The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-13
WASHING ON.
Investigation Of the Alleged
Whiskey Frauds.
Charges Against District Attorney Courtney
and Marshal Murray, Of New York.
THEIR DEFENCE BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.

WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1868
Proposed Ovation TO General Graut Nippe6
in the had.
Notwithstanding General Grant has expressed his
opinion or men who press him with cvlities and
c0urtesics with the object OF bringing prominently
before his eyes their exalted merits as government
oacias or aspirants to such positions It seems there
are still number Of public functionaries here who
have become widowed with long confinement In
government offices and have not construed the utter
ances OF the General Alright. To-day the Fifth Au-
ditor OF the Treasury Mr.. Walker, issued cards OF
invitation to five or six heads OF bureaus OF the
radical persuasion. among whom were Commissioner
Rollins, Second Comptroller Brodhead First Comp
trvfer Taylor, Commissioner Of Customs Sargent
and others, to take wine and lunch with him at his
residence at noon tomorrow. After the edbIes and
potables shall have been disposed OF it is proposed
to proceed IN body to army headquarters to pay
ceremonious visit to the President elect, merely TO
congratulate him upon his success, nothing more.
Most OF the gentlemen invited accepted General
Spinner, however, whose mental constitution Ia re-
gard to fuss and feather displays Is much akin
to GRANTS, wrote reply to the Auditor, stating, II
is said, that the first part OF the programme--wine
and lunchwas always In order, but considering the
feelings shown by General Grant on similar 'bun
combe" occasions he ventured to suggest that the
to the suggestion OF Spinner it Is understood that the
visiting part of the plan has been reconsdered.
One OF the invited guests hearing that the proposal
to call and speechify General Grant had been with
drawn for further consideration frankly admitted
that the whole thing had lost its interest and will be
nothing moro than playing "Hamlet" without the
Prince of Denmark
General Grant at the Currency Burenu.
General Grant called ut the Internal Revenue
Bureau this afternoon and had pleasant interview,
OF an hours duration, with Commissioner Rollins.
MIR. HIcCu!lOch's Financial Policy.
Notwithstanding all that has been teiegraphcd
from here pro and CON. In regard to the reissue Of
greenbacks nothing Is certain excepting that when
the Treasury ring have done ''bearingn the market
and get ready to "bull" it you may expect an In
crease OF greenbacs circulation to perhaps the ex
tent of the law-S400, 100000. Mr.. Secretary McCul-
locn has only decided that he has the right under
the law to increase the greenback circulation to the
extent named. He entertained and decided the
question, that If there should happen to be, In
his opinion, dangerous tightness In the money mar
ket he might he prepared with measure OF relief. He
does not however, anticipate any such contingency.
Like the scfconnnent antediluyan who, when In.
vited TO come into the ark declared his belief that
there wasn't "gong to be much OF shower,
after an our Sangradomn Secretary OF the Treasury
rates OF interest varying from one-half per cent
per diem downwards. Mr.. McCulloch must know
that money has commanded for legitimate business
transactions from fifteen to twenty-five per cent per
annum throughout the West during the past year
and half, and in particularly tight times onehalf
per per day even In Wall street. In face OF the
fact that the United States per capita circulation has
been reduced to dirty per cent below that of Great
Britain and sxty-six below that OF France
and our rate Of interest vastly higher than
IL paid elsewhere on the fnce OF the
earth, he persists In the brazen-faced assertion
that money Is plenty enough" as, indeed,
IL Is with the favored few who manipulate the con-
tents OF our national Treasury-the Treasury ring
but with no one else. There was some talk last
spring about iInpeachng the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury. II the President don't remove or suspend
him there may be time enough for something OF that
sort yet. The country can scarcely stand him until
next March.
The Whiskey Ring Excitemcnt-Arrival Of Mr..
Courtney and Narshal MURRAY.
District Attorney Courtney and United States
Marshal Murray, OF New York, arrived here this
morning, In obedience to the summons OF
President Johnson to answer a gercs OF very
serious charges preferred against them formally
by Judge Fullerton and others. perfect army Of
individuals connected with the whiskey ring and
opposed TO 1t also reached this city on the same
train. AS a conseque nee Wizards, the Ebbitf.
Metropolitan and other hotels are more lively tnan
they have been for many weeks. and the city Alto
gether wears the appearan ce that distinguishes II
during tho height Of a Co ngressiona session. All
the talk ia about VIII skey and the stu
pendous frauds that have clustered about
that highly intoxicating article. The hotel corridors
resound with whskey; the street corners are alive
with whiskey; the Executive Mansion itself Is fairly
stormed by whiskcy; In fact in every direction here
the HERALD expose OF tho frauds and the probable
result OF the Investigations in progress are the sub
ject OF conversation. The friends Of Fullerton are
numerous likewise the friends OF Sam Courtney and
Bob Murray. The principals on both sides stop
ping in the same hotel and though the excitement
IL high and the discussions loud and excited, still
everything Is going on quietly and peaceaby, APP
parently without any danger OF any encounter like
that which occurred between Buckley aud Courtney
OF the Aston House In your city.
The Charges Agninst tho District Attorney.
But to come directly to the serious part OF the
business. Early this morning, after having brushed
up and brea kfasted, Courtney and Murray repaired
TO the Attorney Generals Office, where they reported
to Mr.. Evarts and had an interview OF about On
hours duration. THIS over, they proceeded to the
White House and about half.past ten O'Clock were
admitted to the presence OF the President. Here
nan nlreauy asstmDieu bhu fuiSitou, sHc
latter fortified with his pile OF afdavits and charges.
ready to pitch into the slippery serpents Of the
whiskey rIng and the Attorney General
waiting in his quiet phlegmatic way TO hear
both sides, and aid by his legal acumen In unra-
yelling the complicated twists and knots that have
accumulated about the subject. Tho President re-
ceved all In quiet and composed manner and
after some preliminary remarks announced that he
was ready to hear arguments on both sides. The
proceedings opened by the reading OF the charges
against Mr.. Courtney which being very volumnous
comprising scores OF aflidavts and other writer
proofs occupied quite q long time In completing
AZ no outsider was present, Of course 1t is I'm
possible to give anything like full sketch OF thes,
charges, but from an entirely trustworthy sourc,
am enabled to send you an outline Of tn,
principal accusations. The first charge out 0
four Offenders against the revenue laws. These fou
men, It seems were tolcrabiy respectable, but the,