The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-01-23

Q.--Does it remain precisely i, it was
before you made those representations
20 that high quarter? A.-Yes, sir
Secretary Boutwell,. too. vsinlv en-
deavored to rectify the abuses complain
Ell OF Mr.. Stewart SAYS:
Q.-About this order of the Secretary
of the Treasury, or letter, tending to
rectify this general order abuse, did YOU
ever see such letter from the SecreLa-
ry?, Al think ] did; | think it must
have been addressed to the Collector
The Collector declined on the ground
that he had nothing to do with the gen
eraI order stores.
Q.-Is that the request? (showiug the
paper TO witness A.-YeS; it is the
second letter; ! think letter Of the 9th Of
June, 1870 Mr. Murphy took the po-
sitlon that the Secretary had no right to
order him where he should store the
goods.
Q.-You did not sppeal to the Custom
House or Secretary, but you did to the
President; what was that complaint?
Al stated to him the facts that there
was great Inconvenience in having the
general order business taken from the
stores, and it ought to be returned to
them.
Ole did not issue suca an ordor?
A.-Not that am aware Of.
Another noticeable fact was that Leet
was in constant and close connection
with the White House. Mr.. Lindsay
says:
Q-You state that while Mr.. Leet was
writing you from Washington his letters
were most frequently from the White
House? A Yes, sir.
Q.-Down to what period did that
continue? A.-So long as he cores
ponded with me.
And again:
Senator Baysrd-Did Mr. Leet at any
time make any statement to you of the
insufilcisncy of the $500 for expenses
in Washington? Ale often COM
plained that he did not get enough.
Q-Why? Al cannot say why.
Q-What reason did he give? A.
W ell, am unable to state at the pres
ent moment. don't remember that he
gave any particular reason. He said he
had come here with determination to
make money, and he expected to make
money. He was going TO leave the ar
my to make money; and that was the
business he thonght he could make
large sum OF money out of.
Senator Bayard-Was any statement
ever made about any "mess" that he was
connected with? A-Yes that was so.
His messmates in Washington called for
an expense, of course, and he had to
bear his proportion of them.
Q-Do you know who were his asso-
ciates in that respect there? A.-No
farther than what he has told me.
Q-What were his statements to you
on that subject? A.-Gen. Porter and
Gen Babcock.
! 1t likewise appears that, in addition to
this allowance of $4,000 paid by Bixby,
Leet was still in the War Department in
Washington, drawing salary OF $4,000
year rs An army officer, of course with
the President 5 cenniyanCe:
Senator Casserly-Q.-What WAS Mr..
Leet's salary in the War Department?
Al am only able to give the impress
sion | had, and which l formed ftom his
own conversation. | presume the re
cords will show the facts. l think about
$4,000 year.
On addition to $4,000 from the
general order business !? A,--Yes, sir;
| think his rank was Lieutenant Colonel,
or Major, 1 am not positive. That will
show for Itself, of course.
Q-How long did he remain in the
War Department after Mr. Grinnell's ap-
poiptment as Colector2 Al am not
able to tell you; perhaps from some of
Col. Leet's letters may be abe to fix
when he resigned from the army. 1t
was some months after that, think. l
have letters that may, perhaps, refresh
my recollection on that subject.
Q-Are you sure he remained in the
War Department drawing salary as a
clerk after he became interested in this
general order business? Al am sure
that | sent checks myself to him while
he WAS in the War Department for the
proceeds of the general order business,
and if it is your wish can produce the
checks with the endorsement on the back
Of them.
| We observe an effort in some quar-
ters to screen the President from the eff
feet Of these revelations by pretending
that he has not been allowed to know
the facts in the case, and that he has been
imposed upon and deceived by persons
| high in his confidence, meaning Mr.. Leet,
Gen. Porter, and Gen. Babcock, the
members of the 'mess" in Washington
for whom $500 year wa. not sutfi-
cient. If this pretense were true. would
not Gen. Grant at once have vindicated
his own innocence. and punished his
treacherous staff officers, when, a year
ago, the former investigating committee
revealed the full enormity of Leet's and
| his partners' extortions? Great as is
the amount of corrobative testimony
now adduced, the main facts were prov
then as clearly as now, and yet Gen.
Grant did nothing at all about it; the
''mysterious power referred to ny Sen
ator Schurz prevented him.
/ Another excuse which is sctup for the
President in this wretched affair is that
lie does not understand the nature of the
business, ard does not know that any.
thing ought to be done in the premises,
In other words, his friends give out that
| he is kind Of fool, and unable to ap-
preciate the arrangements of the mess. "
This is the same explanation that is CIV
en- by other friends who believe him in-
nocent in the appointment OF present
givers to office, and in his participation
in the great gold conspiracy of Gould,
Firk and Colbin. But the truth is that
he is no fool, bat man full of sense and
lcunning, and just as smart as the smart
est in everything that concerns money
Emaking. The conclusion is just as ire.
5istihIe that President Grant has used
his Office to make money in unclean
| Al, l.. f,II