evident that there is
some spite at work in this business but Cox has been
thoroughly virdica.ed as has the Administration.
Mr.. Haskin's testimony before the Committee to-day
was as folows
Question. Do you know Samuel F. Butterworth,
the Superintendent of the Assay Office, New-York
Answer Yes, Sir very well.
o. want to inquire if you know, of your own
knowledge anything in reference TO bic eendisE men
a. have good reason 70 he &c It men into
nv district who were in the employ of the Govern.
mentunder him. az have good reason to know that
Mr. Scbell the Collector of the Port Of NewYork, did
the same thing.
Q. How do You know that A. know il from
having seen the men in the district at work. before the
eecton at the primary elections and at the general
election.
the Government in his office A. Yes, cir
0. How many men were sent there A. know of
three that Mr.. Butterworth sent, all Of whom think
were expressly appointed for the purpose of travelling
over my district and doing what they could defeat
Q. Was Mr.. Browne of The Constitution, sent into
your district? A. Mr. Browne, of The Constitution,
addressed public meeting at MorrisaDia, and his
speech on the occasion mainly devoted to denunca
tions Of me. That speech was reported in the New.
q. Were you the candidate of the Republican party
in your district in 1856 A. No, Sir, was not the
candidate of the Republican party. Afterthe adoarn-
ment Of the XxXNh Congress- went home and an.
bounced my self as independent Democratic candid
ate; but was not nominated by the Republicans nor
by the Americans l ran an independent Democrat,
and at every meeting at which addressed the people,
announced myself as SUCH and ant igonized the Re-
publican party upon their doctrine in favor of Congress
SIGNAL intervention in the Territories 20 prohibit slavery
desre to remark here to the Committee, that state
ment was made by Mr.. Butierworth, that upon MY
quest he bad paid money towards my election in 1885,
and that he had paid il to me personally That is not
co. | never requested Mr. Butterworth to contribute
dollar towards my election nor did he ever give me
a dollar. He gave financial agent Of mine one hun
dred dollars, under peculiar circumstances.
O. Did you ever have any correspondence with Mr..
Browne, Of The Constitution, in reference to sup
porting the Lecompton policy OF the PRESIDENT A.
No, Sir.
Q. Did YOU have any correspondence with Mr.. But.
terwOrth, superintendent of the Assay Office in New
York in reference to that natter A. corresponded
with Mr. Butterworth from the time l was elected
member of Congress- in 1856 down to the 7l of April
1858, when wrote him letter closing correspon
dence and terminating our acquaintance
Q. Have you any objection to leaving that corre-
epondence " III the Committee A. AS 10 this letter
OF my own, closing correspondence, have no OBJ
eccn to leaving that, and having it in ,orporated
part Of my testimony. l had not intended to have
made any use of Mr.. Butterworth letters {, me- but
having read in The Ner- York Times, of the date of
the 9Th OF April last statement which was designed
TO charge with having at one time been in favor OF
the LscomptOn Constitution, which statement know
was superinduced TO be published by Mr. Butter worth
and reference having been made in that statement
10 some of my private letters TO Mr.. Butterworth,
with what purports to be quotation from one OF my
letters now propose, therefore, as Mr.. Butterworth
in letter TO me consented to publication Of his
letters provided would consent to the publication Of
nv letters to leave these letters of Mr.. Buerworth to
me it'll Mr.. Covode, the chairman ofths committee the
LII al. l.....
that if Mr. Butterworth agrees to the publication Of the
whole of my letters these shall be published also. do
this because desire that the of publishing these
letters shall be put upon Mr. Bntterworth he having in
his examination here, consented to the publication OF his
letters to me- provided that would consent TO the pub
LEGATION of nv letters TO him. The slater ent contained
in the New York Times Of the 9Th Of ri last, more
Il an any other consideration, has induced me to testify
before this committee That statement charge
ne with haviI acted at least with duplicy upon the
Kaneas question. Hence it is that am willing TO leave
with the committee Mr.. Buterworths letters to me,
many OF which written III friendly confidence, just
as mine were written to him. There are expressions
upon both sides of friendly character.
.. Without stating the contents OF Mr.. Butter
worths letters can you state II you knew what his
views were upon the Lecompton question after the
18th Of December, 1871 a. After the 18th OF De-
cember, 1851, Mr.. Butterworth did not indOrse the
Presidents course upon the Lecompton question
They accorded, ~ understood them, with my views
fully And ! desire here TO state, as you have men,
toned the 18th OF December, that Mr.. Butter"or'n
has said, az am informed that favored the Lecoup
ton policy the President up the 18th Of December
and he also said that the Lecompton Message OF the
President had been transmitted to Congress before
that period. Now, for the truth OF history, snu 70
yindicate myself desire TO state that the Annual es
cage of the President of the United States was sent 70
Congress ON the 9Th of December. l approved OF
that Annual Message; and on the 2lst OF 2ecemoer
1857 I wrote letter 10 meeting called az laInmany
Han n Nsxy.york 10 approve OF the Message. There
was nothing in the Annual Message upon The subject
If Kausaa which did not approve, because LeeomP-
ION had not then been made an issue Ihe hrst eec-