The daily gazette., 1875-11-10
From the Baltimore Gazette.
The CIetCs- Cheecer AfUster'U.

Four typical cases of Republican
fraud and peculation are just now
prominently before the public-the
| Clews-Cheever case, the st. Louis
whiskey frauds, the Freedman's Bank
swindle, and the Frecdman's Bureau
frauds. The developments in these
cases ought to condemn any political
party, and disgust honest people with
the administration of General Graut,
even if previous investigations by
Congress had not revealed long Sc
ries of other and equally astounding
rascalities. Taking the cases we have
particularly specified in their order, we
propose from time to time to say a few
words about each Of them. We begin
with that of Clews-going somewhat
over old ground The Baringsof London
were the financial agents of the United
States Government for nearly three
quarters of century. For every dol
! lar they disbursed during that period
they accounted honestly.
Their financial standing was of the
best, and time drafts, drawn upon them
by United States officials in distant
ports, found ready sale at discount of
three per cent. Sight drafts were in
variably paid by them promptly on
demand. In no case did they ever fail
to uphold the credit of the United
States from their own means, when
the money on hand to the credit of the
Government was not sufficient to meet
the emergency. Without forewarning,
and without cause, the financial agency
so long held by them was taken away,
divided hat tho 6rp of
Cooke, McCulloch & Co. and Clews &
Habicht-the naval financial agency
being gwen to the fsrmer, the diplo-
matte and consular to the latter. By
what means Cooke, McCulloch & Co.
got their appointment is one of the
mysteries that time has yet to unravel.
How Clews & Hsbicht obtained theirs,
we have recently been told by Mr.. II.
B. Cheever, notorious lobbyist of
Washington. Our readers are aware
that Clews & Hsbicht are bankrupt,
and that Cheever has put in claim
for one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, being the one. fourth part of the
profits of the financial agency alleged
to have been procured by him. The
examination of Cheever before the
trustee developed the significant and
suggestive fact that five parties were
interested in the profits OF the Clews
agency, but by subsequent arrange
ment, of which we shall speak present
| ly, the number was reduced TO four.
fourth part of the profit; one James
| Van Buren another fourth, and the
remaining fourth was to be divided
between Cheeyer and Judge Louis
Dent, the brother-in-law of General
Grant.
All this has been stated before, but
the recapitulation is necessary in
| order to understand the sequel. The
one half of Cheever's fourth, assigned
to Dent, was, by subsequent agree
ment between Clews and Dent, can
celed-the latter receiving instead fif-
teen thousand dollars in cash and the
lucrative position of attorney for the
| firm of Clews Il Habicht. The claim
Of Cheever and Dent to be sharers in
the PROFITS of the agency rests upon
the same basis-the influence they arc
said to have eXertcd in obtaining the
agency for Clews. AS Secretary Fish
and Mr.. Boutwell, both disavow all re-
spomibility in the matter, it is not
difficult tosurmise by what paramount
authority the transfer was made, The
dark shadow of suspicion is thrown
directly across the threshold of the
White House.
And just here we reach the most
mysterious part of the Clews-Cheever
compact. The written agreement
shows that one half of the profits of
agency was to 90 to Clews & Habicht,
the other half TO James Van Buren and
Cheever, with the understanding that
Cheever was to divide his share with
Judge Dent. Now Clews & Habicht
we know, and Cheever and Dent are
also known. but James Van Buren is
one of those mysterious persons of
whom Cheevcr himself processes to
know nothing. If Cheevers share OF
the profits was one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, James Van BuIen
was entitled to similar sum. Yet
he has put in no claim, and nobody
seems to know who he is, or what he
is, or where he is to be found
Here again we touch upon strange.
ly suggestive point. When the search
for this Mr.. Van Buren became "hotn
as thS ChiIuI Gil sd NlO plhy Ut niue
and seek"-the examination of Chee-
yer before the trustee was postponed
until the Goth of November 1t was
intimated by Cheever himself that
when the examination was resumed
the mystery about James Van Buren,
would be disclosed Well, the Goth of
November came, and another post
ponement was had, and now the pub
lie is informed that Cheever will not
be called Hpon to testify again, "his
claim having been settled out OF conrt." p"
On the other hand, the trustee of
Clews & Co. asse rts that the investiga-
tion will 60 on, and an attempt to be
made to hold Chcever responsible to
the creditors Of Clews 81 Co., as one
OF the partners of the firm.
We do not believe that anything of
the kind will be done, for at the back
Of Cheever stands tn 1t mysterious per-
sonage James Van Buren,, and it must
be evident to everybody that the
reasons that impelled Cheever to drop
his suit were reasons that were vital