New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-14
LoNo BRANCH, July 8, 1872.

few days. This IL the summer seat, as yo
all know in Louisiana, Of our modern Ca
sar, upon whom the Customhouse Greek
bestow gifts have seen the famous cot
tages that were presented to Grant and hi
secretary Horace Porter, by Tom Murphy
John Chamberlain and John HOey. TheJ
are gorgeous little traps with Which t.
catch Offices and contracts. There wal
much speculation in the donors liberality
to Grant. The three persons named OWE
magnificent estates in proximity to the
presidential residence. Before the trio de-
cided to invest real estate in the Chief Elk
ecutive Of the nation, several important
matters were taken into consideration by
them. The first and general question was,
"Will it pay 2" The answer to this was,
lit will pay as a real estate specula-
ton, if nothing more" This con
olusion was reached by the following
reasoning: 1--WE own large amount Of
real estate at the southerly portion Of the
Branch in the vicinity Of the beach. We
can cut it up into house lots, and sell them
easily at an advanced price, if we can only
induce the President to live here perma-
nently during the fashionable season. All
the politicians would centre here with their
families, which would demand two things
certainly-a frst-rate hotel at the south
end and a race course. Few of the wealthy
citizens Of the heated cities have as yet
located here. Newport with its symmetri-
cal and always safe beach, attracts them
all. Our property will advance largely,
and the Branch will become the fashion
able summer resort, if we can have
.frst-elass hotel, a race course, and
Grant. The first thing to do is to
secure Porter. HIM secured, we haze the
ear of Grant Grant is gift-taker"
Thus the trio reasoned. Porter was seen.
Twenty thousand dollars soon established
the young army officer in "a cottage by the
sea- at Long Branch Not long afterward
an investment Of $780, 900 more attracted
Grant fromhis official residence and official
duties in Washington to cottage BIZ the
side of Porter. Nearly opposite, on the
other side Of Ocean avenue resides the
genius Of all this plotting-Tom Murphy.
A little beyond, in a westerly direction, be-
hind spacious and beautiful lawn, nesting
in the shade Of richly fohaged trees, hedged
about with hawthorne, decorated with the
loveliest flowers, and adorned with statu-
airy chisled by the hands Of the great mas
ters, is the magnificent residence Of John
HOey. His main point was an advance in
real estate. To the east Of the presiden-
tial residence, not far distant, and imme
diately in the vicinity Of the West End
Hotel stands John Chamberlains famous
club house. This establishment excels in
spaciousness and grandeur anything of the
kind in the country, not excepting Norris
sey's gaming palace at Saratoga. Taking
advantage Of Grants acceptance Of the
cottage, Chamberlain caused to be con-
structed the great Monmouth Park race
course, the profits from which during the
last week have repaid him ten-fold for his
investments in cottages.
AS soon as it was settled that Grant
would accept the gifts, real estate went up
and politicians and spectators and gam
blers and Office seekers focked to Long
Branch. Tom Murphy, and John Hoey,
and John Chamberlain we're cocks Of the
walk" at that political watering place
Grants cottage and Chamberlain's Club
house were equally frequented by thetrio
and their friends The most social place of
the two was the latter, of course. All this
time Murphy was ensnaring poor old Mr..
esrinnell, who had been appointed collector
of the port Of New York, in the hope of
getting him ont and obtaining the place
himself. In this matter he enlisted the in |
genuity Of Mr.. Hoey, whose social hold |
upon Grant and his family had now become |
most patent.
The readers Of the REPUBLICAN may be |
surprised to learn that the men who de-
moralized Mr.. Grinnells administration of |
the New York customhouse, and caused |
him to be removed; were Leet and Stock |
ing, whose corrupt transactions in the |
carting bureau and general order bust |
ness Of the New York customhouse continue
to this day. The edear publie,p who be-
lieves everything that it reads in the Grant
papers, has been toldTthat they we're re-
moved after the last investigation by Con
gress. Such was not the fact. Grant and
Porter, and Senator Morton, of Indiana,
and MortOn's old Adjutant General of In
diana, Buck Tirrell, have been determined
that they shall not be removed. They are
all interested together in the great robber-
les that have been committed upon the
mercantile community Of New York city in
the management of the New York custom
house
The statement that Leet and Stocking
were removed as parties interested in the
General order business vas q Fa1sabood
They have ever since retained their inter
est under the name and shield of their
landlord, Mr.. Squires to whom they paw
rent, The other statement allowed to 90
to the country by Mr.. Boutwell,, that he
had reformed the earting bureau" of that
-customhouse through which Stocking Nor
tons pail and others were robbing the
merchants and the government was also a
shameful misrepresentation. From the or
ganization Of the carting bureau under the
direction and most scrutnizing care of Leet
and Stocking down through Grinnell and
Murphy to the present moment, under Ar
thur, the prices have been thirty-fye and
forty cents per package.
President Grant and Secretary Boutwell,
have had abundant evidence that the work
can be done for s25O,OOO less per annum.
Secretary Boutwell,, instead of taking the
work away from a corrupt ring and giving
1t t. men who offered ample security to him
that they could do it for the less sum named