The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-09-03
integrity depends upon the truth or falls
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pecuniary reward, or in the hope Of one,
for any man, living or dead.
Fortunately, in this particular matter
am not compelled to reply on my state
ment alone. After few days of neces-
sary delay have been enabled to obtain
Information from the records at Washing
ton, which perjury cannot change, and
which, Independent of any statement of
mine, shows this whole statements of Con-
natty, so far as it in any manner affects
my official integrity and honorable reputa-
ton as q public man. to be absolutely false.
That information arrived by telegram this
morning. Connatty says:
~ resigned my position there lin the
treasury in November, 1864, on account
of failing health. / learned about this
time that many gentlemen had obtained
permits from the president to trade in
cotton in the southern states; believing it
was favorable opportunity for large
business operation, l applied through in-
fiuential friends of mine, among whom was
the Hon. j. X. Doolittle, then United
States senator from Wisconsin, TO the
president for such a permit. l subsequent-
ly obtained the permit, etc.
lie says he resigned in November, 1864,
and applied for his permit about that
time. The telegram from Washington
informs me bis permit was issued Nov. II,
1854, and he resigned Dec. 10, a month
after IL was issued.
He says that he applied after he learned
that many had obtained permits. That
same telegram informs me that the first
| permits to trade in cotton were issued on
the 18th of November, 1864, the very day
his permit was issued ard bears date. If
there be any truth in his statement, there
fore, he applied for his permit on the very
day it was issued-Nov. II, 1864:
He says he applied for his permit
through "infuential friends" "among
whom was the Hon. j. X. Doolittle, then
United States senator from Wisconsin, to
the president for such permit" The same
telegram informs me there were "no
papers, no recommendations from any
one, on file. The record shows l did not
ask for the permit in writing.
The only other way in which / could
have aided him, would have been by a
personal interview with the president or
the secretary of the treasury, which inter-
view never occurred.
Such an interview not only did not oc-
cur, but the following facts, known to
many besides myself make it impossible to
have occurred.
Congress adjourned July 4, 1864 Soon
after, left Washington and did not re.
turn until the re-assembling of the senate
in December. The presidential election
occurred the Sth of November, 1864. /
was engaged almost every day in the can
vass until the day Of the election. Dur
ing all the month of November l was
more than n thousand miles distant from
Washington and did not see either the
president or secretary from July until
December. The president at that time
Mr.. Lincoln, and the secretary of the
treasury, MIR. Fessenden, my personal
friends, are both silent in their graves, oil
l should not be deprived of their further
testimony to refute this calumny. But tn,
record lives. These facts, even if unac
companied by my personal denial, put al
end to the gist of this whole accusation o
Connatty, SO far us it really and righttull!
concerns the public.
Personal, private, and business relations
are another matter. What do, or choose
to do, in those relations, so long as
violate no law of God or man, are ques
tions only for myself and for those will
whom l am concerned. But l shun M
honorable and candid scrutiny even il
these departments Of life. That which
regret and condemn in the present inst
ance is an effort to disort and prevert fact
which, interpreted by the truth, and b,
light of the circums .ances under which
they occurred, reflect in no manner eithe
upon my honor or my integrity as q private
citizen.
have no recollection of ever meetn.
Connatty in the street-cars. kn0w
never invited him to see me at my com
mittee rooms, in the manner or for tn
purpose he would imply. The substance
ofhis whole statement of what occurred a
those committee rooms is false and alb
solutely false.
never drew my letters or papers 70
Connatty to sign before he came to m,
committee rooms on Thursday, the 29th o
December, 1864. The only papers eve
drawn by me in relation to any matte
between him and me were drawn in hi
presence, at his suggestion, and with hi
full assent and approval, upon full an(
mutual understanding that such paper
were simply private and confidential
memorandum, to be preserved for tn
private use Of the parties themselves
: only.
My recollection of the substance of wha
occurred is this Connat.y came TO tn
room Of the committee on Indian affair
in the capitol. He there informed me o
his resignation of his clerkship, that h
had obtained through the head of tn
treasury department, permit to purchas
cotton under the regulations of the trea
{ sury. He showed me the permit signe,
by Mr.. Lincoln, and wanted me to accep
an interest told him l supposed ther
could be no legal objections to my takin
an interest, but had no money to ad
: vance, and would not be partner to in
, cur risks or liabilities, or agree to spen,
time. He said he did not expect +
advance money or incur any risk himself
beyond his travelling expenses. lie in
tended to operate through other parties
l objected that he might become involved
and if | was partner it would involv,
me. The conversation continued until h
expressed his desire for me to accept al
interest-without risk. / cannot detail al
that conversation which took place eigh
years ago. But | know there was not on
word said or purpose intended which, i
known to the whole world, would stain IN,
honor as a senator or rs man. Their
certainly was no claim for official innu
ence rendered, or to be rendered, to Con
natty in any way expressed or implied
There was no exaction from him or pre-
sure brought TO bear upon him. l the
had no doubt of his personal friendship
or of the sincerity of his professions. Blu
| as the m after miph t be imnortant n xpo