New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-15
CUkTOm.mOUsR FRAUDs.


poraries, on every discovery, through the vigi-
lance of the Government and its appointed
agents, of peculation or maversation in Office,
to seek to pervert that discovery into partisan
capital against the very functionares whose
vigilance has been thus rewarded, We have en-
deavored in all cases to first make sure of the
facts, and then cast the blame on those who
have deserved it, Such has been and will be
our course with regard to the recent develop
ments in the Custom House at this port. We
might have written moro spicy articles on the
subject if we had been content, Ike Others, 10
guess at the material facts. But, by taking the
opposite course, we have beer able to cast more
light on the subject, and enable the public to un-
derStand what has been wrong and who are in
fault. The facts given below are obtained from
no one employed in the Custom-H House, but arc
from source that may be implicitly relied on:
About three months ago, Information was
given to Nayal-0flcer Dennison that parties
engaged in blockade running had been heard to
boast of the ease with which they get their ship
House. Mr.. Stanton was mentioned in the
information as the party in the Custom House
who facilitated their operations. Mr.. Dennison
took steps, in connection with Deputy Collector
Hanscom, to ascertain the facts; and, after some
two weeks, notified Solicitor Jordon, of the
Treasury Department, of the suspicious circum-
stances developed by his inquiries. Mr.. Jordon
at once came to New-York, and, after careful
inquiry, became satisfied that gross irregularities
had been committed by some one in Mr.. STAN
tons office. Some parties swore TO having paid
money 10 Mr. Stanton's son for the abstraction
of bonds; but there was no testimony directly
duplicating Mr.. Stanton himself In tho ts"n-~A
ton. The only facts elected which touched him
were those stated by himself in his letter to MIR.
Chase, published by us.
On the conclusion of the Investigation, the
facts were laid before Collector Barney by Mr..
Jordon Mr.. Stanton was thereupon called
into the Collectors Office and given a hearing
on the charges substantiated By the testimony;
at the conclusion of " ich he and his son were
dismissed from office by Mr.. Barney. Deputy
Hanscom was then put by the Collector in
to allow no papers or books to leave the rooms,
and 10 make thorough examination of its
affairs. Since that time, the inquiry has been
carried on by Deputy Hanscom and Mr.. Den
nison. IL involved an examination Il the five
thousand bonds taken by Mr.. Stanton, and IL
was during tho examination of these, that
the combination for running the blockade
was discovered The name of Ar. A. NJ
Palmer was found as a surety on one Of these
bonds; and the names OF Smalley and Ben
jamn on q large number. In addition to this,
on the 9th instant, an affidavit was obtained
from one party that Palmer had solicited him
TO 60 on another Of these bonds, and statements
were made By officers TO the same effect.
This testimony suggested the proprieiy Of
laying the facts before Gen. Dix. On the 9TH
inst, Benjamin's eafe was opened; and, al
ditonal evidences Of Pamer's completely being
found, his arrest was promptly made by Gen.
Dix. On that day, Mr. Barney was absent
from his office, engaged in the inspection Of yes
sells which were accepted by him for the revenue
service, and was ignorant both of the facts de-
yeloped and of the arrest until the evening. |
His first official act the next day was TO remove
Palmer from all position in the Custom-IIouss.
The above is r. circumstantial statement Of
facis: from which il win be seen that the whole |
case, from the first suspicion Of Stanton 10 Che
arrest Of Palmer. was in the hsnds of Solicitor
Jordon and OF the Collector aud his officers.
word now in vindicafion of Gen. DIX, #
anv can he needed. We have seen sceihing
criticisms on the Incarceration of Palmer in
Fort Lafayette; it being insisted that, being a
civilian, Palmer should only have been arrested
on A civil process, with the usual facilities for
Giving bail. Bu, we are involved in war; Gen. |
Dix is IN Military command here; and the acts
of which Palmer stands charged amount 10
giving aid and comfort" TO the public enemy. |
Our City is full of Rebel emissarles. engaged in
sending arms and munitions, food and clothing, !
to their desperately straltened fellow traitors III
Dixie We shall be very glad 10 see Mr..
Palmer, and all Others implicated, yindicate
themselves from any guilty completely in block
adc-running; but, meantime, we hold that
Gen. Dix's action has been that on patriot and
a soldier who knows what are the National
perils, and does not hesitate to "take the re-
sponsibility."
0Bzs0nn2