The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-07-24
THE =oLD CoCKEYE" LETTER
Addressed to ]. ". Harman, Of Brooklyn,
By Congressman Foster.

70 he Editor # the Nelr YORK Tribune:
SIR:-General Butler. in his speech in
the House Of Representatives defending
the SaubOTu contracts, alluded 10 let
ter written by the Hon. Charles Foster.
Of Ohio. 70 the undersigned. il which
the writer refers - General Butler by
pet name which the Massachusetts MEM
ber seems 10 have accepted with prompt
nes- and IN a spirit Of jocdlarity that
leads one 10 believe that after all. the
name was rather pleasing than other
wi-a. Mr. Butler claimed 70 quote from
n cOIv Of this letter. and said that II was
headed .pickcd up III the streets OF
ErDoklyn.
70 now that this picking up III the
streets" theory lacks the element OF
truth and plausibiity. | need only say
that th, letter IL question i now i'll my
possession. and has been ever since |
received il. with the exception of very
short time when it was in the hands Of
n gentleman who certainly never was
suspected Of entcrtair ing any friendly
feelings for .>snbOrn's attorney" Some
one else in the Office Of the gentleman
referred TO InuSr have made the copy and
sent il to Butler. | will not stop TO
characterize the methods employed 10
get before Congress the contents of
private letter written in friendly init
macy but | enclose the letter Of Mr..
Foster for publication, 50 that the pub
lic may ~e. rhe full extent of his offend
img. Yours. &c.
j. W. HARMAN.
Nj DEAR HARMAN:-Your much es-
reciued favor Of the 9th is at hand
Ia the discharge Of certain duties i'm
posed upon me by the Ways and Means
Committee. | discovered the existence
of the Samborn contracts. Upon work
ingup the history Of the legislation under
which the contracts were made, | saw
mt a glance that the whole thing was
conceived in iniquity; and forthwith |
determined to 20 TO the bottom of it.
| offered the first resolution directing
copies OF contracts, etc, TO be transmit
ted to the House. About this time |
learned through the papers of the in
dictIuent 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 in
formation. ! was again authorized by
INV committee TO offer another resotu-
ton calling for full information; this
latter resolution | so framed as to cover
all correspondence and orders, as we'll
as copies of contracts. In short intend
ed to have it reach every transaction in
detail 50 far as the Treasury Department
was concerned TO this Butler objected
one objection being fatal. He OBJ
seemed to feel that he had placed him
self in an awkward predicament, and
desired HE to offer it again before Mon
day Cwhen / could pass it under suspen-
siOn.) To this | aSsented and agreed TO
permit him to make a speech, to which
Gen. WoodfOrd and myself were to re-
ply.
Tom disgust, when offered it, But
Ter simply withdrew his objection, and
expressed the hope that the House would
pass the resolution. Now | submit that
this was very unkind in "Old Cockeye."
1t lost the General and myself the OPP
pOrtunity of expressing our virtuous in
dignatiOn over this matter, and besides |
know should have some good hits at
Butler
/ am also authorized TO report bill
to repeal the law under which these
contracts werg made. | am waiting for
some facts in relation to operations of
the law, and think now | will report
it next week.
SanbCrn's friends call on me daily
with propositions of notifications of
his contracts. lie offers now to 90 on at
- per cent.
My investigations, so far, lead me to
conclude that the Government can't af-
ford to obtain money in this way, and in
the kindred ways III relation to cOllec-
tions of customs. l think the whole
thing IL disgrace. and although they
have the sanction of tiiEe, hope to see
such laws wiped out.
/ would like to know Tenny. IL he
comes here tell him to hunt me up.
Your friend. G. FOSTER.