The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-05
New York Custom House Invcs,i.
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... CATION.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-The New
York Custom House Investigating Com.
mittee, assembled this morning. II was
resolved TO ask the Senate TO appropriate
$4,000 to pay for printing the Testimony,
The chairman caused to be read letter
from Attorney General Williams, dated
February 81, addressed to Noah Davis,
attorney for the Southern District Of New
York, stating that 1t appears from the
testimony Of tho committee that certain
personsl has accepted preOcnts, hribes or
rewards from Importers Of merchandise.
Tho attorney was therefore directed by
order ol the President TO examine into the
same, and II such persons have acted In
violation OF the law, to take action In the
premises with q view TO prosecution with.
out unnecessary delay. 0-z
Mr.. Davis asked that copy of thd
testimony DO furnished 10 him, and also
that the Secretary Of the Treasury be
requested TO furnish information OF such
cases as may have come to his knowledge
concerning smuggling, bribery, &c.
Other letters were read, showing that
the Grand Jury were ready 10 inquire
into the charges, aud that Instructions had
been given to the New York Collector of
Customs to furnish all information In his
possession relative to smuggling and
bribing. The Committee ordered copy
OF the testimony to be furnished.
Gen. Porter was sworn and examined,
saying that he was now Secretary to the
President, and had been since the iuau.
guration. He testified about Col. Leet's
pursuits before he become connected with
the general order business. After the
inauguration, being desirous Of leaving
the army, he applied to the President
Tor some position, and the President said
he would appoint him Collector Of Internal
Revenue at New Orleans; but Leet dc.
clined, stating that the pay at New Or.
leans was too small, and that his wife
objected to going there. Leet having in.
formed him that he was about to apply
for the labor business in New York, Gen.
Porter endeavored to dissuade him from
doing 80, telling him that any person
about the President entering into such
employment would thereby be subject to
constant personal attack. He advised
Leet to. go into some private business. A
proposition had been made by Don Came.
ron to Leet TO become gauger at the LO-
chiel Iron Works. Gen. Porter said to
Leet that he had heard the President, in
general terms, express himself against the
acceptance OF public Office such as Lcet
sought. On the 2Sth OF April Gen Porter
accompanied the President 10 West Point,
and on his return TO New York he wrote
Col. Leet letter, as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, "a
WASHINGTON, May 4, 1870.
My DEAR LEET-I donot like to be the
bearer Of bad news to you, but think
l ought TO tell you what the Presi-
dent said when lie returned from New
York. Tic remarked that he had heard
so much about corruption in Custom
House jobs, and the influence brought to
bear in getting positions, &C., that he
would never appoint any one who had
been around him to q position in Custom
House, no matter what his qualifications.
In speaking about you he said II don't
know who told him Of the Office" and
that you ought TO accept Don Cameron's
proposition, for though he believes you us
pure as any one, yet he wnuld never con-
sent to have you go TO Custom House.
He said attacks would be constant, and
would injure both you and him. He feels
just as have always felt about such mat
ters. You can now judge of the situation
and act accordingly. ~
Yours, in great haste,
Signed. HORACE POTTER.
He told me to say this to you, In May
the Col. called at Porters room and said
Leet and Howe were anxious TO enter
into partnership and obtain business in
New York. Gen. Porter informed him
that il would not be advisable for Leet to
accept such business, as the President had
expressed himself against ii. LeCt oh.
tanned the general order business. from
Gr!nnell in the spring of 1870, and in this
he had no assistance from Gen. Porter or
the President. In reference to the army
neeo, 90 "itnn alluded to, Leet was over
paid in one month 500 40.
In reply to question by the chairman
whether the mess received any interest
from that business, Gen. Porter replied
none whatever. Mudgett had declared
that the parties were interested In the
general order business, but those lie had
given rs authority for the declaration had
disavowed thesame and thus, Gen. Porter
says, Mudgett was lett as the reviler.
On the Sd Of May, 1870, Grinnell
wrote letter 10 General Porter
IN which he says: ! know that you arc
not in any wayintercstcd in any contract
given ont here, and neither you or any
other person about the Executive man
sion has intimated a desire to be so inter.
ested. In answer to question, Porter
said Lect was not connection. OF the
President or his wife, and that Gen. Raw.
Inns asked the President to give Lect q
letter to Grinnell. On cross examination
Porter said Grinnel made him an individ.
ual present Of five gallons of sherry; it
was used by the mess; he had no infor-
nation whatever that any other persons
were interested with Leet & Stocking;
he himself never had any partnership with
either Of them; he had never solicited any
business for them; never did anything
that would entitle him TO their gratitude;
they had never given him money or other
valuable consideration; they never had
efrontery to offer 1t, knowing him too
well to make such proposition.
The following letters were read at the
instance Of the witness: s
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
July 10, 1870. !
DEAR SIR: You are about TO enter
upon the duties Of Collector Of Customs
in New York. Many persons in seeking
office may use the Presidents name or
mine, in urging their claims, and wish
10 state to you distinctly at the outset
that no one Is authorized TO do so. Many
| friends Of mine whom ahnnll he nlAh ID