Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1872-10-22
TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF.

tains. The Oregon papers for long
time enjoyed this bad pre-eminence, but
we suppose the Enterprise is fired with
emulation to rival its web-fOot
brethren, and seeks to bolster bad cause
and defame its political opponents by
the circulation of calumnies couched IN
gross and abusive language. This is al
ways evidence of weakness, either IN the
advocate or the cause which he seeks to
advance. As all must concede great
ability in the editorial department of the
Enterprise, there is only one conclusion
to be reached, that it can find no sound |
arguments to support its Radical friends,
and is forced to content itself with fling
ing dirt at their antagonists. Pursuing
this mode of warfare, the Enterprise has
been either inventing or circulating all
sorts of scandalous tales against MIR.
Kendall First, it was alleged that he
lodged a vote on the Goat Island Swim
die That being refuted, then ii is in
simulated that Mr.. Kendall was bribed to
avoid voting on that matter. His bill for
giving the State all the swamp lands
within her borders is next attacked, and
the last item in the list of misdeeds OF
which they charge him is, that he gave
two dollars and half to one Of Leet and
Murphy's New York Custom-house
men to hasten the passage of his bag
gage through their dirty fingers.
This last accusation is remarkable
chiefly for its unblushing impudencs. 1t
is like thief trumping up a charge
| against a gentleman that he has formerly
blackmailed. The story of the New York
Custom House frauds is no doubt familiar
to most of our readers. For fear, how
ever, that they should have forgotten the
history of these gigantic robberies, we
will repeat some of their salient features.
Grant had a capable and honest man,
Mr.. Grinnell as Collector of Customs at
New York, but he was too honorable to
answer the purposes of Grant and his
military ring. So Grinnell had to give
way to Murphy, man of gross habits,
fond of fast living, horses, etc, and thus
eminently fitted for boon companion of
Grant. Murphy had no scruples. Give
him the place, and he would do all that
was wanted. Just about this time Grant
writes that famous letter to Murphy in
Producing Mr.. Laet as young man cspa-
bic OF anything, which for Grant had the
remarkable merit of being true. The
sequel showed that the young man Leet
was capable of anything, wholesale rob
berry included. Murphy, who knew wha
was expected, gave Leet the monopoly o
what is called the General Order bust
ness. This is the privilege of storing al
the goods that were landed from thu
, steamers and vessels arriving from foreign
countries. In a port of the enormous
trade of New York, this was the source
of immense profits. Not only were ex
orbitant charges levied for storage, bu
all the drayage was done by Leet at eI
cessive rates, and the chapter was closet
by the levyins of black mail, on ever.
, pretence, on the merchants of New York
The evil grew to immense proportions
complaints We're made again and again
. but Leet was dividing his booty with tn
military family of General Grant, and n
notice was taken of the sufferers. A
. last the Tribune took the matter up i
good earnest, and exposures were dali
made of the most outrageous blackmai
, ing operations. Grant was still idle
=. But the matter was brought before the [
S. Senate by Trumbull Schurz, Sumne
:, and others. Inquiry, at first resisted b
= Conkling, Morton and the Administr'
t~tion, could no longer be STAYED off, an
an investigating committee was Gppoin
ed. But here mark what the Grant me
, did. The men who moved for inquir
!, were not placed on the committee, b.
. the superserviceable Senators, Stewart
Nevada, with Buckingham and Howe, a
men bound, sold and delivered to Gran
:, During the investigation the condu
of these men was shameful. They a
-, sumed the position of paid advocates
the Administration; they were perhal
so in truth. They bullied and tried
confuse the witnesses who testified to IL
- Matchmaking operations and promp
ed and assisted those who denit
-. them. But they did not carry {
= this game unchecked. Senators Case
- ly, of California, and Bayard, of Mar
land, were members Of the committe
- These gentlemen reproved and restrain,
- the Grant men and protected the w
IN nesses from their onslaughts. The l
n suit was the exposure of a mass of &C
l., ruption and fraud that was positive
an whitening. The vast foreign trade
air New York was staggering under its G
20 actions. The thing was too patent to
h. denied. Murphy was thrown out only
III appearance, for he named his successo