Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-07-30

NAlLth - uONENs
sayles J. Bowen, by whose rascahly the
fame of Washington, time and again, has
yulIered most cruelty, Is paradlng himself be-
fore the public by means OF letter, addressed
to Mr.. Watkins, a resident Of Scipio, New
York. In this communication he descends
to the depths OF infamy by making certain
charges against the Prosldent-chArges so
black and yillainous that They can have no
other source than tho brain Of this political
fraud, Bowen. Ills career in this city-as Is
well known to citizens Of all parties, was
marked by the same acts OF dishonesty as
crop out In this his last struggle for political
recognition.
In 1915 Bowen was n clerk In the office Of
the Second Auditor, and in November Of that
year addressed q letter 10 that official beg
ging most pltcously for retention. Many Of
the extracts from this lOng and entreating
letter read'quite spiclly just now, SO some Of
them are presented:
"My Democracy Is not doubted, and for my
services In the Democratic cause beg leave 70
refer you 70 my testimonials, now In The pos
session Of the Secretary o. the Treasury"
turn me Into the streets, and retain In your en-.
pl0y those who did all they could 10 prevent the
election Of M; Polk, who placed you At the head
"Wni Il not, General M6CalIa, look like
pFogcrfbiHg Democrats if you, at this time, suffer
one to go out Of your once while there are wings
heroT"
These extracts fix Bowcns political status
as an earnest Democrat rather firmly.
When he came before our people Tor ofiice
his proudcst boast was that he had come
here IAN enemy to slavery and friend to
the colorcd race, as II the supporters of Mr..
Polk were enemies to slavery and friends to
the colored race. Ho was elected mayor in
1853, by means best known to himsclf, and
his administration plunged the city into an
enormous debt without giving US 4 single
good result. lie attempted TO secure re-elec-
ton, but the people by this time had found
him out, and he was defeated SO ignOmin7
lously that we all thought him politically
buried forever. But that chronic longing for
ofice, which has pushed him to so many de-
spicable shifts, has again forced him upon
the public notice.
The facts connected with the proposed sale
OF tho property mentioned In Bowen's letter
arc simply these Bowen purchased the
property in November, 1858, for $4,000
through Messrs. Kilbourn Il LOtta. The
., contract WAS for the purchase Of house and
grounds crolHsio0 Of furniture and was
signed by Kilbourn & Latta, as agents tDr
General Grant and by Bowen himself. This
contract was approved by the President, and
Bowen paid $1,000 as a deposit Suisse
quenuy purso was made up In New York
10 purchase the property for General sher-
man, General Butterield coming on here 10
January or February, 1869, to consummate
the bargain. Bowen executed a decd Of re-
lease, sent II 10 thu President, and Messrs.
Kilbourn & Latta returned TO him the one
thousand dollars he had paid as an earnest.
About a year afterWard KilbOurn Il Latta, as
the agents Of General Sherman, offered TO
sell Bowen the house, grounds aud furniture
at the old price, $40, 0O0-in short the prop
erty for which $4,000 had been already
pald-but the proposal was rejected by Bowen.
Al the spite Bowen has displayed has had
Its birth In disappointment Helabored most
earnestly to obtain an Office from the Presl-
dent, and had one been given him this letter
Of his, crowded with the basest calumny,
would mover have appeared In print. With
this wonderful CrPOse he seeks TO prOpltlate
the Greeley party, and having sneakcd out OF
the Democratic party and been kicked out Of
the Republican party he sees a glimmering
hope of resurrection by this his last trick.
We can wish tho Liberal movement no greater
harm than that II may depend upon such
Tascals as Bowen for strength and succOr.
In this relation We invite attention TO the
following letter from District Attorney
William A. Cook, who, as Is well known, was
the familiar OF SaylGs ]. Bowen at tho time Of
this transaction" II goes further than sub
Stimulating the above statement by declaring
that when this trumpod up charge first Ap-
peared In the New York World Bowen pre-
pared letter indicating the President:
To the Pablo,
s. J, Bowen, In a letter published in tho
World Of Saturday last, states that In busi-
ness transaction General Grant, cheated him
out OF SIS, 900 with y GOODNESS aud adsllberatiOn
that would do credit 70 any blaok-lsB.
by Mr.. Bowen, truth aud justice require me 70
meet his yituPeratiye statement by brief mar
StSeneTsl oraut'i was the owner Of a house
In this city, on street, which Mr. Bowen agreed
with Messrs kllboun a Latta, real estate
agents, 70 purchase, and paid 70 them tl'OOO on
i Shortly aItsrWard, the property was desired
by friends Of General sherman for the purpose
iafiy addressed brief note 70 Mr. Bowen, who
AFTER some delay consented 10 "giyo up his
claim 10 IT, This no did deliberately, Without
any confederation, Except return OF the u, coo
advanced by Mr., BOWon,l and without any afti-
nee or fraud on the part Of tho President and the
property was then purchased for Gen. Sherman.
q When Mr.. Bowen consented 10 the suggos
tlOn OF the President prepared release Ol The
property from Mr. Bowen to Gen. sherman, so
a. 10 make the title perfect, and took II 70 the
President and then 70 Gen. Sherman. Mr.
BoWen accompanied me, aud when We len the
War Department we rode together on the street
cars 10 the once Of the recorder Of deeds, where
Mr.. Bowen paid for recording the release.
q The Word some time aiteTward contained
an article severely rejecting on the President
in connection with "the Transaction" alluded 70
In Mr.. BoWen's letter. He promptly drew up q
Topiy yindioating tho President from the cen
sure OF the World with the Intention Of publish.
inH H. Tho publication was Incidentally delayed
until II Waa deemed unnecessary % pubiish
h, II was In my possession till few months
aRo,Wh0n he requested me g send II y him ana
m company With Mr.. WIN. Z, Mott loit II at
his residence, A copy Of II may hereafter Dc
found among my papers.
s. might add other facts, tending TO show
that Mr, RoWon'a accusation against the Presi'
dent Is entirely untrue, but the pressure Of VaTi'
Gus 6nHnRem0ntB on my time viii not now per
mlt me 10 do 50. A Latter lrOln Mt Mott accom-
panies this statement, Wh' A. Oooh'
WAHHmOrOF. d, o., JAY %, 1871.
WAsHHaToN. D. O., JulI %, ls72.
'bHhR SIN, / remember very distinctly the
VIndicatlon o. Pfealtont Grant by Mr. Bowen
from ne ola charges OF tho World respecting
The purchase BY Mr.. Bowen 81 General GEAn's