, 1870-06-10
THE CUBAN LOBBY.
Attempt to Isribe President Ernut,s
Ifrothcr-A GonErcsSMnts,s Reply 10
u Cuban Interviewer.
Washington tJnns . Dttpdtch 10 The N10 FORK Htr-


E1rothcr-A ConErcsSnlnrs7s Reply 10
a Cuban GntersicWcf.
Washington tJnnt . Detpatca 10 The Ns4O Fork Her
IrieAy, the truth about the long Cuban lob
by story seems 10 be, that two contracts wcre
made with certain weli-known parties in this
city to furnish boud7 whercwi!h to operate on
Congress and the press in favor Of Cuban in
dependence. The first contract, according to
sworn afiidavits before the grand Jury Of this
city, By whom the whole subject was investi-
gated, was made By Senior Ruiz, with D. n.
ions Of Cuban bonds were deposited with
Colonel Manuel FIeyre, tho Peruvian llinis-
ter, for tho use Of the lobby agent and
snb-agents. THIS man Taylor, who has
fled to Canada or some part unknown, it ap-
pears, after making. tho contract with nulz,
President Grant's brother. The object OF this
interview was to bribe-that is the plain word
MIR. Grant 10 come to Washington and en-
dcaSor, by his influence with the President, to
induce the laiteE TO- recognize the Cubans.
Taylor opened up his proposition to aIr.
answer. 1lr. Grant said to Mf. Taylor
"Sir, you may go to hell with your Cuban
bonds; n have nothing to do with tho busi-
AT least I an creditably informed that Mr.
Grant used language Of that kind, being very
much incensed against the attempt. to L1iba
him, and, through him, tho President OF tho
United States. Tits Taylor, it is said. after
wards blored on the whole proceeding, giving
Lis story in the shape of IN affidavit to Minis
ter nOberte-
The second contract was made with Dr..
Bliss, OF this city. by aIr. Francisco Fesse1, the
Treasurer OF the Cuban Junta. The contract,
1t is alleged, was in writing, and shown to
several parties mixed up in the negotiations.
Ar. Bliss, it is alleged, sgrced with Fesser that,
n
bonds being deposited in The custody OF the
Safe Deposit Company, in this city, to be judi
ciously used, he would exert al tlis influence
with Congress and other powers in beLalf OF
Cubs. These bonds were deposited in The
names Of both Fesser and Bliss, so that they
could not be Withdrawn by one party alone.
When Duler's Investigation commenced they
were Withdrawn by the pair aud taken in
charge by Fesser since which time it is not
known whnt other disposition was mado OF
tLcn.
Dr. Dli.s, in his examination iefore Eut-
ler's committee, disclosed good deal nf the
operations. He WEE put through most
searching examination by len Butler. At first
he played the part Of a regular know-nothipg.
He eimulsted very profound Ignorance Of the
not HI atom about tic bonds and their depos-
it, swore that ho did not know what was con-
tanned in the package deposited by himself
and Fesser; thAt he never had in his hands
more than five bonds, of s1,oQ0 each, which
wero sent to him IS presents; that he made no
and that his Whole connection with tho matter
uas OF purely friendly character. Ben Eut-
1er inquired why he went with Fesser to see
him deposit package the contents OF which
we're unknown to him. DR.. Bliss answered
perform a ftiendly Office N for ,i1. H.
fesser. Butler aeked him what the
friendly Office was. Bliss beat about for long
time, paused and hesitated, and finally de-
clarcd that he was friend Of Cubs, Butler
asked what had the package to do with friend
ship for Cuha2 Bliss repeated that ho merely
went with Feeser to do friendly act. The
result Of a very long examination was that
Bliss admitted 1e had had verbal under
standing with Fesser ). that Fesser did tell
him the package contained over q million Of
bonds, and that the package was deposited in
their joint uames. On being questioned very
| closely rs to What agreement was maae as to
the proposed disposition OF the bonds, Dr.
Bliss declined to answer, on the ground that it
Was matter Of private business, which he
| thought the committee had no right
committee and Mr.. Eldridge both IN
| formed tho Witness that he could not
! decline on that ground; that the only ground
! Of refusal that could be admitted was that au
answer would czin1inato himself. Neyerthe-
less, DR.. Bliss refused to answer. General
Pickett, who was one Of the supposed sub
agents under Bliss, also declined to answer
| similar quest tons, for the reason that he was
employed az counsel, and tho communications
! made to HIM were confidential.
It appears, IN the course OF the testimony
| before Buffers &C mmittce, that Bliss engaged
E. r. BROOKS. OF the philadelphia Press, to
assist the Cause Of Cuba by writing for the
! newspapers. Payment was rn1de in bonds.
| Latham, Gibbs, Dabcocls, and others were
also employed. Two members Of Congress
I ct>n tz7F
| The members were Shanks and Williams, OF
1 Ipdispa Shanks kicked his man down stairs,
and Williams declined the proposal in very
| decided manner.
General Butler intends to make report On
the subject tomorrow, when he will set forth
thei whole investigation in clear form, fur
niEhiug at the aa1ne time tho entire testimony
Of Or. Bliss, and asking power to compel Bliss,
Pickett, aud Taylor. if be can ba obtained, to
answer thus far, General Butler expects to
be able thus to wiring from Dr.. Bliss and his
colaborers IN behalf OF Cuba full confession
Of the whole secret, A lively time, therefore,
unny be expected.
SENATOR MORTON AND TIE CuRAN LDDRI-raA
| sENAron's CONDUCT yHn1GATID.
As tho name Of Senator Morton Is mentioned
correspondent called upon him thin evening
for the purpose OF ascertaining what he had to
say about it. The conversation was about AZ
Correspondent. Nj. Senator. have you seen
.hcletter in an evening paper Of New York pur-
| Iobby5 ).
Senator Morton. Yes. somabody sent me-
copy of tho paper and called my attention to
I it. Iisee nv naino is mentioned in 3 manner
calculated to throw ont the idea that had
something to do with the lobby
Correspondent. That is what want to sec
you about, Have you any idea where these
statements come from =
Morton. No, I have not. It looks. to me- n
| il it had been gotten up tor purpose. lhAye
irlet been to see General Butler, and he assusas
me- It did not come from his committee. Al
any rate all that IL eaid there about me Is false
from beginning to end, and authorize you tc
say co. have always been friendly to Cuba
but no man ever approached me- with the init
the recognition by Congress Of the balligerenI
rights Of the Cubans. ! trust those who know
| me know it would not be safe to make any
PROPOSITION of that kind to me-
Correspondent. The letter staten that cer'
tain MI. P. called on You relative to the mat.
ter, and also that Luther B. Wilson called upor
you to talk about it,
Mr. Morton. I understand that Mr. P. refer
to MI. Parsons. Now, MIR. Parsons nere
spoke to me on the subject Of Cuba, e1cep
relative to Consulship that be Was after.
believe it wAB Santiago dc Cuba. / signed
Recommendation for him at the request uf ex
Senator Wade but he never talked to m,
about Cuban be1Ggereucy, or any lobb,
scheme. 3Ir. Wilson may have spoken to m
was in general way. General Butler has fur
nisbed ms with Wilson's testimony before hi
committee On this subject, and I h1va no oh
!; lection to letting sou have it. wilson, yo1
will observe, says that introduced resolu
+: ton granting beligerency- .: / insTer ds