The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-05
HJlAN '5NIGa0N TAI01J AAJN83LILTT IIILU 8ILl48HW

lie hopes they may be discharged, anC
that II any persons ever apply for pOsi
tions under you upon such pretence, b
requests that they be not employed.
Respectfully yours,
To Hon, Chas. Murphy, Collector O
Customs Of Yew York.
As 10 the letter given by the Presiden
to Ieet, addressed to Grinnell, Gen. Porte
said that Lect stepped out of tn
Presidents room aud showed II 4
him. It was understood, he saws
before that Grinnell was To be collector
OF the port Of New York Leet gave hin
the impression that he was going into tht
warehouse business, and wanted Grlnnel
to send Government store 10 him. HI
did not know the precise terms, but Il
must have had reference to The general
order business. Senator Bayard inquired
hof Mr.. Porter whether he and Gather,
wood dined together at Willard's HoteI
with Grinnell when the general order
system was under discussion, before
Grinnells appointment. He replied that
he did not reoOllect, but It was possible.
he, however, remembered dining twice
with Grinnell at Willard's. He did not
recolleck whether Catherwood and Gen.
BabcoCk were there or not, nor did he
reoollcce that Leet was there. He could
not now say positively. Senator Wilson
and MIR. Blatchford, OF New York, were
present. He did not recollect whether or
not the general order business was
discussed ut that time. He did not
know at what period Leet went to
New York after receiving the Presidents
letter. Leet did not tell him that he had
met with success farther than that Grin.
nell was very polite to him, and promised
to assist him in the business. There was
nothing subsequently to show there had
been large accession 10 Leets wealth.
He had only u speaking acquaintance
with him, having met him but two or
three times. He did not know that
Stocking had visited the Executive Man.
sion; he did not know that Stocking had
an interest with Leet in bidding for
the labor contract. Having been asked
whether, in the summer Of 1871, there
was an interview between A. T. Stewart
and the President at the Filth Avenue,
Gen. Porter replied that he recolleCted it.
Stewart complained OF the abuses of the
general system, he supposed the President
had some knowledge OF these affairs, as
he Porter had, but did not know with
certainty. He had conversation with
Stewart on some subject, but could not
say whether ivFwas before or after Stew
arts conversation with the President.
Gen: Porter having been interrogated
US to the correspondence Of Leet and Lind.
sey touching the acquisition OF San Do.
mingo and spCculations herewith, said he
had no knowledge Of such specnlations,
as he had never had any social intercourse
with Lindsey, and never spent an evening
at his house. He was interrogated at
length. In answer.to question by Mr..
Pratt, he said that the Presidents letter
to Leet was q general letter OF intrOduc.
ton, and was written before Mr.. Grin.
nelrs appointment 10 the coIleetorship.
During the examination by MIR.
Casserly, DIr. Porter mentioned several
interviews he had had with Leet while he
was in Washington. They had spoken OF
the amount of lying by the witnesses in
New York.
Gen. Porter come to the Committee to
examine the testimony in which his
name had been mentioned. to see what
misstatements had been made, in order to
rclutc or correct them. Gen. Porter was
under examination moro than five hours.
The Committee adjourned to meet TO.
morroW morning. ,s..-..