The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-07
TEE CUSTOM HOUSE INQUIRY.
Examination Of General Babcock-He Knows
Nothing About the General Order Business,
Very Little About SANTANA Bay, Was
Reciprocal to Lindsay and Con-
siderate to Murphy

| WASHINGTON, March o, 1872
The New York Custom House Investigating Com.
mittee resumed its session this afternoon.
communication was received from A. G. Page,
OF Bath Me-, complaining OF wrongs inflicted by the
Custom House officials in the matter of importations,
seizures and compromises. and asking for an inves-
tigation. conversation took place as 10 whether
the committee could examine into matters other
| than those connected with the New York Custom
House. The committee came TO no conclusion; but
Mr.. Bayard, who presented the paper. withdrew the
same, saying ne would ask the Senate to authorize
the committee to consider It,
| GENERAL BABCOCK TEsTIFIEs.
| General Babcock was then sworn. He testified he
was MAJOR In the Corps or Army Engineers. He
was on duty with the President as a secretary and
since July last has been In charge OF public build
ings and grounds. and is Engineer OF the Potomac
| Aqueduct.
The CHAIRMAN, addressing General Babcock, said
he was aware the newspapers had asserted that
Colonel Leet was engaged In the general order bust
ness in such way as implicated President Grant
and some OF the members OF his military family, and
asked General Babcock whether he had any knowl-
edge OF the general order business and how Colonel
Leet had secured itP IL had also been intimated
that these secretaries had have no small pecunL
airy interest in the matter.
NO INTEREST WHATEVER.
General BABCoCK replied:-.I have no interest
whatever In the general order business with Leet,
Stocking or any other person, nor have received
single cent IN any way or shape from It, nor have
made any arrangement to receive any benefit or
| interest from any Custom House of1icersn He fur
| Their testified that Lee5 became o member OF his
and General Porter's mess IN the spring OF 1869;
| he did not at That time have knowledge OF his
ueet's interest In the general order business; he
did not know IL until the discussion OF tue report OF
Mr.. PattersoA's Retrencnment Committees; Colonel
Leet never paid more than one ffn OF the expenses
Of the mess: he became acquainted with Mr.. Leet
In the spring OF 1854; he was then assistant adju-
tain; that was when he tjabcock Joined the star
OF Lieutenant General Grant.
In answer to Senator Bayard's cross-examina-
ton, General Babcock said lie was still an offcer IN
the Engineer corps, ana was detailed as secretary
to the President, when place he now held; he
drew pay as major OF engineers with ten years.
service; before the Inauguration he was on Grants
staff, and drew colonel's pay; he drew only one
pay nOw-that OF a major OF engineers: he knew
Leet intended to get into some business, and, from
what LeeI saiu the witness obtained the idea that
| Leet had thought OF going
INTO THE WAREHOUSE BUSINESS,
and Leet might have mentioned the general order
business: he mad no idea Of what the general order
business was; ne knew q lew days before the APP
polntment OF Grinnell that the latter was to be ap
pointed Collector Of , tne p9ri OF New YORK; he
bv Grant to Leet was written few DAYS before
that appointment and that ITS date showed that
nell had treated MN very kindly; Leet spoke Of
this only IN general way; Leet was not 10 his
something more than his pay as an officer OF the
army; he dld not see anything when Leet messed
with him to show he had an increase OF income.
In answer to question whether the witness knew
Leet was drawing $500 month as q sinecure at
at that lime, Dsocock replied. OF this he knew
Lindsay during the last year OF the late war, and
did not remember seeing him again until the close
OF the war; he afterwards saw him In New York; ne
thought that as Lindsay had Neen civil to him he
would, If occasion arose, reciprOcate his Kindness
whether eth he next saw Lindsay IN New YORK 'e Of
washington he thought he saw MIN on the same
postvely saw he saw Lindsay from 1894 To- 1859:
he did not remember writing any communication
to Lindsay, except In returning his thanks for hav.
ing sent him some trout; Lindsay had never been
at his housd or private rooms; he did not remem-
Der seeing MIN az the Executive Mansion but once.
Mr.. BAYARD asked General Babcock to look at
the letter handed to him. General Babcock said 1t
was written ny hm out he did not recollect he
had done so until just reminded OF the fact.
He read the letter as IolOws:-
TO EEcIPRocATE KINDNESS.
wAsu,rsroa E1 s. - Eye, MaA,H,s 1919
MY DEAR LINDsAY-Your letter reached me to-day II
the %a Reo e
S not sna note to o% each bsv. o or +
imposing upon US shan De pleased to do whatever can
o IN r. M be and sdS
gentlemen your house Hoping hear from you when
can be OF any service am, yours truly.
Up. LINDSAY, IS John street, New York.
did not know at the time he wrote that letter that
Lindsay held the confidential position OF secretary
to no a asav e 6a reDed mat
but supposed so. lie was further asked whether he
knew OF any proposition from Leetto Lindsay rela-
tive 10
sPEcULAT IN ST. DOMINGO
and speculatiOns In the Tybee. Babcock replied
ns aS%ase ls' to repealed ws
That ne lens knew new ., OF o n no plans by which
AVA mo nraf maj oY
500, 900 mad Deen made by tue government to st.
domingo; this was provided for in the treaty which
he negOtlated the 100000 were on account OF the
lease OF the SANTANA Bay; further provision was
$50, 900 in arms ana munitions OF war. the receipt
was made in November, 1862 alter the signing Of
the treaty; II was made to the dominican govern
ment; the money was paid through the American
The CHAIRMAN inquired whether the witness
knew OF any one VINO had received money on &C
General BABCoCx replied that he did not Being
further interrogated he knew OF no American
citizen who was Interested in railroads In ST.
Domingo, but Mr.. sullivan informed him that he
tMr. SULLIVAN had an interest 10 railroad from
savan other partes He knew ~" Of
one American citizen who entered into the banking
business IN 81. Domingo tMr. Prince but under.
10 he benefited by land grants IN the event or an
nexaiion. He knew that gentleman mad a sur
OF proposed annexation. lie could not say that
Mr. Sullivan did not hold an official position, as
ne may nave pecn enploJeu Ny inc SECRETARY OI
State
MIR. CAssfRLY interrogated Babcock at some
length IN regard TO st. Domingo and In the course
of MS replies ne SAID there might have been large
purchases OF land In 1869 and 1870, but not his
knowledge.
Genera BABcocK presented the following letter,
which was read:-
EMBARRAss tom.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGToN d. G., July II, 1Si0}
SIaI In receipt OF letters apply ing for
ton to you for places In the New YORK Gus
House. wish to embarrass you
working of that Office in any have therefore,
given such letters shall do wish you all
cess that you TO be responsible for that
great Office you mus: appoint your own assistants
am, yours very truly. q. h. BABCOCK.
To Hon. MuRPY. Collector of Customs, York.
The committee adjourned till Monday at half-past
ten O'Clock, after ordering the following gentlemen
to be summoned for examination on that day:-Wll.
liam II. Townley, George W. White and John Ben
nett, OF New YORK; and TO be examined on Wednes-
day. Thomas Murphy, William orion, A. II. Lanin
and +. L. Howe OF New York.
The GERMAN SOCIETY.