New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-25
THE GOLD CONSPIRACY.
THE ISLANDERS ON GEN. GRANT.

1t was presumed that when President Grant
addressed reply to Mr. Bonners letter he had Guiced
the noise OF scandal But. the contrary, ingenious
men have been endeavOrng TO devise rumors
which shall be plausible enough TO secure credenee
while they unpleasantly reflect the President The
Gold Ring" that great engine of mischief has issued
new stories every day Of the past week. aud sensational
papers have given them currency and thus reports
essentially absurd have derived artificial Importance
Men who have felt their weight Of guilt too greyous to
be borne have sought to shift it to the shoulders OF the
innocent; but having failed In this In their implaGabe
malguy they strive to Involve the President by impi-
eating his WIFE This is the latest phase of the case
A comprehensive resume OF the Gold Ring develop
ments may be servcabe to the reader, and they are
given for what they worth:
According to The Times, the plan Of the Gold Ring, the
chief spirits In which Fisk and Gould was TO draw
from the President pledge to certain course OF action
ana to entaugle him in such chain Of circumstantal
evidence as would presumptiyely criminate MN II
miscarriage Of their plans should occur The point upon
which the OF the proposed corner turned was the
Of gold Gales by the Treasury or course 1t was
advisable in order TO insure that success to exact
pledge from the President that the sales OF gold shond
be increased until the speculation had been conducted
to it's end Gould accordingly addressed the President
not as an avarciOus man hungering for pelf' Dut
ostensibly in tie interests Of the whole country
when gold is at 13c" he wrote the grain freghtage
with the freghts from the Black sea ana heuterahedh
ports When gold ll5 then there Is great e1porta
ton OF grain from America and the railroads arc over
with freight AT present there is p9t lte ean DC
ing moved from the west While IRON EuIope We r Id
that 800 cargOes Of their way TO England
from the Greek ports
On the ground theu that the prosperity Of the whole
grain commerce OF the country dependant on Gen.
Grants pledging q continuance OF his policy OF finance
which would keep gold MP, Mr. Fisk endeayored 10 OK
tort a promise from the President which would have
rendered the gold ring thing" The President,
however, refused pledge himself relative also at
tempted TO obtain assurance from tho PRESIDENT IN
regard to his financial policy and likewise failed NO I'M
due advantage given any either on the score OF
bencfacton the farming and railroad interests or on
account Of the ties Of kindred Unsuccessful in obtaining
a cue from the President, the same argument was ad-
dressed to Secretary Boutwell, and elected from HIM the
following reply: 60. ~. &c.. . ,o,o
DEAR SIR: Your kind letter of the 3Oth nit was for
warded from Washington to TINS place, but my absence
prevented earlier reply am very glad To receive
bgf there is but little that can say in reply. My aim is
improve the credit OF the country collect tue reye
nucs place loan lower rate OF Interest, ana an
without impeding the prosperity OF the county, 'e'S
truly, GEORGE . BOUTWELL,"
Gen Porter was then approached by the somewhat
peculiar announcement contained in this letter OF Mr.
Gould and returned the appropriate answer to IL:
NEw-YoRK, Sept &c. 1862
DEAR GENERAL: We have purchased half a million gold
OH your account. JNl uouLo
And the answer ~, O.. .,
GENTLEMEN: ! have not authorized any purchase , 81
Ynur res rcspeetfuiE II. PORTER
Here a contradiction shows itself Mr Gould discaims
ever having addressed any such communication TO Gen
Porter and also denies having received such an
answers but at the same time he says Gen. Porter half
million was bought aud the bid made by member OF
the ring.
The Ring now undertook to the Presidents brother
inlaw Mr. Abel H. COrbin and frequent consultations
were held between that gentleman aud Mr. jay Could at
Corbns residence in this city. COrbin entered INTO the
scheme and commended to the President letter writ
ten by Could and that II might not fail OF reaching It's
destination he gave Mr. Chaplin employe OF the Erie
Company who acted a special messenger. letter OF
introduction Cen Porter begging that every facility
might be afforded him The letter, which was given 20
the President. advocated strongly the adoption OF
measures which would bring relief to the farmer &c.
In his note to Gen. Porter, Mr. Corbin stated that the
contents Mr. Goulds letters to the President were not
known 10 him.
Il was concerning this that The World said edtoriay
1.-THE sole value OF Mr Corbin 70 the bulls lay IN their
willing to sell that knowledge for u share III me
profits Of commercial spoculatlon anu tlrd that the
President willing 10 have him. TINS lest IS the
shameful part OF the story The facts which have come
Our about Mr.. COrhns letter 10 President Grant which
Mcssrs FISK and Gould were so anxious 10 have that
officer receive, that they sent it 70 hm by special ennis.
sary, bring upon MI Grant anew me dalk suspicion
which The HOrid at nrst expressed us utter Ol@h't III
completely In the designs of the gold gAuDlers'
This affidavit OF the messenger Mr.. Chaplin, shows how
the letter was delivered
State Of Nelr- York. Cy and County Of Ner York, S.;
On Thursday, Sept &c. 1852 l met Mr. Gould ana Mr.
Fisk at their Office OF Twentythird ST. and Eighth
ave- New-YOrk City, andwas Instructed by them To call
on Mr. Abel X. COrbin brOthernlaw OF the President OF
the United States at Of the following morning at
his residence No 81 West Twentyseyenth-st-st, whore
should obtain letters from said Corbn TO President Grant
Washington PENN and take such letters ana proceed
by frat train to said Washington II the President was
not there upon my arrival TO travel until overlook him.
deliver 10 him said letters In my possession received
On Friday morning Sept II, I called at Mr.. Abel r.
Corbn's house quarter before M his servant APP
peared and brought two letters from Mr. Corbn which
he handed me. and while was cOnyersing with the
want Mr Corbn appeared at the head OF the stairs and
told him COrbu) had by the morning papers that
the President in Pittsburgh PENN the day before
and II he thought should ud him at Washington; he
replied " You will hnd him in Washington" told him
in person; he SAID he wished to do so; asked him
whether il the President should be engaged should
messenger from Mr.. Corbln. his brother-nlaw; he
approved OF my suggestion, and told me to do so
Railroad for Pittsburgh PenD.r arriving at about half
past / a. N. Saturday. | took carriage for Wash
the President stopping at the house OF Mr. Smith, about
half mile out Of Town; first inquired for Gen Porter
Gen Porter shortly afterward appeared and presented
him his letter, and told him had one for President
President came up, and handed him his letter.
telling him had been requested TO do In person; he
LOOK Optbtu IL III PtaclCc iH'O
the house, and soon afterward appeared again with
letter in his hand shortly afterward rode back into the
village Of Washington. from whence telegraphed Mr.
jaw Gould, President Erie Railway Company: Letter
delivered all rignt" then returned to New,YoTk
WM. o. CHAPIN.
Sworn to on the 9Th day Of October 1909 before me-
MORTIMER SMITH, Notary Public, New YORK.
Mr.. Chapins telegram, which is referred to IN the Aft
davit above, slightly changed by Mr. Gould before 1t
given TO a reporter for publication so that It read
NEw-YORR.
JAY GOULD, Erie Railroad OGice-Deivered letter. All
right. W. o. CHAIIS.
This change madeit appear that Gen. Grant had as
sened to proposition in the letter and had united
mn Nhon the the lnlInr