New-York tribune., 1868-12-28
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE WHISKY FRAUDS.
Mr.. BINCKLEY REPLIES TO GENERAL VAN
WYCK'S REPORT.

NIX. BlNChEE1 KETTLES III OLNEhhb VAN
WYCK'S REPORT.
Mr.. John NJ. Binckley, late solicitor OF the Bu-
OF Internal Revenue publishes long letter in reply
to the charges against him contained in the report OF hd
House Committee Rctrenchment recently presented
by Gen. Van wyck. Mr.. Binckley says:
But need not go further in this report" Wherever
thn am spoken Of in IT, am slandered by It, IL speaks 20
report to nake-I moan higher sthentication than
could drive to except the inward humiliation Of an
issue OF veracity with this hreing OF confederaed
thieves or with any person whatever who would zorro
borae his testimOney profess belief in honesty
If any one doubts my statements let him donbt and
them to satisfy ne.
mons from the Committee on RetIenchment, TO which !
crupuously responded according TO its ind catons OF
SHT e T s sax wa ia S S y % ~ theme Of
whom Mr. Jenckes was one With Mr Van Wyck, the
mutual Of cooperation against fraud, Sitbout my
ever being able 10 draw from him any des 0f yha plan
ne 1d or what the @
Of the confidence and favor with which The
Meantime had received instructions under which
deemed myself obliged to make unlimited concessions
before riskng any antag0nsm with the Comnlttee Dir
Van Wyck greatly annoyed mo by his irregular calls,
his disregard OF appointments and by his ncoherent an
extraordinary pressure was extremely impatient for
the return OF Mr. Jenckes, the arrival of some member
and complicated business. But new ana obseure
influence was connteracns all my plans; dcr. kfsr.
hordes OF new spies and detectives dogged my steps
nS foTmacn npeaent p soeto&s &C. Sly agents
and adherentS threatened corrupted aud sedced
These were strange consequences the arrival New.
York Of 30 powerlnl q reinforcement Of the law
Committee OF Congress Ii soon became 10 De Ike one or
the extreme aectaOns OF staccrf TO pretend TO dis
tngush Mr. Van Wyck from tho miscellaneous nalefac
tors who owe him such gratitude During oil this
time he was declaring with boisterous, but
hypocrisy his hearty and jealous cooperation with
The scope OF plans day by day reduced by these
criminal Vaccinations TO O few but highly lmportant
objects OF pursuit Certain documents OF the existence
aud purport Of which had confidential and indubtabe
Information duplicating numerous high officials IN New
York and Washington were the subject OF negotiations
through which expected to procure the papers thein-
selves and adayits in connection with them 10 my
purpose copies OF all, and then turn over the
papers and the witnesses TO tue committee, as cOnmls
sion which / deemed myself authorized to make The
canses referred TO- however the contamination
OF this plan, AID then resolved 20 test Mr. Van Wyck
upon him aud acquainted him with the existence OF
the documents their uncommon gravity and the lmpoI
ant fact that knew them TO be in immediate danger OK
ci6,tsses 6etore f'@sev jorg@ y he ,0o,,id place e
this propSsa Mr Vaa s wyck was visiSy startled
sponded IN some rambling expressions about NOT hashg
a whispered suggestion of bysander, and proposed TO
aa me 5S the SPOT t I'D incs od many mes s
should not interfere with my convenience st any
time My astonishInent somewhat GseonSeI.eu % oeanes
Urging again tho serious responsibility resting upon
both Of Us for any delay or failure IN the premises re-
entered unannounced, followed by the sergeant-aarms,
another L
porter This abrupt intrusion imputed at the moment
To that lack OF gentlemanlke attainments which, from
the first had INDUCED from habitua charity for the
vulgar. Beginning conversation in which perceived
lie addressing himself to the public inquired his
tho committee He proposed oswear witness.
Having aceraned fully the embarrassments under which
aud hearing from my lips the and urgent
duties Of that bour, this inposter safely presumed 10
an agent OF tho laws He had thus not only defeated my
plan TO bring to his hands disclosures Of tho highest
for the Illustration of mission to NewYork and the
0 eue t oosnt houd become
known that Van wyok had held with Binok.
3 would ID be desfoyed y realized ed also iIa While was
thus detained by lin, his friends as he was oound to
or Of all reasonable probability OF ever being
recovered by the, Government I protested such
consequences and solemny warned him Of tho respons
billy lo assuming demanding that the protest go
upon record But witnessed throughout the examina'
tom his arbitrary Interference with the reporters duties
ana therefore take this Opportunity to denounce the
nny ceence IL only renamed Tor me to manifest son
hee Of the dignity of public duty by such other protests
oath is7aran Of and wrong
Such was Mr.. Van Wyck's business ID New.York as
nmger 81 tjsinttee and such the use he made OF the
less striking but not less significant than the above Mr.
van Wyek knew that was engaged, under the oDnga
service, in Investigating revenue frauds In good iath
He knew that was really ndisoriminae as to politics
OF partiaes of persons, and he kpew thar SAs the
agent OF no Intrigue, the JOvi "a no policy say
he knew all these things because am iStt2rme0
that In all the rings OF corruption, they noorousy
acknowledged in private IL Is the innocent public wha
have been deceived into the opposite belief But Mr. Van
Wycks belief OF these things he himself declared
tain OF his friends not romentlon what he repeatedly
declared to myself. With this knowledge OF me and my
operations. and knowledge OF the consequences "a
great numbers OF wealthy aud notable men Of all
parties. in public and private life. in New.York and
elsewhere, OF dsnterested and unsparing exposure
he perceived the danger Of allowing me to pro
ceed Even withou. adequate support from the
Government, aud amid the unanimous jeers OF the
press fearful progress might be made in the work OF Jus
tice by such investigator, however inexperienced.
The guilty therefore brought him TO NewYork that hs
might employ the authority Of the National Legislature
for their protection against the laws Of the country aud
the indignation OF Its plundered people, and he did
p0y and with for the present have
done with this despcable potcaser Ny only apprehe.
Ing Witnesses 10 prove guilty OF forgery petty
larceny 0 JOHN M. BixCKIEs.
N@lihg9", Dec. q, 1868.