Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-21
Mr.. DOolitile AZ a Reformer.

Mr.. DOolitile AZ a Reformer.
Mr.. James r. Doolittle has been speak /
ing in the State OF Maine, denouncing the
administration of President Grant for dis
honesty and corruption, and pleading for
Horace Greeley and reform and purity In
politics. Mr.. Doolittle has been time
server and trimmer in politics, having
drifted into the republican party for office,
left it when he could no longer be Senator
from Wisconsin, tried his fortune in Pres
ident Johnsons Bread and Butter Brig |
ade, then became the candidate of the
democrats of Wisconsin for Governor,
and this year appears as liberal republic !
can after presiding at the national DEM
ocratic convention held at Baltimore.
In his public speeches in this State Mr..
Doolttle put on the appearance of great
candor and sincerity, endeavoring to i'm
press his hearers with the idea that he was
very honest and General Grant a very
dangerous man for the country. But the
New York Times in n recent number
strips the cloak from this artful deceiver
and lets the world see him as he is. The
publishers of that paper have come into
possession of letters and documents which
leave dark stain upon his character.
The story which they unfold is this, as
epitomized by the Times.
About the beginning of December, 1864,
he obtained for Thomas J. Conatty, who had
just then resigned a clerkship in the United
States Treasury, permit to purchase cotton
in certain rebel States to the amount of fifty
thousand bales. Such permits were, in those
days, considered equivalent to the bestow-
ment of a moderate fortune, and though Co.
natty supposed that Senator Doolittes infu-
ence had been exerted for him in perfectly
disinterested way, Doolittle looked at the
matter in a somewhat different light. The
Senator told the ex-clerk verbally that he had
got very good thing, and could afford to al
low him (Doolittle) share in the proceeds
without being any the poorer. To clinch the
matter, Doolittle handed Conatty draft of
letter, dated Dec. 10Th, 1864, which he had
drawn out in his own hand writing for Conat-
ty to copy, to sign, and to transmit to his
''disinterested" benefactor. The letter makes
Conatty promise, as q mark Of his high admi-
ration of the character of the Senator from
Wisconsin, to remit to him "one-fo fourth of all
the profits" realized after paying the expen-
ses, from the fortune bearing cotton permit.
The original draft Of this letter in Senator
Doolittle's hand writing is in our possession,
and has been photographed for inspection and
distribution.
In addition to this we have the originals
and fac-simile Photographic copies of letters
of the following purport: The reply dated
Dec. 30, 1864, and marked "private and con-
fidential," sent by Doolitte in acknowledge.
ment of what he calls the "magnanimous
proposition" of Conatty. In this letter the
Senator takes occasion to state that the cot
ton permit was obtained without any word
or influence or thought" of his, that he never
chad any knowledge or thought" of the mag
unanimous offer contained in Conatty's COM
munication, before receiving it. When Doc
little says his "something," perhaps he will
explain who it was that he expected to de-
ceive by this ludicrously overdene system of
Justification Then we have the original and
copies Of letter dated Dec. 3lst, 1854, in
which Doolittle incloses to Conatty an intro
duction to that recent convert to liberalism"
General Banks, and which closes with pious
ejaculation for the success of partnership
which he had begun in falsehood, and was
evidently prepared to cement in fraud. The
letter to General Banks is also in our posses.
sion, ana mas Deen Photographed ike the 9TH
ers. 1t contains the suggestive announce
ment that Senator Doolittle considered the
filling of his own pockets ga matter of great
importance to the public welfare" The last
of the series is from Dooittle to Conatty, and
refers to the official list of articles which the
War Department had prohibited being ex-
changed for cotton. 1t is dated Jan. g., 1865,
and shows that Senator Doolittle was deter
mined to spare no effort to obtain "fortune"
of which he had secured himself so very sub.
stantial slice.
Senator Doolittle cannot deny the genuine
ness Of these letters, which are all in his own
hand writing. If his memory is at fault
about their contents. let him select some i'm
partial and respectable persons to whom the
originals may be submitted for the better in
formation of himself and the public. We
shall be glad to furnish our quota of ire
proachable members of any committee of in
spection, and shall abide by their verdict up
on the correctness with which we have given
the contents of the letters, and, if need be,
upon the genuineness of the letters them
selves. Only let Senator Doolittle say his
something" quickly or retire forever into
merited oblivion and disgrace.