The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-07-24
From the New York Tribune. I
The sold Cockeye" Letter.

SIR:-Gen. Butler, in his speech
in the House of Representatives, de-
Tending the Sanborn contracts, allu-
ded to a letter written by Hon.
Charles Foster, of Ohio, to the un-
dersigned, in which the writer re-
fers to Gen. Butler by a pet name
which the Massachusetts member
seems to have accepted with prompt
ness and in spirit of jocularity
that leads one to believe that after
all the term was rather pleasing than
otherwise. Mr.. Butler claimed to
quote from a copy of his letter, and
said it was headed picked up in
the streets of Brooklyn" To show
that his picking up in the streets"
theory lacks the element of truth
and plausibility, I need only say
that the letter in question is now in
my possession, and has been all the
time since l first received it, with
the exception of a very short time,
when it was in the hands of a gen
ueman who certainly never was sus-
pected of entertaining any friendly
feeling for "Sanborn's attorney"
Some one else in the office of the
gentleman referred to must have
made copy and sent it to Bntler.
1 will not stop to characterize the
methods employed to get before Con-
gress the contents of a private letter,
written in friendly intimacy, but in
close the letter of Mr.. Foster for
publication, so that the public may
see the full extent of his offending.
Yours, &C., J. W. HARTMAN.
BROOKLYN, July l, 1874.
LETTER OF CONGRESSMAN FOSTER.
Ny DEAR HARMAN: Your much
esteemed favor of the oath is at
hand. In the discharge of certain
duties imposed upon me by the
Ways and Means Committee, l dis
covered the existence of the San
born contracts. Upon working up
the history of the legislation under
which the contracts were made, 1
saw at glance that the whole thing
was conceived in iniquity; and forth
with l determined to go to the bot
tom of it. Iof6ered the first resolu-
ton directing copies of contracts,
etc, to be transmitted to the House.
About this time 1 learned through
the papers of the indictments in
Brooklyn. Some of the gentlemen
connected with this matter at the
Treasury at once began to seek a
modification, and finally, after two
weeks delay, declined to furnish full
information. 1 was again author
lied by my Committee to offer an
other resolution calling for full in
formation; this latter resolution I so
framed as to cover all correspon-
dence and orders, as well as copies
of the contracts. In short, intend
ed to have it reach every transac-
tion in detail so far as the Treasury
Department was concerned. To this
Butler objected-one objection being
fatal. He (B seemed to feel that
he had placed himself in an awkward
predicament, and desired and me to
offer it again before Monday (when
Icould pass it under suspension.
To this l assented and agreed to |
permit him to make a speech, to |
which Gen. Woodford and myself |
we're to reply.
To my disgust when I offered it |
Butler simply withdrew his obiec- |
tions, and expressed the hope that |
the House would pass the resolution. |
Now. I submit that this was unkind |
in "Old Cockeye." 1t lost the Gen.
and myself the opportunity of ex-
pressing our virtuous Indignation
over this matter, and beside 1 know
1 should have had some good hits at |
Butler.
1 am also authorized to report a
bill to repeal the law under which |
these contracts were made. / am
waiting for some facts in relation to
operations of the law, and think now |
I will report it next week.
Sanborn's friends call on me daily |
with propositions of notifications
of his contracts. He offers now to
90 on at 25 per cent.
My Investigations, so far, lead me
to conclude that the Government |
can't afford to obtain money in this
way, and in the kindred ways in
to collections of customs.
I think the whole thing a disgrace,
and although they have the sanction
of time, hope to see such laws
wiped out.
1 would like to know Tenny. If
he comes here, tell him to hunt me
up.
Your friend, c. Foster.