New-York tribune., 1871-01-05
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE SPRAGUE CONTROVERSY
THE RHODE ISLAND WAR REMOVED TO WASH
INGToN-A STATEMENT FROM THE SENATOR
--HOw THE CHARGES ORIGINATED--REPORr
OF JUDGE-ADvOCATE HOLT.

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The longtime politi-
light between the Capulets Montagues OF Rhode
Island likely to be transferred from that state In
| the United States Sc nate.
Mr. Jenekes, Representative the Eastern District
| OF Rhode Island having charged In speech In the
Senate and elsewhere during the last political campaign
that MI sprague held reasonable communication with
the enemy during the Rebellion and that he his coufin
| Byron sprague and seyel al Providence firms, wera
guilty Of completely with certain e
the Senator carly dur,g the present session offered
resolution calling on tho Secretary or Wtr TO furnish
the Senate ell the information the subject in his pos
session Inrpy to this resolution Secretary Bcknap sent
to the senate to-day letter. accompanied by report
OF Judge Advocate Holt made TO Secretary Stanton Il,
1884, expressing the opinion that the persons implicated
liable 10 trial by military commission [Thls papeE
will DC found beOw.l In regard to this matter Mr..
Sprague says that he has reply to make TO the charges
at time, he has the papers which
they have been based and s totally ignorant 81 thel
contents. lie is, however perfectly confident that hs
! can successfully meet them ALL
In conversation the su ject this morning however
tho Senator says that the only Circumstance upon which
any possible mpuatiOn rest upon his conduct,
foundation for this gross ond grolGdess charge this
and nothing more:
Some time in the early years of the war, one Hoyt
called upon him with general letter OF inroducton
from the late President Lincoln. This letter warmly
commended HOyt to the sympathy and aid VI loyal per
sons and was In itself sufficient authority for his enter
tanning with respect any proposition which tho bearer
might make. Mr.. Hoyt's pl' Observation-Disclosures ia
loyal men In Texas who had cotton In their possession
1t was proposed by him to obtain funds with which cot
ton beon gng this class of persons could l purchased
and according To his statement fac,! h been pron
ised him by the Government to this nd lis idea was
that in this way profitable business enterprise would
bo attended by substantial bcnei, TO suffering Union
planters at the South He heard his statement AMI the
details of his scheme, and in view Of the credit whh ths
letter President Lincoln gave him, had no reason IA
doubt the feasibility of the plan, and had "a
entertain the slightest suspicion OF oyts good faith. lie
thinks Il possible though he has recollection OF the
| fact that he gave him letters TO Gen ButeI
and Admiral FaTragut and perhaps Others. He should
have done had he requested II. After hearing ha
Hoyts statement and perhaps giving BIN the letters r."
fered to- his connection with the subject entirely ceased
The pressure Of his public duties az that time - well az
for many months previously and aterwa. J, compelled
him to leave all details OF the business Of his h 10 ha
cousin ard then active partner, the late Byron pragu-
He has personal knowledge whatever Of any 'iness
arrangements in reference 10 the schemes which |ere
made by his partner in connection with the other Very
able gentlemen in Rhode Island WHOM Mr Hoyt
had like representations he supp0scs, r9ced ID
associate themselves In the entC rprise HS had
amy reason, however TO suppose that bis parnr ann
Of the other gentlemen had any Suspicion mat 10 waa
connecting q plan to dcfraul the d. their money, on
pursue treasOnabe sentme 4 rs own adyaD age al
their He remarks thai cd hariy sIy rat tie
| investment made by A. & ". 'prdgue and H.. arr gem
| tenen was wholly lost
| He had dismissed the VII le sib,cct from li, mind
except that he remembered IL as b nyes tnent, when
in the Winter OF 1867 he surpfi Ia hear that Mrs
| Byron Sprague and Col ". II. l. suoids arrested
| upon a military order from Gen. Dix. Mr. Byrol
! sprague ceased to have business connection with
him after April 1885, he having previously retired from
the firm. He necessarily ignorant OF the specific
charges against him aud Col nolds and has the beet
n th.t,
charges were formally made or attempted, TO be
proved. He is not at all surprised, that In that dal
Of suspicion and dstrust It deemed proper by Gem
Dix to make close inquiry into the whole transactions
Gen. Dix addressed letter 10 Mr. sprague upon the sus
ect calling for information. Mr spraSpe at once gavo
him all the within his knowledgct and requested
that he would apprse him OF any factor circumstance
which might in OF his investigation, require
explanation at the time referring him to his count
ingroom for such details Of the business as he might d
know. Mr.. Sprague never received any communs
cation from Ger. Dix aerward upon the sui ject nos
did any other officer of the Government make anl
inquiry Of him In reference to the matter In due time
and after full investigation, both Col Reynolds and IN
| Byron sprague were honorably discharged.
A friend of Senator sprague having written to Gen
Dix on the same subject that gentleman replied unde1
date Of New-York, Nov. 2, 1870, as follows:
DEAR SIR: have just received your letter OF yestsD
day with a copy OF speech by the Hon. T. A. Jenck a
at Providence the 29th ult, making charges of dis
high standing, founded on transaction which occurred
during the war OF the Rebellion. As my name s con
agency that the attention ~ the Government called
to say that on fun Investigation of the ground
discovered for nstitutng proceedings against the n
in Fe6rnary. 1865, addressed letter to Col. VIM n
Reynolds one OF the gentlemen referred TO, who
and expressing my regret at the inconvenience had
causedhm in the performance of duty as considered 10
times OF civil strife and which leave only the regret OF
part Of the t51 that na acted On @
moment been east on those whose high character ant
tearity. | am very truly yours, JOHN A. DIX.
Albert 5. Gallup, esq.
REPORT OF JUDGE-ADvoCATE HOLT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4-In response TO tho
Senate resolution Dee H. offered by Senator sprague
the Secretary of War to-day transmitted TO that body
copy OF the report OF the Judge Advocated rel
tive to alleged unlawful traic with Rebels In th<
state Of Texas during the late entered into by Mn
Hoyt Wm. Spra2ue, Senator OF the United states; By
ron sprayue, Wm. II Reynolds and Others ald states
that none OF tie papers therein referred o, nor any
record of thcm can be found in the War Depart.
ment II is however possible that certain OF them may
I've ON Ale at the headquarters of the Department OF me
East NewYork City, aud search for them VIII De maIs
judge Advocate General is as follows: -
WAR DEPARTMENT. BUREAU OF MILITARY JusIiCk (
To the Seere.ary Of Wdr: The following repcr! 10 20
Texas mpSatnS Hoyt sprague, and others, brought s
the notice OF the Department by MalorGen DlH =.
The papers herewith consisting OF an ABSTRACT OF s"c
mens by Byron Sprague and others, prepared by hJoi
Barles; letters Of WIN. sprague 70 Gen; DIX pamrs
found upon Hoyt, and tho atter's conn !ehaI sIato
ment which, stated Is only to 10 used IN case Hyi
is made witness for the Government nave ali peeh =
amined and show in substance that Hoyt residing 10
Teas az the breaking out OF the Rebellion, made his way
EortS where I'm the Fall OF lG2 he effected onga.'
ment with VIM spraguo for undertaking An enterprise 70
ger cotton out OF Tex5s -Four firms took an interest
the ysnt,re-sprpsue h Co., Rey noids Co., TAFT 4
Co., and Knight & Co.--and al Of Pro, idei. !,
| u each Arm furnishing s25,0O. Vessels weIo pac
chased and each was loaded with cargo OF m lchn ry
far mar IuI ~ a