The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-08-31
The Complete Letter Writer, or the Road
to Fortune.


who, in the brief campaign of sixty days
have been compelled to 60 into retirement
carrying with them the sweet conscious
ness that they have practically illustrates
in their own careers the kind of reform
which might be expected if the Creole
and Brown Republican Democrats sore
head combination could succeed.
We have to add that the letters printe,
below have been most carefully examined
and that there cannot be shadow of doub
as to every word being in the handwritin:
of Mr.. Doolittle. They will be photo
graphed, and submitted to public inspec
ton.
{! The affidavit below explains the story
which is the only introd uction needed t,
! the letters:
| State Of Nep York, City and County O
Ne~ York, S.: Thomas J. Conatty, being
duly sworn, deposes and says: l reside ant
have resided since the Fall of 1865 in New
York City; was appointed to clerkshir
in the Office of the Secretary of the Trea
! sury, in Washington, D. G., in 1868; il
| was in the month of January; l resigned
my position there in November, 1864, OIL
account of failing health.
HOW COTTON PERMIT WAS OBTAINED.
learned about this time that many gen
tlemen had obtained permits from the Pres
ident to trade in cotton in the Southern
States; believing it was a favorable oppor.
tunity for large business operation,
applied through influential friends of mine,
among whom was Hon. J. R. Doolittle,
then United States Senator from Wiscon.
sin, to the President for such a permit;
subsequently obtained the permit to trade
in cotton in the States of Alabama, Missis-
sippi, Georgia, Texas and Louisiana;
had not seen Senator Doolittle for two or
three weeks after obtaining it; 1 never
meditated making Senator Doolittle any
offer or consideration for any service he
may have done me before or after obtain
ed it, because had too exalted an opinion
of his character, nor had l any idea he
expected any recompense from me up to
the time of the following occurrence.
HOW SENATOR DooLITTLE GOT QUARTER
INTEREST.
Some two or three weeks after obtain
ed the permit, met the Senator accident
ally in street-car in Washington, and told
him had obtained it. He congratulated
me on the successful termination of the
matter. He reflected little, and said
nothing further except to ask me to call at
his committee room in the Senate House
next morning. l called the next morning
in accordance with his request. On that
occasion he said substantially. You hare
u good thing and ,oill make a pile Of money,
and can afford to be a little generous" /
did not knon ,ohat lie meant. He then said
to me in substance. "lou kn0,o l an a
poor man, and haze not made any money
since Ihaue been in public life. Think you
can afford to let me share in the proceeds,
and be none the poorer" And with this he
handed me the letter hereto attached,
marked letter No. l, which he said he had
scrubbed off, wishing me to copy and send
it to him as my own. At the same time
he handed me letter No. 2, hereto attached,
dated the following day, which he said
would be his response to my generous offer
contained in letter No. 1. was too much
surprised to make any response. l took
these two letters from his Office with me to
Baltimore, where I then resided. Next
day copied letter marked No. I, changing
the phraseology of one of the sentences re-
ferring to myself, that would be indicate
had they come from me. His reply had
already received, as stated above, having
retained both letters in my possession
This was substantially all that occurred on
that occasion.
HOW THE SENATOR HELPED HIS PARTNER
AND HIMSELF.
On the 30th of December, left Wash
ington for New York City, and received
while at the Aston House on or about the
1st Of January, through the Post Office,
letter No. 3, hereto attached, and accom-
panying it letter No. 4 also hereto attach
ed, introducing me to Gen. Banks, both in
the same Enclosure. Gen. Banks was then
about to proceed to Louisiana as comman-
der of the Federal forces in the Depart
ment of the Gulf, and could have been of
essential service in this cotton operation.
While was in New York 1 learned that
some change had been made in the list of
articles which were prohibited from being
for cotton, and wrote to Sena-
tor Doolittle to get for me from the War
a list of the prohibited articles.
In response 1 received, while still in New
York, letter No. 5, hereto annexed. Sub
in the carrying out of this enter /
prise, proceeded to New Orleans, and in
the month of May, 1865, presented this
etter of introduction to Gen. Banks in !
New Orleans. Gen. Banks received me |
kindly, and after reading the letter hand
I'd it back to me, saying: "This might be
Of some future service to you" said it !
might, and took it.
THOMAS J. CoNATTY.
Sworn to before me this 10th day of Au-
gust, 1872. NJ. M. BuDLoNe,
Notary Public New York City and
County, In presence of Thos. Franklin
smith.
THE LETTERS.
No. I.
The letter which Doolittle himself wrote
or Conatty to send to him-the original
n Doolittle's handwriting:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 90, 1864
Hon. j. r. DoolitHe:
DEAR SIR: I have been engaged for a
wo years past in the Treasury Depart
nent, where l have been assiduously at
work, early and late, until 1 seriously lear
ID my health might give way.
In consequence of the confidence which
ny fidelity there has inspired in the head
# the Department, l have received a per-
nit to trade and to purchase cotton to the
mount of fifty thousand bales.
This has been freely given me; and now,
ny dear Sir, allow me to say that during
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