Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-31
A NASHVILLE MAN In THE NEW
YORK COURTS.


The Government Claims Half a Mil
Lion Dollars worth Of His Cotton.
A very important motion came before
the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, day or
two since. The facts in relation to it are
these: In the spring of 1866, on informa-
ton furnished to the government, Mr., s.
q. Courtney, United States District Attor-
ney, fled papers against Vernon K. Ste
yenson, formerly President Of the Nash
vile and Chattanooga railroad, on which
information Mr.. Stevenson's property 10
the amount of half a million of dollars
was attached. The claim of the govern
ment is that Mr.. Stevenson's property in
New York was purchased with the result
OF sales of Confederate cotton which he
had, as is alleged, after the surrender of
the Confederate arms, by some means or
other got TO New York and converted into
money, and with that money purchased
the real estate which is now attached.
The case was at issue in the June term,
but in consequence Of the length of time
occupied with the champagne cases it did
not come on for trial. Mr. Stevenson,
through his counsel, made application on
the I'd of July to vacste the attachment.
The hearing vas adjourned till the 23d.
The government now ask further post
ponement of the motion until they can
furnish evidence, alleging from the cir
cumstances that the iHformer, one Hamil-
ton, has been tempered with, or has sold
out"
Mr.. Whitehead and Mr. Ward appeared
as counsel for Mr.-StevensoB, and moved
that the attachment be vacated. They read
afidayits in support of the motion, and
stated that their object was TO insure as
speedy trial as possible for Mr.. Steven
son, whose property was kept beyond his
control as long as this attachment remained
in force
Mr.. Courtney opposed the motion, and
asked for poslponement for the purpose Of
furnishing the necessary papers to de-
feat the application. The gentleman
contended that all the evidence showed that
Mr.. Stevenson brought the cotton from
the Confederate States to New York in
violation of the laws Of Congress, and that
Stevenson himself came and settled here,
"a many others did after the war, and
claimed the protection of the laws of the
United States. How did this man get the
vast amount of property obtained by him
here2 Doubtless it was the result Of the
cotton transported by him unlawfully to
New York, and converted by him to his
own use lie Mr.. Courtney said that the
papers were silent on the important point
in this case-where did Mr.. Stevenson
receive this immense amount of property
from2 There was no denial that he had
cotton, but he denies il was this particular
cotton. Mr.. Stevenson, through his coun-
sci, stated that there was no evidence
against him bat the fugitive affidavit of this
man Hamilton. Stevenson was the ASSOC
ciate Of Hamilton in his efforts to over
throw the Federal government, and his
affidavit was entitled to as much consider
alton in that court as the affidavit of the
man who met an important allegation with
a bubble, as the court would see by read
ing the answers to the affidavits filed in
this court. What was the great hurry or
necessity of this motion He asked his
Honor 10 say whether or not there were not
significant circumstances in this case attend
ing this transaction on the part of Mr..
! Stevenson. Who had been instrumental
in keeping Hamilton away from this court?
! Was it through the instrumentality of the
| Secretary of the Treasurer No. That
gentleman said through his officials, that he
desired TO have this case prosecuted on the
part Of the government, who believed they
had a good claim against this man. The
Secretary desired the District Attorney to
see that this mans property was not re-
leased under this motion. If it was re-
leased he might dispose of it, and proceed
to a land that, no doubt, he loved better
than the locality he had chosen for his
residence. Ii Hamilton attempted to sell
out the government in this matter all he
(Mr. Courtney could say was that they
could give enough of evidence without
him. They would give details, facts and
circumstances which would be interesting
and probably amusing. The government,
resting on Hamiltou's evidence at the last
adjournment, endeavored to find him, send
ing out agents for that purpose, believing,
as the Secretary Of the Treasury does, that
there was design 20 barter away the rights
of the government. Parties were now hunt
ing up evidence TO show that the alega-
tons in the government information we're
correct and true. They asked a reasonable
time TO get that evidence. They were not
kAAAAf VI AuAANnf aAA upl bN lDAiSlbAE
for the action Of the mind or conscience of
Hamilton. The Secretary OF the Treasury
thought Hamilton had been tempered with
but he did not insinuate that Mr. Steven
son had tempered with him. 1t was, how
ever, clear that the man had been ''seen"
or tempered with.
Counsel on behalf Of Mr.. Stevenson de-
MED positively that he had ever, directly
or indirectly, tempered with Hamilton in
any way whatever, and would lay before
the court an affidavit to that effect which
Mr.. Stevenson was about 10 swear
! When Mr.. Stevenson consulted him
lcounsel) he expressed wish to prosecute
Hamilton for perjury, but counsel per
shaded him not to DO so pending the deci-
sion ofhis case, lest il might have the effect
Of preiudicing ii or giving rise to the sup
position that he wished to get a witness out
Of the way.