New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-05
sTEAT InoAT CErARTEBlNG.
!" uoper i'm self-Defen'e Against the
.rcrsions Of the Senate COMMITTEE.

- - <IoDev i'm Setf.Defensc Against inc
.sprrsions Of the Senate COMMITTEE.
10 ,he Edito, Of The " y Irto1h
Srs: On the I'D of Decern ber; 1862, Q Select
Committee of the Senate, with Mr.. Grimes at It's
he ad was, appointed to ng'drc into the charteripg
of transport vessels for tic Banks expedition, aud
also into tho employment Of transports generally.
This Committee made one report to the Senate,
which in no way af .cts me, and therefore have
nothing to say to it. They took much testimony with
reference TO anOthey: report, which does materially
affect me, but before II printed it found its way
TO TIE NEw-YoytK Tribune, and al abstract Of this
report was given 10 the world through that medium,
10 which l am branded as Q swindler Of tho Govern
ment. Knowing that there was no foundation in
truth for these charges, and hoping that the Com
lnittee wou bear additional testimony before they
reported to tfc Senute addressed The following
letter 20 Mr.. Grimes:
WAtRIssroS, ID. c.. Feb. 10. 1861
Hon. J. w. 0rInRs Chairman the Senate Committee On
The Bant1 Expedition ond oIter ctarieys;
s7t: Conce. wing that the public unnd grossly abused
hn6 grea rsce done to yon Senator aud 10 me az
IN {G1 T., report t % m Ct ~ S:s tS TO
earliest leisure tho following papers which propose
| Ftrn; She testimony Of ]. Edgar Thomson and q.
fiction, showing that was only third party engaged
Thom,on as ,snt ssent the War Department and that
the prize. Of charters to those gentleman
and would aud did not receive compGnsNion
for oeryces even bsvo my expenses paid whe Dg
Secand The testimony Anthony Grovo, jr stating thai,
did charter any one OF his company's bouts whe
setus Government Agent, and that never received
from the value Of ~ for ctsrterng for Influence
chsrterns hs his company boa and that he never
paid any money belonging 70 the Government but that
on o contrary had for my influence in behalf Of
the Government his coinpsby would have Owed thou
ssnd. dollars from Government than they did
lard The testimony Of Capt Winon whildn, setting
forth that charged and tnat be paid me the
valve Of vi ioI oLaItins nor io ny influence In
charter Tor his steamers to the Govenment rom the time
the Rebellion bfOke QUIT the l.,h day Of February lCJ
Fourth Tie testimony If Anthony Reybold e'q setting
forth that never clsf HIN Inc value OF one dollar FOR char
eug usAs influence to charter all or any ole oil his
steamers 20 tie War Department.
The reading these papers VIII enable you errors
nto which you have uI'nenonsy iaep and to do justice
to own csndor and ny 2ooi name which hope you "i
iak- pleasure 81 doing
H. wneu the capital 81 ger the railroad obs,tucted
and 40 mode - tiS1sporiugtops remained Dat by water
Thomson Mr Felton, and myself paid too much for
sos (Which d. not aduIi! cdl zoe answer Is thai there
Was no tlmo for higgns, and that d'pach was more i'm
poTiSn. than econ)iny.
Chartered by me- mistake. never chartered her used
my influence to have he's chartered by any Government
/ wss snpennierdin. the eIlbsrkaon OF ,he Army Of
she Potomac. went on hOsrd 20 rate her and hf'
certain the number of oops se would carp, sho had then
been in Government employ rome weeks. Inc Ees-ioTk
referred % in the report could be only those that
80 O0 aud tee chares. ;n.d
I, me AZ col st,rsi ,eoury Tor tie no.y. advanced Them
which wa, the time my ssrvc,s commtscsil haze never
ehsrg- tie Uovemen, one cent for ny ,.lveos nor have
they paid to this date or services travelling
expep'e. hespesifaly your o., seIy.
| Rf. LOPER
This letter was placed in the hands Of Mr.. Grimes,
with n request that lie would read it, which lie
promised 10 do. 1 then asked him when he would
give me an answer, and he replied, ''In hour"
called on him Ut the appointed time. and he prom.
iscd me lie would read the eyidouce and do mo jus-
ties, and fixed the hour of L. IN. the next day 10
give me al answer. Next day, at the hour ap-'
pointed. called TO receive bis answer, and he re.
turned me my paper, consisting Of tue letters and
afidavits hereinafter Get forth, aud asked why the
evidence not furnished him before. answered
that, not knowing what had been said against me.
| did not know that tho evidence would DO required
lie said ii was too lae be could not alter bis report,
as the Committee had been discharged. convened
with him again at O'Clock p. m and asked him, Tor
the sake Of usce call his Committee together for
one hour 10 hear the additional evidence. He re.
piled that he could not call the COMMITTEE together
again. and would not if he could. then told him
| bad the e.af in my own hand, and should use IL.
Here ended my correspondence with SIR. Grimes,
| / had becn accused as a swinder tried and con.
demnod without a hearing in the star-chamber Of
the Senate Committee without even the qualification
Of knowing what the other members Of the Commit.
tee, upon reading my evidence thought Of my case
50 far 10 am personally concerned, these matters
do not aiIect me; but have family whose destiny
in life depends somewhat 90 my good name; have
thousands Of old fricnds both the sea aud on tie
land, who have given their confidence for over
forty yesrB Of my life; have q country ia whose
union and glory and prosperity feel deep interest,
whose depends the integrity OF her agento
all these demand at my hands defense Of my
character, which 1 am bound to make before tie |
world in justice 10 them all. One cause Of error
which led this Committee astray, ard enabled them
TO deceive otles, is taking for granted that my
sgency for The War Department was perpetual, and
that being the perpetual agent Of tie Department,
was cut off from all my ordinary pursuits. The
Truth il simply this: 1 received my appointment
from j. Edgar Thomson on tue Goth day II April, |
1861, and was Unchanged on tho 10th day Of May
following. This makes twenty days and no more IN
which acted as assistant agent Of the Department.
After my agency foi the War Department had ex.
PRED, was a. liberty to pursue my ordinary calling
Ike other men; and, having large collections OF my
own for vessels chartered 70 the Department, |
was intrused with Ike collection Of large FUND from
other, for which charged five per cent, the ord
nary compensation received by comEiirsion mer-
chants, agents, and attorneys I had been in the
ati, for The lac. Is years Of paying at the rate Of
five per cent. for the collecting Of from $500 900 10
$4,000 por annum; and when acted az ugcnt for
oilers, abundantly able TO pay, there WAS no good
reason why should charge leg, especially when |
had advanced large sums OF money 10 the owners OF
these vesses Tor which, except in tie single case Of
WbiIiu | CharDpu ma for oil,