The New York herald., 1870-06-07
CURIOUS CUBAN REPORTS.

Washington-COngress and Newspaper
Men Accused-HOw s'PoOr Cubn" Has
Been strnngied-A Deep Laid Scheme Ex-
posed.
Washington June 6 correspondence OF the Evening
For several months past reports have been In cir
culation that the Cuban Leaders, In order TO SECURE
the recognition Of the Cuban republic as bellige.
rent Power by the United States have expended
large sums of money with the lobby and newspaper
correspondents here These statements have
been met with prompt de niais by the friends
OF Cuba, who claimed that they were placed In
circulation by those hostile to Cuban independence.
But these runi0rs came from such sources as to
entitle them to more weight than is generally at
tached to mere speculatlons, and in order TO estab-
lish their uuthfuness or falsity suD-]udciary CON-
mttee, with General Butler ut It's head, was given
the necessary authority to make thorough lnvesti
gallon. -
rms committee examined large number of wit
nesses and concluded its labors some time ago, but
from some unexplained canse has not made any re.
port to Congress on the subject. Although General
Butler declines to make public the nature OF the ev
Gence obtained by his investigation, your cores
pondent has come into possession OF facts OF an o
cal character bearing upon and relating directly to
this subject and these establish beyond doubt tnat
there has been large and powerful lobby al work
and induce the President and his Cabinet 10 recog
nize the belligerency OF the Cuban republic.
the financial agent OF Cuba In Washington entered
into written contract with N. 3. Taylor, an ex-
army contractor, through his attorney, exrebe Gen.
eral Pickett, Of this city, by which, Tor the sum Of
81 000,0 eco In Cuban bonds, which were deposited
with certain foreign minister mere, Taylor was TO
obtain the recognition OF belgerent rights for Cuba
by the government Of the United States The sum
was be used by TavlOr in The best possible man
ner to accomplish tins end within specined Time.
AS soon as the contract was signed Taylor started
out West " secure the services OF a person-whose
is Withheld for the present, and who was sup
posed TO have great influence at the White House.
and to induce him TO come TO Washington and urge
President Grant to recognize the Cubans as beliige
rents. This gentleman, however emphatlcally de-
clined TO have anything to do with the NATTER al
though he was offered 100000 for his influence
Beng unsuccessful Taylor returned to Washington
TO bring other influence TO bear upon the President
and soon entered into contract with a Mr.. r, who
was on intimate terms with ex-senator Wade, in the
sum Of 5000 O0O to the influence OF Mr.. Wade
and Senator Morton The agreement was ackn0w
ledged before David X. Smith, justice or the peace
Ol the city OF Washington AT this time ex-senator
Wade not in the city, but he was sent Tor and In
In the meantime Mr.. P. saw Senator Morton and
soon after sent his friend Luther b. wilson 10 talk
with Mr.. Morton about the matter.
Mr. Taylor and Mr.. +. were in close consulta-
ton every day, and Mr.. p. reported at f1rst that
Messrs Wade and Morton would see the President
and endeavor TO influence him TO extend the Cubahs
be1gerent rights.
that Senator Morton mad drawn up "a proclamation
recognizing the Cubans as belgerents, which he
had taken TO the President to sign. The President
had, however, declined TO sign IT, as it antago-
nlstic TO the policy which the administration ex-
pected to follow.
to be published positive announcement that the
President would recognize them as belligerents,
he would follow the advice OF Senator Morton and
Mr. Wade.
Previous to these movements, however Mr. Taylor
had deemed necessary to secure the aid OF certain
correspondents creating pubic opinion, and so In
october had had talk with MIR. Latham who was
mixed I'D in the Alaska investiga.ion with the
respondent OF the New York sun ana Philadelphia
inquirer, and VINO Is also law partner OF Colonel
Pickett, Mr.. Tayior's own attorney Mr. Taylor told
Mr.. Latham 10 promise Cuban bonds, inside OF
$4,000 III all, 10 varioas newspaper correspondents
In Washington II they wouid write up the Cuban
cause ana advocate the early recognition OF the re-
public OF Cupa.
Mr.. Latham told Mr. Taylor afterwards that he had
promised Of these bonds but that would
much better to pay actual money to the correspon-
denis, or II this could not be done, 10 obtain from
Ruiz the release Of some bonds and give them
directly and Internationally TO the correspondents.
As soon as Congress assembled in December Nj.
Ruiz so far modlfed his contract with Mr. Taylor
to agree to furnish him with from thirty TO forty thou
sand dollars in money, to be used Immediately with
The members OF Congress.
Mr.. Taylor then went to work to induce members
OF Congress TO vote for recognition, II that question
should pe brought before the House, and to work in
u general way for the Cuban republic In all matters
winch might come up. He saw many members for
this purpose and among others Golladay, OF Ken
tacKy; Butler, OF Tennessee; Deweese, OF North
Carolina; Fitch, of Nevada and Mccormick, OF Mis-.
souri, but il IL not known positively who accepted
brbes and who did not. 1t is conclusive, however,
that bribes were rendered.
Towards the close OF December Mr.. Taylor became
dissatisfied with his contract and went TO see Mr.
RUIZ, with whom he insisted that both bonds and
money should be given 10 him directly to use with
Congressman and not be kept In the hands OF
tmrd person until the recognition OF Cuba was ac-
compished. This Mr. Ruiz promised to do, but not
Immediately.
About the end OF January Mr.. Taylor wrote to Mr..
RUIZ declining TO have anything further TO do with
the matter, assigning as reason that no money or
bonds. as promised, had been furnished him.
Before this PERIOD however, Mr. Lemus, the envoy
from the Cuban republic, had made another con-
tract with Dr. ID. W. Bliss, OF this city. This con-
tract provided that $2,ooo,ooo OF Cuban bonds
should be deposited with some bank or depository
Dy Mr.. Lemus, and which should De paid over TO
nr mas q nrinnr
cognzing the belligerent rights OF Cuba, or any
otier resolution which should modify the neutrality
laws of the United States SO as to practically give
10 Cuba beiligerent rights.
The consideration OF this agreement on the part of
Dr. Bliss was that he should use all the in his
power to accomplish the desired result. The
92 000 600 was deposited with the safe Deposit Com.
pany OF Washington, by Mr. Fessar, the treasurer OF
Inc Cuban Junta IN New York, DR.. Bliss signing with
hin on the register book, In order 10 prevent the
withdrawal OF the bonds by one party without the
consent OF the other.
Dr. Bliss then made arrangements with several
well known lobbyists 10 assist him In Reltlng Con-
gress 10 pass the desired resolution, ana among
tbose employed were Luther b. Wilson, wells }. Bah
cock, George II. Pennheld and isaac b. GlDDs, whom
Johnson when President appointed Governor OF
Idaho Territory These persons went 10 work mans.
rlousy among the members to secure the success OF
the measure, In which iney greatly interested
Senator Morton introduced IN the senate bill
modifying the neutrality laws, and ur.ea It's consid.