Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-03-07
aES. RlnOoCK's TESTIMONY

lne eNuence OF Hens buOCOcN, VINO was
examined yesterday by the Senate lnyest-
eating committee, will be found ln other col
umns. As will be seen, Il Is as clear and en-
phatlc as that given by Gen. Porter, on Mon
day last In denial aud contradiction Of all
the points In the unseemly and slanderous
scandal that has filled the columns Of the
Democratic and "sore-head Republican
newspapers during the last two or three
months.
As there seems to be disposition to evsdc
the issues as they were Hrst presented, we
desire To briefly recapltulate them in order to
show what on one hand has been alleged,
and what on the other has boen proven to be
false and untoundei. Our readers recollect
that when the investigation Into the alleged
abuses In the New York custom-house was
begun In that city Horace Greeley was one
Of the 1rst witnesses who was placed upon
the stand. The editor OF the Tribune teati-
fed that one Lamont told him that he had
heard from John P. Lindsey that Gen. Bah
cock aud Gen. Porter were Interested with
Col, Leet In the general-order business; that
large share Of the profits were sent to
Washington 10 deirAy the expenses Of the
mess"
This was the main point that from frst to
last has been made and insisted upon. The
object was to connect the Presidents secre-
tarIes, and through them possibly the Presl-
dent himself with the Irregularities In New
York. Lindsey, when he was examined, de-
MED that he had ever made any statement OF
the kind to Lamont 50 that Grseley's eVI-
dence fell 10 the ground. Still the Tribune
stuck TO Its slAnder, and loudly called for the
examination OF the Presidents secretaries.
Both these gallant officers volunteered to 20
upon the stand; In fact, they demanded, as a
matter OF right, an opportunity to do so.
General Porter's testimony, given on
Monday, and General Babcock's, yesterday,
sweep away, In the opinion OF all candid and
falrmlnded men, the entire batch OF foul
charges and slander. and suspicious that
have been cast upon them. General Porter
swore that he was 10 no way concerned with
Colonel Leet in the general. order business;
General Babcock brands the story that he
had anything to do with 1t as untrue and un-
founded. Both gentlemen swear positively
that they never received single cent from
Colonel Leet, aud that the "mess' about
which we have heard so much, instead OF
costing a thousand dollars per month, cost
less than sixty
Aud yet the Tribune, In reviewing General
POTter's testimony, (and we presume II will
serve General Bibcock In the same way,) says
that all this evidence Is not material" and
does not "appreclably affect the case" From
this we are enabled To form Rn estimate Of
the truthful character Of Horace Greeley,
about which his friends aud admirers are 50
fond OF Wanting, Mr.. Greeley ISLANDERS two
gentlemen, and when II Ia proved under oath
that he was mlslnfOrmed, or that he dellber-
atoly told an untruth, instead OF making any
apology or retractlng his false charges, he
merely repeats and reiterates the slander
and dismlsses It's denial with the remark that
Il "ls not material" II the evidence OF Cen
eral Porter, denying every slanderous asser-
ton that has been made, Is not material, "
what In the name Of goodness can be mate
rial" 10 this investlgationi
Tho fact Is, the whole fabric Of fraud and
falsehOod has fallen to the ground, and the
Tribune knows 1t. Every assertion that 1t
made with the object of damaging the Admin
istratiOn has been contradlcted point blank,
aud Is unsupported by the eyidepce. The
testimony of Generals Porter and Babcock Il
conclusive, and nothing more remains to bC
said. Tho attempt to destroy the character
and reputation OF these young officers, who
are simply endeayorlng to discharge thelI
duty honestly and fairly and fully, US they
have discharged 1t In other and more stormy
scenes, has failed. For months and MONTH
set of mendacious politicians and news
paper editors and correspondents have en-
deayored to bring ruin 'and Disgrace upor
them and their official chief, the President Of
the United States. No trick has boon toe
low, no means too vile, for them to resort to
but II has all failed, aud these persons have
only succeeded In writing themselves dowI
rs slanderers and bearers Of false witness.