New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-07
, o.,v rRmuNE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Io2

back to Washington, and, retaining his mill
tary rank and pay, divided WIN BixDy anu
Others the profits Of business In which ne
bore no part but that of blackmaiier'
witness of quite another character was
Mr.. b. G. Jayne He is an adrolt ana Skill
full fencer, with some knowledge OF law and
of the rules of evidence, and evidently told
no more than he cared to. Yet there has DeeD
scarcely witness before the COMMITTEE "ho9e
evidence has beenmOr injurious to the admins
tration of affairs in the Custom-house. Inc
frankness and seeming indifference with winch
he exposed the most discreditable lacts, al
forded striking proof of the graduai
DEGRADATION Of moral sentiment when
seems to have invaded every department
of the revenue service. Here Is one
scandalous fact TO which he testified. An In
spector named Case bribed a debenture ofhcer
to allow package of cigars to be stoleI rom
a cart and its place supplied with ooA VI
kindlng wood, while the smuggers TOOK their
prize to a convenient place. Inc thelC was
carried out, and the criminal Inspector de-
nounced by Mr.. Jayne to the Collector lie
yyas ostensibly removed from his place, Dut
sone time after. JAYNE found him comfortably
coIonized in the CustOm-hOuse as clerk un-
der the congenial charge of Mr.. Terwllilger'
Il is not stated that he was employed III read
ing proof :.
If Mr.. Jayne was frank and outspoken III
regard to the doings of his friends, he was
ennolIy so as to his own. He stated that ne
had a man in his employment, one Carr, VINO
had committed frauds on the revenue as o
al
come back to assist Jayne in his WORK. VIII
his former crimes unquestiOned. What SorV Vi
work if il. Mr.. Jayne has no hesitation III set
ting forth. After describing the process ny
which he obtained possession OF the DOORS
and papers of a firm against which ne was
operating, he made this candid confession OF
o course Of action so perfectly lllegai ana un-
warrantable that it startes one, even III inc
New-YOrk Custom-hOuse
60 Have you, while books aud papers were In your
possesson abandoned the charge first made by yOu ana
used the warrant and proceedings to effect settlements
of other charges discovered by you In the course OIL your
inye,tigationsi A. when take the books and papers
called for by the warrant, If find any KIND OF liauu
against the revenue, take advantage OF 1t; ""e
fshinq for bulLheqds and cau0hta trout ro"d not
atrO,o him back into the stream"
This proceeding pits the merchants 0t
New York at the mercy OF the spies OF the
Custom house. Mr.. Jayne can obtain, on any
pretext, possession of an importers books,
and look through them until he finds some
thing which it would be dsagreeable to have
published, and then make his own terms for
fine restoration of the lcdgers. Falling into
such hands is no trihing matter. Mr. Jayne
does not leave us in doubt as to his mode OF
procedures " | first try to reason with man.
g tell him how wicked he has been, and adj
&" wise him that it is his best way to tell me
" frankly the whole truth; if that fails hold
up the terrors Of the law"
One would think that a sermon like that
from detective would be horrible enough,
and indeed Mr.. Jayne says, with the modesty
of true merit, 81 presume there are men III
" New-York who think | am terrible fell
" low But he does not restrict himself 10
these purely moral means of intimidation.
He keeps in his Office pair OF handouts,
which it is his playful habit at critical mo-
mcnts to put on and off his own blameless
hands, emphasizing his exhOrtatiOns to the
trembling importer by the cheerful click OF
the metal as he locks and unlOcks them.
The majority of the Committee have taken
the alarm too late Their resolution to adj
journ on Saturday, and to restrict the exam
ination of witnesses, and to excuse from COM
ing to New-York the most deeply implicated
of the official group who are believed by the
public to be using Gen. Grant in reckless
and criminal way, will do no good to the fac
ton they are endeayOring TO shield, and will
do great harm to themselves and the prestige
of the Senate. Already enough has been
revealed to profoundly impress and dis
quiet the public mind. The CustOm-hOuse
has been shown to be machine
run in the interests of faction
and not of the nation. From Collector to
messenger extends the faint of corruption
so general as to be unconscious. All this is
slowly coming to light through the indications
afforded by an independent Press, by the
mouths of reluctant witnesses. If the Com
mittee choose now to shut off this investiga-
ton, they will worthily finish the foolish work
begun in the Senate by COnkling and Carpen-
ter when the inquiry was first moved. We,
who are not anxious for the denomination of
Gen. Grant, can bear this with equanimity.
But we warn Messrs. Howe and Stewart that a
crushed and stifled investigation will not be
"A pretty dish to set before the President
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