The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-28
THE INTERNAL REVENUE FRAUDS.
Congressman Van Wyck's Bucket
Of Whitewash Upset.
MIR. BINCKLEY's REPLY.

presented to Congress by Mr.. Van wyck in relation
TO the revenue frauds
The cheerful silence with which I have borne in
ordinate misrepresentation, detracron, and ridicue
from the press at large broken now only because
the opportunities OF assailant enabled him yes
terday morning to publish his Islander by authority
Of one Of the Houses Of Congress. Accordingly, in
this the solitary instance In which have deemed 1t
becoming to the motives which profess for me to
defend myself l studiousy connne my expressions
70 the very matter thus put in hand and even on
that shall say no more than suppose 10 be ade-
auate to q complete vindication OF my own honor.
document is before me with caption denoting
disclosures of revenue frauds which thus sets OUT
..Mr Van wycK, from the Committee on Retrench-
ment, submitted the following report" No sigma
lures are appended. and l am informed that Mr..
Van wyck claims the exclusive authorship, ana 1t
would seem, must bear the sole personal, II not
official, responsibility OF paper the like OF which
must seldom have gone into the archives OF any
regularly organized government; that the so called
report is not the product Of the committee s obvious
from the gross contrast Of its matter as a whole
with the known resources OF that committee
for the disclosure OF revenue frauds. In
the coloqual phrase OF the day, this
.reportr is a bucket OF whitewash--a truth
which must be so well known to the majority
be an inevitable incident OF their own against the
use OF their name to impart dignity to this extraor
binary publication: but am reminded that on
former occasion this same Mr.. Van Wyck was suf-
fered to remain member OF the House, notwith-
standing his colleagues on a committee had con-
victed him In open session OF making fraudulent
report. After this much 1t would be ridiculous,
when my business is with such representative, TO
remind the reader that the respect with which it is
the duty Of the people to regard official declarations,
arises chiefly from the principle that they made
on the faith OF an oath Of ONCE. Among very many
others the following Misrepresentation touching
myself may be offered by way OF example,
That ever promised the Committee on Retrench-
ment to give them the result Of my abors in investl
eating revenue frauds; that ever tr1ned with the
committee, or used towards them any dupliciry;
that the committee adjourned my examination
at my request or that time was extended for the
purpose Of meeting my wishes; that / ever "ned y
from New York; that have since my return been
legally subpenaed, that have refused to attend
the c0mmittee that have done no service as So
hcitor Of Internal Revenue for two months back;
that brought the government In debt by con-
tracing with or employing anybody except as
paid them out OF my limited fund; that frauds
were brought to my notice in the sphere OF my
Official duty that refused to act on that my "only
mission and all my Moments. or that any part OF
my mission was to .Obtan affldavits. to form a pre-.
text for the removal OF Commissioner Rollins' that
ever had any assistant whatever in any just sense
Of the term except that for brief period felt OBJ
liged to recognize the cooperation OF distinguished
member OF the New York bar; that had. in any de-
gree, or with any person, at any time any privity
cooperation, or understanding but what strictly
subservient to the ends of criminal justice as ad-
mi mi in nrf To- cf
sentation, and by that word here mean represen-
taton deliberately made opposite to the truth by a
person who knew 1t was untrue when he made 1t.
There Ii shorter name for the thing. The fol-
lowing passage is gratuity which merits the dis
tinction OF that uncommon disgust which Mr. Van
Wyck must have intended to raise in Inc. accord
II TO him.
."rne fact that so astute an individual as Mr..
Buckley, with the use OF thousands among his CO.
conspirators, TO be lavished men who testify for
consideration, promising indemnity for past crimes
and protection for future offences; promising official
positions as an inducement testify; sending mes
sengers TO State Prisons and PenItentiaries, with
prospective pardons to those who would furnish
eliminating evidence; that all these desperate
means could not furnish single affidavit, Is the
highest testimonial OF the honesty and faithfulness
OF Commissioner Rollins, &c. With deep m0rtirca-
ton would Mr.. Rollins contemplate this quotation
~ his .'hghcet testlmonia.n
Elsewhere Mr.. Van wyck, quoting the testimony
Of q shndderng outcast brought 10 mis- presence
IRON the jail IN which oppression had immured him
expressly 10 qualify him for such purposes TO the
effect that he had been induced by others 10 prefer
charges against Mr. District Attorney Courtney upon
impressions made on mis- mindr by me- thus ex-
claims as II he had never heard anything before
the subject
"what terrible picture does this present OF a base
conspiracy, inviting the commission Of crimes. Even
the blacklist purjury TO destroy faithful public
Onlcer-the reputation OF an honest man ~
Few beings Vet living on this side OF the styx
have ever perverted truth with more unconscious
hardwood than Is here exempined. Fitchs charges
were feeble compared TO those against the same
.falthiul onicern sworn before this Mr. Van Wyck,
IN common with the rest OF the committee, long be.
fore ] ever gave or received any ''impressions''
about the "honest NAM referred TO.
Mr.. Van Wyck says also that I have occa.
$4,000. lie has here licensed himself more
moderately. The current collections Of revenue
since the 10Th OF August last when my
increased many millions Of dollars. What proper
ton Of this increase can be plausibly referred 10
any other cause than official circumspecton stimu-
lated by those operationst lie might not be charg-
Ing me with violating public economy were he TO
aver that had a.. expended hundred Of thousands Of
the estimated expense goes for judicial proceeding
from which was authorfauvely excluded, upon
procurement for the purpose and with the actual
effect OF making IL q sham, before had concludes
the examination OF my first called witness. This Mr.
Van Wyck knew, because tod him the facts my
self and so did two OF his nzealous adherents In
my presence, upon their own knowledge.
But need not go further In tNs "report.n wher-
speaks to the people from the halls OF legislation
Now, have report 20 make. Ipropose TO verify it
by no higher Authorization than my humble name.
For can conceive no calamity which could drive
me 10 accept the inward humiliation of an issue OF
veracity with this hireling OF conederated thieves
with any person Whatever who wvuld corroborate
his testimony or profess q belief IN his honesty II
any one doubts my statements let aim doubt and
welcome-it IS his mistake, not mine Enough viii
believe them 10 satisfy me.
During my second visit 10 New York 7 received
simmons from the Committee on Reti,nchment 10
which scrupulously responded, according to its In.
dications Of time aud place, but unsDle to ind
any OF its members. | never saw In New York but
two OF them. OF whom Mr.. Jenckes was pne with
MFR. Van Wyck, the other. had frequent interviews
on this basis, professedly mutual, OF cooperation
against fraud, but without my ever beirg able 70
draw from him any idea OF what plan he proposed
or what the committee desired OF me. One
thing only was clear, his constant assur.
snces OF the confidence and favor with
which the "commttee desired TO encourage nv
operatlons.n Meantime, had received Instructions
under which | deemed myself obliged TO maze un.
limited concessions before risking any antag snism
with the committee. Mr.. Van WICK greatly annoyed
me by his irregular calls. his disregard on appoint
and nv hla inCohereut and pDutIcsa copsnIfa.