New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-02
THE GOLD CONSPIRACY.
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING COM
M1TTEE.
THEIR CONCLUSIONS AND RECoMMENDATloNs-
HISTORY OF THE PLOT.

WASHINGTON, MHICH ls--4ul' p""A''
man. presented the following report;
The Committee on Banking and Currency. having been
directed by resolution OF the House OF Representatives
passed Dec 49, 1862 ito investigate the causes hat e
70 the unusHa and s Io be h Of Sep
tenber ls69" beg leave TO submit the Iono"ins
In obedience the order OF the House. the
resolved to examine the following topics IN inc oiaei
named; , ,,c.,, p,,, p,,k ,,,I, his.
tory ordinary 0Peraiion' aud 'o' 'e"OD
| TIE sese Conspiracy Of September to raise the pes Of
gold the engaged mir 'sd The s1, s,e a.
reely or indirectly gagged the alleged conspiracy
The peculiar character Of the operations TO De nSesu
gated the secrecy with which they were carried on,
made IL difficult fer the Committee 10 ma the cIuo W
many transactions. knowledge OF which was esh1nai
10 mn understanding OF the subject, and the large
number " persons engaged In the movement anu VIC
actions have protracted the investigation and sWeled
the volume Of testimony TO an extent when Ine oUr
tee regret but could reasonably avoid IN naTathR
the facts developed by the Investigation, inc ~
have used the language OF the Stnesses have in Inc
main followed the Chronological order OF events me
history OF ane sUd Hw I n S not therefore be treated
separately In order to exhibit the Iu ~ Ia fnr
be necessary to review briefly the movements Vi kou i
o year previous to September. ,,,,,
On the Ist Of September the price of gold was ~
During the Autumn Winter It continued TO decline,
interrupted only BY occasional fluctuations. III IN
March, 1869. t touched 1904 dts lowest point lQr tice
yearr aud continued tnat rate unl the middle OF
April the earliest period TO which tho evidence t"Een ~
the Committee refers AZ that tune MI say m0up
s0000 Of gold, and put up the price from iSI 10 o ~,
Other brokers followed his example, ana ny tno , , in
May had put MP the price to l4 rom men pom, hn
spite of speculation, IL continued to decDe anu Oh 'no
last day OF July stood at 1856
THE pEGINNISG OF TIE CONSPIRACY
Tho first indication OF "a concerted movement on INC
part OF those who prominent in the panic OF sep
TENDER was an effort the appointment OF toe
person who should be subseryent TO their schemes az
Assistant Treasurer at New.YoTk IN place OF Mr. H. H.
Van DyG hS resigned in the month psn to baVs
been closely and intimately connected III tue teeonS
Of the witnesses is to be believed MI 1otp
and Mr.. Gould joined in the suggestion Ihs eu 70 Hn
| interview with CatherwoOd the object OF winch 10 dS
| closed In his own testimony, ~ follows - 81, 49,, q,
opn,c legitimate and make deal Of wope aHd
Sd m,,sf could not 81 tie BIZ Iod again M
bio mJeh and ZONE other asoeae' bad an & e''
that -ou share aud share alike And Il declined 70 80 into
On what ground Mr.. CatberwoOd declined to be can,
The parties next turned their attention Gen Butter
field and both before aud after his appointment claimed
be his supporters Gould and Catherwood testify that
Corhin claimed to have secured the appointment though
COrblD sweas that be made no recommendation IN the
entered upon the duties Of that office the LIST OF July
II IT, however proper to state that the Committee have
no evidence that Catherwoods name Was ever proposed
TO the President Secretary candidate for the posi-
ton that Gen. Batterhed was IN any way cognzanI
OF the corrupt schemes which led the cODspraors To de-
sire bis appointment nor that their recommendation had
! any weight IN secuI1nglt.
PRESIDENT GRANT ErERyIEwED
In addition 20 tneSe eHOflb
discover possible the purpose Of the President and the
Secretary the Treasury regard to sales OF gold Tho
first attempt in this direction, as exhibited IN the cYl
dence was made Oh the 18th Of June, when the Pres
dent was on board OF Messrs Fisk aud Goud's Fal
RIVER steamers on his way TO Buson Al o'clock ~ the
evening supper served on board and the presence al
leading citizens Of New-YOrk and Boston, was suf+ ien
prevent any suspicion that this occasion wasSO Do
mony OF Fisk and Gould indicate clearly the purpose they
on our passage over 10 Boston with Underworld
ascertain that bis position IN regard to , ne 1o,ns & N s s
thing pFe'y horoughy ,ase Over and possible 10 r,'e o h"H
| Mr.. Goulds account is as follows:
t, the question cane % about Cd. state o. The toaSy
gentlemen discussing favor Of Mr. Boutwell,. s.sn
S%: o o0s a.ssd iEe Pfssd,u VIA,
Of ID. eouS,ry and that might well tapped
sno,sr We 'upp .' wa. .,t %s "a tgs
IL appears that these sklfuy continued efforts ELECTED
from lie President only remark and this opened
gloomy prospect suocuators FOR Mr. Could testi
he'd that early the next morning he was at the telegraph
Office and found there one of his associates tcegfaphht
| to New Ork To sell out his stock
THE coSsPIRAToRs ASSUME TO BE PATRIOTIC.
| Upon their return TO New York, Fisk and Gould de
termned TO bring great pressure upon tie Adnnistra
ton 20 prevent II possible, further decline OF gold
which wouId seriously interfere with their purpose
speeulatloD This was be effected by facts AMI argu
es presented IN the name of the country and lts bnsi
ncss interests and financial theory was agreed upon
which, Oh is face. would appear favorable 30 the Dnsl
ness interests OF the country, ana enlist IN ls SUPPORT
|
y enable the cOnspratOrs To make Their speculation enl
neny successful. That theory was that the business
of gold That TO move the Pan crops aud secure
the foreign market for our grain u was necessary that
fTa tSe"py % the bee Of American trade and
was suegesed sy james Meem2y se @
which TO advocate IT, This theory exlmted very iuiy
the testimony Of Mr. Could aud Mr. FISK me chosen
| before the President was Mr. Cubn, who soon
D~rehss and CARVING Of Of United states bonds
~ Mr Could for coTH9s profit may have aided III 'iS
coTiis il very ,hrsvd gentleman much tr,ssns
ttas e rsN;Ps!s,, e @ ,y , ' .S a. .1S s Ss
shesr Abe Go,sra.rn eSad do gIs,sT sai t E To
n. pc, ,s S on S and procure f'' Tor D products
Having thus secured a happy concord Of purpose to
put up the price OF gold for the public good their next
step TO press their views upon the President Con-
desire Tor the success. year least, Of
ii, aaHinl'trotoH ofm E sohet gpro.d EVER opPeTy TO
tie tanners sad ~'ehaH aud Manufacturers have good 'ee' Tor their
| And Mr. Could testifes:
70 bin my vie" Of c subject Being Connected 10 ny raai business
h The matter Of sn'poso9 and knowing the views Of those man
tPasi views ofhes. people ard be that should
e pln aud ak N'h him snd be made an appointment With me to
IL appears nom the testimony that these interviews
secured by Corbn, great care was taken 10 urge the
patriotic side Of tho question and Che great business in
erests Of the country snll Mr. corbin says that the
and the moment any aliuson was made TO the future
policy OF the Government hG became very feteeh ana
Mr.. Gould such ready access.
In pursuance this system OF espionage, Mt FISK hear
ing that the President had to Newport, followed
him He says In his evidence;
started Newport then wen, down 20 bin.
bad BIN before but not feeling thoroughly acquainted as bad
lOOk letter Of Introduction from Mr.
which that there 80 sailing vessels the
Mediterranean Black With supply the Liverpool
COLL about 1884, II H continued at that
chance earring forward the during the f
about talked With Cen Grant
the subject and sndsyore A. could convince him hst lis
policy 81 that would bring destruction gu US ALL
This visit Mr.. Fisks brought comfort 10 him or
his associates. On his return he found that Gould had