The New York herald., 1870-06-08
Attempt to Bribe President
Grants Brother.
A COngreSsman'S Reply to a Cuban
interviewer.
st. Domingo Treaty Negotiation
Investigation.
The RatificatiOn of the
Treaty Assured.


gress-Atteu,pt to Bribe President Grant's
Brother.
Briefly, the truth about the long Cuban lobby story
seems to be- that two contracts made with Ger.
tain welknOwn parties In this city to furnish bonds
wherewith to operate on Congress and the press In
favor OF Cuban independence. The FIRST contract,
according TO sworn afdavits before the Grand Jury
OF this city, BY whom the whole subject was investi-
gated, was made by Senor Ruiz, with D. N. Taylor.
and In pursuance OF 1t ABOUT Two millions OF Cuban
bonds were deposited with Colonel Don Manuel
Freyre the Peruvian Minister, for the use OF the
lobby agent and sub-agenls. This man Taylor, VINO
has hed to Canada or some part unknown. 1t ap-
pears after making the contract with Ruiz, went out
West and had an interview with President Grants
brother The object Of this interview was
TO bribe-that Is the plain word-Mr.
Grant to come to Washington and en-
deavor by his influence with the President 10
induce the latter to recognize the Cubans. Taylor
opened up his proposition to Mr.. Grant and got
very sudden and emphatic answer. Mr. Grant said
to Mr.. Taylor
''Sir, you may 90 to hell with your Cuban bonds.
III have nothing to DO with the business at ALL
At least am credibly informed that Mr.. Grant
used language OF that kind, being very much in
censed against the attempt to brbe him. and,
through him. the President OF the United states.
This Taylor, it is said, afterwards blowed on the
whole proceeding, giving bis story In the shape OF
an aflldavit to Minister Roberts.
The second contract was made with Dr. Bliss OF
this city, by Mr. Francisco Fesser the treasurer Of
the Cuban Junta. The contract 1t is alleged was In
writing, and SHOWN TO several parties mixed
up In the negotiations. Dr. Bliss, 1t Is
alleged, agreed with Fesser that In con-
sideration Of over million OF the Cuban bonds
being deposited In the custody OF the Safe
Deposit Company In this CITY, to be judclously used
he would exert all mis- influence with Congress and
other powers in behalf Of Cuba. These bonds were
deposited In the names of both Fesser and Bliss, so
that they could not be Withdrawn by one party
alone. When Buffers investigation commenced
they were Withdrawn by the pair and taken in
charge by Fesser; since which time 1t Is not known
what other disposition was made OF them.
DR.. Bliss in his examination before Buffers CON-
mittee disclosed good deal OF the operations. He
was put through most searching examination by
Ben Butler. At first he played the part OF regular
know nothing. He simulated very profound igno-
| rance OF the whole affair; swore positively
| that he knew not an atom about the
| bonds and their deposit; swore that he did
| not know what was contained in the
package deposited by himself and Fesser; that ne
never had in his hands more than fve bonds OF one
thousand dollars EACH which were sent to him as
presents; that he made no contract at all with
Fesser, or anybody else and that his whole connec
ton with the matter was Of purely friendly char.
| acter. Ben Butler inquired why he went with
Fesser to see him deposit package the contents Of
which unknown to him. Dr. Bliss answered that
| he went merely as a friend to perform friendly
| ohice for Mr.. Fesser. Butler asked him what the
friendly Office was. Bliss beat about for q
| long time. paused ana hesitated, and finally
| declared that he was q friend Of Cuba
| Butler asked what had the package TO do
| with friendship for Cuba9 Bliss repeated that he
| merely went with Fesser to 40 friendly act. The
result OF very long examination was that Bliss ad
| mitted he had had verbal understanding with
| Fesser; that Fesser did tell him the package con.
tained over million OF bonds and that the package
was deposited in their joint names. On being ques-
ioned very closely as to what agreement was made
to the proposed disposition OF the bonds DR.. Bliss
| declined TO answer, on the ground that 1t
was a matter OF private business which
! he thought the committee had no right to
| pry into. The chairman or the committee and Mr..
Edrdge both informed the witness that he could not
decline on that gr0und that the only ground Of
| rusai that could be admitted was that an answer
would crimInate himself Nevertheless, DR.. Bliss
| refused to answer. General Pickett who was one
| OF the supposed sub-agents under Bliss also de-.
| clined to answer similar questions, for the reason
that he was employed as counsel and the commu.
| nicatons made to him were confidential.
| IL
Buffers committee that Bliss engaged f. P. Brooks,
| OF the Philadelphia Press to assist the cause OF
Cuba by writing for the newspapers Payment was
| made in bonds Pickett, Latham, Gibbs Babcock
| and others were also employed. Two members of
| Congress were approached by Gibbs and another
| agent The members were ShanKs and
| Williams, OF Indiana. Shanks kicked his man
down stairs and Williams declined the proposal in a
| very decided manner
General Butler intends to make report on the
subject tomorrow, when he will set forth the whole
investigation in clear form, furnishing at the same
time the entire testimony Of DR.. Bliss ana asking for
power to compel Bliss Pickett and Taylor If he can
be obtained, to thus far. General Butler ex-
poets be able thus to wiring from Dr. Bliss and his
coiaborers in behalf OF Cuba fun confession OF the
whole secret. A lively time, therefore, may be ex-
pected.
Senator Morton and the Cuban Lobby The
Senator'S Conduct INDICATED.
As the name Of Senator Morton is mentioned In
connection with the Cuban bond lobby your col res
pOndent called upon him this evening for the pur.
pose OF ascertaining what he had to say about it.
The conversation was about as follOws:-
CORREsPoNDENT-Mr. Senator, have you seen the
letter in an evening paper Of New York purporting
| to give certain facts about the Cuban lobby
Senator MORTON-Yes. somebody sent me copy
of the paper and called my attention TO 1t. see my
| name Is mentioned in manner calculated to throw
| out the idea that l had something to do with the
| lobby.
CORRESPONDENT That is what want to see you
| about. Have you any idea where these statements
come frOmY
MORToN-No, have not. 1t looks to me
as IL 1t had been gotten out for a pur
pose. l have Just been to see Genera
Butler, and he assures it did no
come from his committee. At any rate all that II
said there about me is false from beginning to end
and l authorize you to say so. have alway:
been friendly to Cuba, but no man eve
approached me with the intmation that money
was to be used TO secure the recognition by Con
gross Of the begerent rights OF the Cubans, trus
those who know me know that 1t would not be saf
to make any proposition Of that kind to me.
CoRREsPoNDENT--The letter states that certa