New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-01
preliminary canvass. II this is not putting
old issues behind party, we may as well
DESPAIR of ever seeing such step.
AR. MURPHYS CONrEpERA7F.

N.
After q campaign wherein they had ex-
bausted all the resources of personal viliiica-
ton, the Grant organs finally vcntured upon
the most elaborate and slanderous as
sauts upon the private character of
Senator FentOn at the age of eighteen. We
thereupon gave them notice that forbearance
had ceased to be virtue. We did not pro-
pose to beat the tom-tOm for months before
hand about what we were going to prove. We
made no insinuations. We did not invent stories
about probable appointments under the next
Administration as a pretext for dragging men
into the canvass. We purposed taking men
now in place, and showing what they had
done to deserve it. First we refuted utterly
the SANDER against the Senator. Then we
disposed of the Naval Officer for whose sake
Moses III. GrinneD was rudely thrust out
Even 30 and more also we propose to do
with others of equal prominence and more
brains. And first we go to a place we have
visited before TO some purpOse,-tho Custom
house.
Mr.. Chester A. Arthur is Collector of the
Port of New-York. When proof of Thomas
Murphy's swindlng as an army contractor
permitted that worthy servant of the corrupt
administration TO resign, with certificate OF
good character and honesty, and the privilege
of naming his successor. Mr.. Arthur had long
been a proteg6 of the swindlng contractor,
and has ever since been his faithful shadow
in the Office of Collector.
We have information further that Mr.. Ches-
ter A. Arthur was more than all ths,-that
he was formerly confederate of Murphy
in army contracts. He may as well devote
some little of his ample leisure and talents
to explaining to the merchants and I'M
porters of New-YOrk and the country, who
are so vitality interested in the honest admin
istration of the customs, how and why he be-
came partner in the following transaction
of Thomas Murphy:
On July 10, 1861, Chester A. Arthur resigned
the Office of Inspector General, and was imme-
diately made Quartermaster-GeDer OF this
State, rice Culver Van Vechten, who resigned the
Quartermaster-G eneralship at the same time
to be made Inspector General. In other words,
these two officers of Gov. Morgan's staff
changed places. We believe the change to
have been made in the interests of Murphy and
for his purposes of fraud. Within fortnight
after it had been effected, proposals were pub
lshed by Quartermaster Arthur for caps for
the State troops; and still later, in May, 1862,
other proposals for another supply of caps were
published. Among those who offered to sup
ply the full quantity were Thomas Murphy, at
% cents, which was the highest bid; and
Messrs. l.. j. Philips 81 Co., then of West-sty
at 90 cents, the lowest bid. There were sew
eral other bids at prices between these two,
but Quartermaster Chester A. Arthur assigned
the contract to Thomas Murphy at % cents
Thereupon Mr.. Murphy, having been supplied
with copy of Philips's bid, applied
to the Messrs. Philips, who sold him all the
caps wanted at Csc. (prices having meantime
advanced slightly, and this firm thus filed the
contract, and Murphy (and Arthur y pOcleted a
profit of soc. on many thousands of caps
(Messrs. Philips g. Co.'S books will show how
many without ever handling the goods or
employing one cent Of money in their manu-
facture. The money thus fraudulently made
by Murphy is still due the State.
Has Mr.. Arthur any good reason to offer
why he should not next be furnished with q
certificate of honesty from the White House
and be retired, before Congress and the In
vestgating Committees reassemble-with the
Greeley Administration itself only three months
distant3