The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-05

The Committee on Banking and Currency
have, it seems, found out all about the Sep
tember cri-is in the gold market, except that
they are NJ. quite sure whether General But
terfield was in the conspiracy or not. He was,
at any rate, engaged in dealing in gold and
bonds on his own account during his tenure of
the sub-treasury. The President and his i'm
mediate family were entirely innocent, Mr..
Corbin quite the reverse; in fact, he seems to
figure as first villain in the drama. 1t may be
noted that the minority (Messrs. Cox and
Jones) complain that the investigation as to
the conduct of the President and others in
Washington was not thorough. The cnnclu-
sions Of the committee were as follows:
First, the prominent bankers and merchants
who testified before the committee were near
ly unanimous iB opinion that there was no
sufficient reason for the existence of the Gold
Exchange and the Gold Exchange Bank, and
that they were the source OF measureeSs evils
and ought to be destroyed. Second, the gold
conspiracy dealt heavy blow at our credit
abroad, by shaking the faith Of foreign capi-
talists in the stability of our trade, and the
honesty of our people. Hunlreds of firms ell
gagged in legitimate business were wholly ruin
ed or severely crippled. Importers Of foreign
goods were for many days
AT THE MERCY OF THE GAMBLERS,
and suffered heavy losses. In fact, the entire
country was injured. The foundations of bust
ness and morality were shaken, and the nume-
rous defGlcations that soon followed are clear
ly traceable to the mad spirit engendcred by
speculation. Third, the committee find that
the wicked and cunningly devised attempts OF
the consplrators to compromise the Presldent
OF the United States, or his family utterly fall
ed. Corbin, using the opportunities which
his family relationship to the President
afforded, and under that worst form OF
hypocrisy, which puts on the guse OF
religion and patriotism, used all his arts to
learn something from private conversations
of the President which could be made pro-
fitable to him and his consprators. But with
these and all the efforts of his associates, the
testimony has not ELECTED word or an act oil
the President inconsistent with that patriotism
and integrity Which bcft the Chief Executive
of the nation. The message sent to Corbn
when his deputy was first suspected, and the
order which laid the strong hand of the gov
ernment upon the conspirators and broke
their power, are the most significant declara-
tions that the President held and treated them
as enemies of the credit and business of the
country. The report relieves
TIE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL PORTER
from any suspicion of gold gambling All the
public funds entrusted TO General Butterficld
were faithfully accounted for. II is not con-
clusively proved that he was interested with
the conspilators in raising the price of gold;
though on this point the testimony IS conflict
inc. Mr.. Gould swears positively that he
bought two lots of gold for Mr.. Butterlicld.
amounting in all to million and half of dol
lars. Mr. Buttertield also under oath denies this
statement. Both
FISK AND GOULD
swear that they received messages from But
terfeld. and answers to messages which they
sent during the days Of the panic in reference
to news from Washington, and this statement
receives some support from the testimony OF
Brown, q messenger of the sub-treasury. 1t is
proved by the testimony that during the days
of the panic two firms OF brokers sold gold Oh
BUTTERFIELD'S ORDER,
and for his profit, and that during his whole
term of office he was dealing largely in United
States bonds OH his own account. When asked
BY the committee whether he knew OF any
officer of the United States who was directly
or indirectly interested in gold, he answered
unqualifiedly in the negative; but when after
ward confronted by the testimony of Selignan
concerning his purchases OF gold, he admitted
that it was true.
The committee recommends the adoption Of
the following resolutions
That the Committee on Ways and Means be
instructed to report bill lcvying such q tax
on the transactions of the Gold Exchange and
the Gold Exchange Clearing House Us in their
Judgment the interests of the country shall
require.
That the Committee on Judiciary be instruct
cd to inquire into the eNpedicncy OF reporting
a bill to define and punish.
coNspIRAcYsAGAISsr THE CREDIT OF THE UNITED
STATES
and the business of the people.
That the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency be instructed to inquire whether any
furi her legislation is necessary to prevent in-
proper use OF certified checks by national
banks, and that they have leave to report by
bill or otherwise.
Messrs. Cox and Jones unite in
THE MINORITY REPORT.
They contend that the inception OF the gold
plot was involved in the appointment OF the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury at New
York: that it was encouraged by changing the
policy of Secretary McCulloch, that sales OF
gold, if at all made, should be regulated ny
law; that the committee refused TO investigate
the conduct of persons, including the Presl-
dent, in Washington, and that, therefore, tHe
investigation was partial.
The Savannah News reports shooting al
fair on Sunday, just previous to the departure
OF the steamer Dictator for Charleston. IN