New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-30


nut a word was said by either Of them eX
pressing . desire that Opdyke should support me or
AXE any part in the matter; my relations with Opdykc
were more intimate than those Of either Of those gcie
men and concealed from him all this time the fact Of
what was Going on at Washington until 1t was an
nounced in the papers; met Opdyks In front Of 81
Pauls Church, In company with Gen Clnnanh ana
Merwin K Brewer just after my return from Washing
ton, and I remarked 70 Opdyke that ny appointment
was decided upon; he said. well. sIn not dspl
or grs.ed-it was not in my power TO do anything Tor
Won being committed 20 another, but the relation be'
tween you and Is such that II IL entirely .stsfae
tory" tia was before the interview between William.
son Mcneil and myself; Itnspected at the time that
Mcneil called me- that he bad obtained the iden iroin
Optyke. and had como 10 seek patronage On t1s'
account.
Q. Did you ever meet Mcneil or Williamson and er'
press ysur thanks and obligations to them \. never
teryiew had with Mcneil Of any length was about a
week ofter.I came into Office (Which was the i.t OF
August; mynppoDtneLt MS made on the lJth OF Ju'.
and con BIZ med on the l6th) he asked me What was
going to do about appointments; he said be tad con
clnded no, 10 run for Assemblyi said shall not
wan. any Of the appointments talked about because
get along without said he " anderhlano you a. :
I mo am going 10 wait and zee who are tue most
efficient men. who run the machine and whom can
spares" said be, look here there some money 70 oe
ade out If this and il you will let me know wsek or
two before who you are going TO opp.lnt Wiz scI
eaO0 piece" whereupOn denounced his proposition
az infamous aud there vas q considerable TOW, a
number Of clerks being present, ana the geh'ennn
O. Did Won have an interview with bin in Washing.
toni A. never did; ] heard oil his testimony IT Is
false nom beginning TO end l never Et, stMe ~ WIN WIN
Opdyse ia Washington hsve no recollection OF ever
seeing Rim there; since The interview Just referred 70
At nv office have never spoken To Mcneil at ALL hhe
had shown himself in the ONCE ne would ha,e oeen put
Lotions with him were friendly until month or two
sfter had been Office, when the collector sent down
note to me by Williamson bniher reqGesting me TO
f,r ,psu II
italy Incompetent; ] found his handwriting was such
that he could not make ont return. OBJECTED TO- ana
refused the certfcatc Williamson came W zee me
within d.y or two. aud urged me to certify 10 MS
brott cr cor potency told him in tie discharge Of
NV duty could rot do it, then he brought in two or
three others totry 10 persuade me Ia give A. but re
fused, then he left Ia great anger. and from
that day this hs has not published OF his papers
without shiny article about me-e'en IN the very
midst Of tlis trial
Mr. Eyarts here objected 10 tho witness who was Il
twver perssting IN going giving incompetent tes,!
niony after he had beer frequently rebused,
WtUess stated that LIE not aware oil having been
rebnked
o. DiG you ever pa, or cause 10 be paid to Opdyko
any moi ey for awning whatever, A. l never paid
TO Opdykc for anything either IN any business
political tnIsiction nor ever caused any to be pad
nor ever agreed to.
O. Did YOU hive either II the appointments
Of the appoirtecs the Custom Housei None EXCEPT
few some e all told the number has since been H.
creased.
O How many officers are there IN all departments Of
the Custom House, A. Apoat twelve hundred they
vary from day To Day; the number Las been Increased
since the outbreak Of the vsr.
O. Did Oyjyfs DO anything TO procure yoer appoint
ment, 4. lie did rot.
o. Or 10 withdraw his influence from an, body else
A. Nobody was withdrawn. the President appointed
me ipdrpeDdeut Of both factions and he knows q a.
well Us any body.
O. Were Won PRESSED IA II candidate 81 the American
partyf A. ! cant ssv who pressed me: car only say
That tho President informed me that be- appointed NE
exclusively for tie American party Oh account oi their
support In ls60; II Vi. hso"n appointment.
seSS,r,me6t, II So how mnrn, 4. i did; some two
per cent nom some tito ~ eco.
O. what wGs done with ~ A. II Nts paid over to
the committee. was tie same asscssnesi that barney
leyied at the time h. issued bis circular.
o. (By Juror thiDb that Mcneil testified that he
met Andrews aud they walked down 0grtheri \. j
never walked GOWN with him; all bis naieiyeni abont
meeting Inc the morning after my appointment nj
Ogd,Le's 10 untrue. nor did ever thank hin or ~
hanson for anything for they had nothing - do nh
tie matter.
Wa. the cnnti iba'ion for the Custom House Nol
tnyt A. Eutrtly ma | ubdopioodI 1t; read the II
cular; saw gentlemen paying their ssse'hmerh aad
heard no complaint
nd cumc 10 hear your promises To raise money In case
Opdyks would suFror. you A. Nothing OF the Kind.
Wime,s wss frrthor Intercepted In regard TO what
Mon ell testified o. shout the offer 10 raise $1,000 Ior
Ophyk.s election and other things that sad n,
the st tie oyster house the counsel residing
from tho testimony Of Mcneil And denied emphaiicsi,
| all the statements.
| Cros, examined by Mr. EyAit--In the inter
views with Mcneil the general object % supporting TIC
Union ard Republican parry was spoken of; stated
that the sum. 10 be raised N the Cs,,"% hoa would
those who had paid asrssmen,s after vent into the
Office there wa money raised for other political Oh
jecs besides tie election q Opd,ke; can't ten FOR
what other purpose IL was raised that fal. paid -
sessuent AID knew others did for the Fall election.
| O. Was there any perquisition on the clerks u The
Custom House TINT Fail. except for Opdyke. election
a., nj L..x.g -
was raised for Opdykes election think s7.Uo. bu,
have 10 depend on what heard, can't say beyond
! reading Nj. Barn rs testimony and what heard
! had conference with Mr.. barney before the moneJ
YVES ra.t he party was urgent On Us 10 raise none
! for TIE elss,. Mr.. Barn., dad not like the idea
told him ihous. . was his duty 10 DO ~ the Colse
tors had done stood the usual amount raised
was two per cent; SAL ! thought we ought Ia rails,
the usual amount IN the Custom House; that year tw,
per cent assessed don't know thst thai was The
usual assessment the Democratic party have assessed
three per cent there was no emergency this FALL and
! there was an assessment of three per cent.
. Have you any knowledge Of sn assessment on The
Custom House previous 10 this for Nsyora'y cleo
ton have heard Of IT, but not being there wouid no,
know: inquired. and wss informed they were usual
when was looking FOR tho Office i understood there
were two candidates pressed by the two winge Of The
party; Mr.. WokeIhn was pressed by the Seward sno
Weed branch. Mr. Stanton. understood. was pressed
by the Chase Radical branch Of the party undcr
stood Mr. opdykc To belong 20 the Radical branch;
was very intimate with Mr. 0pdyke before this and
spent even ngs al his honso frequently; he urged m,
appointment for United States District.Attornsyi
was urged by the American party also had the sup
port Of Mr. Opdykc and Mr.. Greeley Mr.. Opdyhe told
| me Mr. Stanton his candidate for the Surveyor
ship and snid he thought lie would receive the appoint
nept; that was before my ntmc was suggested; MI
Brewer and Gen. Clman were with NE when met
Mr.. Opdyke IN the street Mr.. Brewer acted With the
American party; Gen. Ullmm vD considered lead
! ing man in the Ameri party.
Q. VIVA, words did you tse 10 Mr. Opdyle when
you met him in Broadway a. The substance OF
whit said 10 hin that was "a have this appoint.
ment Of H.. Surveyorshp Of the Port he seemed TO be
pleased about it, and said, IL am satisfied IL Wa not
in roy power 70 do anything fer you, but sati~sd
th tie rcfulta IundeYrtOoA Weed and Opdyk. 70 BE-