The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-07-16
From the New YORK Tribune.l
fhe "Old C0ekeye' Letter.

SIR:-Gen. Butler, in his speech in
/ the House OF Representatives, defend
ing the Sanborn contacts, alluded to
a letter written by the Hon. Charles
Foster, OF Ohio, to the undersigned.
IN which the writer refers To Gen.
Butler by a pet name which the Mas
saehusetts member seems To have ae-
eepted with prOmptness aud in a spir-
II OF POPULARITY that leads one to be-
iieye that after all the term was rath-
er pleasing than otherwise e. Mr.. But
I Ter claimed to quote from a eoDv Of
this letter, and said it was headed
picked up in the streets Of Brook
/ lyn." To show that this sspicking m
in the streets" theory lacks the ele-
ments of truth and plausibiIity.
need only say that the letter in ques-
tion Is now in my possession, and has
been all the time since first reeeiv.
ed II, with the exception Of a very
short time, when il was in the hands
of gentleman who certainly never
was suspected OF entertaining any
friendly feelings for ''Sanborn's attOr.
ney." Some Que else in the Office Of
the gentleman referred TO must have
made the copy and sent il to Butler.
L will not stop tO charscteriz4 the
methods employed 10 get before Con-
gress the eOnteuls Of 3 private letter,
written in friendly Intimacy, but in
close the letter of Mr.. Foster for pub
LEGATION, so that the public may see the
full extent OF his offending.
Yours, &c. J.W. HARMAN.
BROOKLYN, July !, 1874.
LETTER OF CONGRESSMAN FOSTER.
MY DEAR HARMAN Your much
esteemed favor OF the 9th is at hand.
In the discharge of certain duties
Imposed upon me by the Ways and
Means COmmitte, | discovered Il e
existence of the Sanborn contracts.
Upon working up the history of the
legislation under which the contracts
We're made, saw at q glance that the
whole thing was cOneeivei in iniqu-
ty and forthwith determined to 90
to the bOttOm of it. offered the first
resolution directing copies OF eoU-
tracts, etc, to be transmitted To the
House. About this time learned
through the papers OF the indictment
In Brooklyn. Some Of the gentlemen
connected with this matter at the
Treasury at once began to seek
modification, and finally, after
two weeks delay, declined to
furnish full Information. 1 was
again authorized by my Committee
to offer another resolution cali
ing for full Information; this latter
resolution SO framed as to cover all
correspondence and orders, as well as
copies OF contracts. In short, intend
ed TO have it reach every transaction
In AofafI 90 "a 10. sg- n
partment was concerned. To this
Butler Oblected-one objection being
fatal. He (B seemed to feel that he
had placed himself in an awkward
predicament, and desired me to offer
IL again before Monday when I could
pass it under suspension.) To this !
assented and agreed to permit him to
make q speech, to which Gen. Wool
ford and myself were to reply.
To my disgust when / offered it,
Butler simply Withdrew bis objection,
and expressed the hope that the House
would pass the resolution. Now. /
submit that this was unkind in "Old
COekeye." IL lost the General and
myself the opportunity Of expressing
our virtuOus Indignation over this
matter, and beside | know | should
have had some good hits at Butler.
am also authorized TO report bill
tOirepeai the law under which these
contracts were made. am waiting
for some facts IN relatiOn to operations
OF the law, and think now l will re-
port it next week.
SanbOrn's friends call on me daily
with propositions Of mOdifestions OF
his contracts. He offers now to go on
at q per cent
My Investigations, so far, lead me
to conclude that the Government can 6
afford to obtain money in this way,
and in the kindred ways in relation
to collections of customs. think the
whole thing a disgrace, and although
they have the sanction Of time, hope
to see such laws wiped out.
would like to know TeIny. II he
comes here, tell him to hunt me up.
Your friend, Q. FOSTER.