The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-20
WASHING TON.
another Bib fOr Reconstruct
ing Georgia.
Treasurer Spinner FavOrs Senator
MOrtOn's Finance Bill.
Secretary Seward Before the Alaska
Investigation Committee.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1868.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1865.
The Aiaskn Bribery Investigation.
The Alaska bribery investigation was resumed to-
day by the Committee on Public Expenditures in
The presence Of Messrs. G. T. Hulburd, j. Lawrence
Getz, J. M. Broomall, A. Plants and H. p. Bromwell
members OF the committee, who have been regular in
attendance from the first day. Secretary Of State
Seward, j. r.. Young correspondent Of the Tribune;
\. b Stranton and j. Smith Scott Of the Evening
Netns Association, were the witnesses to-day.
Seward was the first witness called, and gave his
testimony In an easy ready and jocular style, with
out being Intercepted much by Mr.. Hulburd or the
other members of the committee. He said, smiling,
that his business was Secretary OF State Of
certain government known as the United States;
that in such capacity he negotiated the
treaty with Russia for the purchase Of Alaska;
that $7,200,000 was the amount agreed to be
paid by our government to Russia for the Alaska
territory; that that amount was accordingly apprO-
prated, and that he as Secretary of State made the
necessary requsition upon the Treasury Depart
meIt for that Of money and caused IL to be paid
over to Baron Stoeckl, the Russian Minister. There
his part in the money transaction terminated. He
knew OF no officer of the government having re.
ceived dollar for services rendered In procuring the
passage OF the appropriation; If such transactions
procurement or connvance in any way. Governor
Robert J. Walker, he said, paid him a
visit one day while st. Thomas, st. John
and Alaska were being discussed in the pub
lie prints, and produced roll Of manuscript con-
tanning elaborate statements Of the value OF such pro-
posed acquisitions to the United States This manu-
script, however said Mr.. Seward, had only few
sentences about Alaska, &c, the great bulk OF 1t
having been devoted 10 what had been termed
his project to purchase earthquakes In saying this
the Secretary committed very broad smile. He
thought Walkers letter very interesting as placed
the proposed acquisitions In very captivating
light and therefore recommended him to give the
benefit Of his convincing views to the public. At
this time there was no question about the Alaska
purchase, which he considered certain OF satisfac
tion. Shortly afterwards Baron Stoeckl called upon
Mr.. Seward and desired to be recommended to
some man OF note whose ability might be
made available in popularizing Russian America,
Mr.. Seward, without hesitation, mentioned the
name OF II. J. Walker a scholar, writer and pro-
minent public man, and as one who was admirably
adapted to promote the object which the Baron had
Al heart. The Baron went thence, but further Of
what TRANSFERRED between the Minister OF the Car
and the free lance to whom he was recommended
the Secretary made no revelations. HIS own humble
expenditures as Secretary in the thankless work OF
buy amounted to only $500. He advised the publ
cation OF various articles favorable to the treaty,
which were published gratuitously in the news
papers, He had Summers ten mile speech on Alaska
published In pamphlet form, and inflicted on the
country many thousands OF that soporiHc
enason. This was the head and front
OF his offending. Az to whether the Com
nlittee on Foreign Affairs, members Of Congress
generally, Charles Sumner the sensitive news
paper correspondents received any pecunary thanks
from the Russian government It's representatives
ne was profoundly ignorant the king Of the
Feejee ISLANDS. He further voluntarily stated that
che opposition to the acquisition OF territory dig
played by certain people struck him being very
similar to the opposition to the acquisition OF Loui
siana during the administration Of Jefferson. That
opposition was shown by the federalists. Remem-
bering the character OF that opposition and the let
ter that had been written at that time In favor of the
acquisition OF Louisiana, he despatched one OF his
clerks a young man, to place where could be
gathered facts bearing upon that contest His clerk
went away, performed his duty and returned
after mourning an expense amounting in all to sixty
collars This included all his travelling expenses,
hotel bills, &C. This clerk prepared facts from his
Investigations, which given the public In the
columns OF the Washington Star.
As Mr.. Seward was about to leave the committee
room he stopped and, addressing Mr.. Hulburd, re-
marked that Mr.. Bodsco, OF the Russian legation,
had called upon him and shown him Mr.. Huburds
courteous letter containing sort OF brief invitation
to be O volunteer witness Mr.. Bodisco told him
(Seward) that he felt his relations with the Russian
Legation were such as to make him feel that he
could not with propriety comply with the invitation
of Mr.. Hulburd. Having said this Mr.. Seward bowed
to the committee and withdrew. Thus 1t seems Mr..
odlsco will not crafty the public by throwing ray
NJ limit upo hio intar tinri In,
Mr.. Young was the next witness, and stated his
knowledge Of the Alaska transaction to be confined
to the current newspaper stories, and that his pri
vate opinion OF the whole affair was that none but
bogus representatives of the press II there any
such, received slice OF the Russian sweet cake He
remembered pussy and importunate individual.
claiming the title OF colonel endeavoring to create
sensation by exhibiting the corner OF q sheet OF
manuscript which protested TO contain the names OF
persons who were under large pecunary obligations
20 Baron Stoeckl and that many Of these news
paper men, oil Of which, OF course, was legitimate
food for gossip and endless speculation. He was
satisfied the character OF the aforesaid colonel was
not above reproach. W. Smith Scott, another
of the newspaper fraternity, said his acquaintance
with the Interior operations OF Bobby Walker SIMPLY
amounted to o statement he heard from q young
man named Noah, correspondent Of the Democrat
20 the erect that he and his brother, an elder NOAH
had received $4,000 from Bobpy-sl 900 apiece. Mr..
etz Of pennsylvania at this branch OF the inquiry
prscked up his curlously and asked the witness
'sDo understand you to say that Noah himself told
you this ~ Answer-"Yes, sir" Question.-"That
he said himself he had got 1000 ~ Answer.--"Yes
sir.n This announcement created quite stir, and
subpoena was Immediately sent for the Noah
brothers junior and senior f. h. stanton. was the
last witness examined. He said he had been retained
nv foverp,r alker AZ asestant counsel for the Rna
stan government for which service he had received
$4,000. He did not find 1t necessary to perform
much wogk. The business itself seemed to be In q
favorable wy to success when he commenced ope-
rations He merely went TO some members and
Senators to represent In conversation the reasons
why the appropriation should pass. In this way he
had talked via, Generals Banks and Schenck; but
he knew OF no money having been paid to anymem-
ber lie had henrd that money had been paidt TO Sc