The New York herald., 1875-12-27
Both Sides Of the Question
Discussed.
How the "Sylph" and Other De,
Spatches Were Discovered.
HOW THIRD TERM HINGES ON WaISNEY
The Secretary'8 Explanation
Before the President.

lhe report that the president contemplated exertng
the pardoning power In favor Of Joyce only
terly unounded but ia direct opposition TO The Presi
dents views to Joyce's claims % executive elem
ency Having had unusual opportunities Tor ascertain.
ing the opinions entertained by General Grant concern
ing Joyces criminality In the fraudulent and theyng
operations of the Whskey Ring at St LOUIS can state
confidently that the President regards Joyce Il the
greatest criminal Of all whose names have been prom.
inently mentioned in connection with the whiskcy
frauds
WHAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES
He believes that while some men may have been ncau
ousy led into the Ring others may have been forced
into IL 10 avoid failure aud business Joyce be.
longs to neither class but stands prominently in the
foreground Of the original Sinners one OF the
ganizers and constant managers Of the Ring from in
auguraton to its exposure. And to Joyce his cum
ming manipulation OF letters and kilograms much Of
Babcocks present and apparent disgrace atrib
utable.
FAcrs.
Notwithstanding the almost daily accounts which have
been published broadcast throughout the land concern
Ing Babcock and bis connection with the Whiskey Ring
the public, save glimpse at certain published tele
grams purporting to have been ana received by
Ba0cock, remains in ignorance as to the inner history
Of the case, whether relating the prosecution or
fence. Knowing the deep interest already manifested
throughout the country touching the guilt
OF Babeock, and that upon the verdict Of the fury
empanelled to try Babcock may depend the determine
ton OF the question who shall be tho next President
Of the United States have been actively engaged or
several days in obtaining for the readers Of the HERALD
as many facts could be cleaned upon the Babcock
case, and am prepared TO briefly summarize all the
points Of both the prosecution defence which are
likely to reach the public advance the trial It
seems that Babcock's connection with the Whiskey
first ed in IL Nm tha
prosecution Of Joyce and Mcdonald or rather during
the investigation at St. Louis which led their pros
ecution, il became necessary overhaul examine
carefully all kilograms from Washington to the
members Of the Ring at St. Louis These were found
among the retained copies Of dispatches kept Gle IN
the telegraph office at ST. Louis Hon Bluford Wilson
Solicitor OF the Treasury, acting under the special
orders and instructions Of his chief Bristow was the
person charged with this duty
THE s'sYLpHn DESPATCH
Among other kilograms came across the now famous
"sylph" despatch, dated At Washington. Following up
this clew he proceeded to Washington and from the tel
egraph Office here obtained the gua telegram signed
sylph OF which fac-simile has since appeared in the
HERALD. Stll ignorant to its authorship Solicitor
Wilson carried the despatch to the oico Of the Secre-
ary Of the Treasury and submitted IL Bristow who
familiar with Babcock's handwriting sooner cast his
eyes upon the paper than he exclaimed 'Why this Is
Babcock's writing After consultation IL was de.
cided by Brstow and Wilson that the proper
4 pursue proceed at to the White House and
lay the matter before the President The latter read
the despatch and at summoned Babcock to his
presence. The telegram shown TO him and he at
once admitted II having been written by him He
then and there submitted to the President an expana-
tion the meaning and occasion Of the send
! ing OF the telegram, which explanation satisfied the
President that Babcock's action explained not only
tree Of all crminaity but really step taken
by Babcock TO prevent rather than commit fraud. The
4 long established confidence Of General Grant in
| his favorite aid ande private secretary remained
unshaken. According to Babcock the despatch had
4 been signed "Syph, instead OF having his real sig
nature appended, simply owing to the fact that the
4 word ''Syiphn iavorite one with Mcdonald and
the adoption OF would at convey recipient
/ the from which II II is claimed how
ever, by Of the officials prominently connected
with the prosecution Of the Ring that Babcocks inno
Il cence explained to the President depended upon
his solemn statement then and there made that the
/ despatch in question, the only that time dts
covered by the law officers representing the govern
I ment, the only he had sent TO the ST. Louis
! members OF the Ring, whereas later inves
4 tigations unearthed several other kilograms all
! in the handwriting OF BAbcock addressed the now
convicted leaders Of the whiskey Ring ST. Louis the
authenticity of which has since been acknowledged BY
him.
PRESIDENTIAL LOGIC
This apparent discrepancy Bebcock's explanation
TO the President does receive much consdera.
ton from the latter tending Babcock's guMt The
President says that while Baocock may have many
teegrams and letters and undoubtedly did send several
kilograms to parties IN ST. Louis who were suhse.
quenty discovered to be defrauding the government
yet OF all these kilograms but one-that signed
'Sylphn-seems 70 require explanation as having
tanned any alusion 10 Whskey Ring matters and as
regards that one the President accepts Bah
cocks explanation correct, and to this day
the confidence Of General Grant in the innocence, in
tegrity and honor Of Babcock remains unshaken thus
furnishing another exemplcation Of that oitremarked
and certainly commendable trait tn the Presidents
character which renders his friendship, when once
formed lasting once a friend always a friend seems
10 be hrs motto While the President admits that Bah
cock while dlschargng his duties private secretary
had frequent receive and answer letters in
tended for the President yet the latter does not hest
tate to assert conversation with his friends that he
knew nothing OF and never the contents or any
or the dispatches sent by Babcock and made public
during the trial OF the leaders Of he whskey Ring at
ST. Louis until after the investigation brought them
/ TO light.
NOT N THE wHisKgT RING
1 The effort therefore by certain unscrupuous par
\ ties 10 connect the President tn some criminal
\ manner with the operations Of the Whiskcy
Ring is unjust In the highest degree he may have
4 erred in she choice Of his trends, and his con-
i ddence in their Official honesty may have been
misplaced-in fact Of this there is not particle
Of doubt-but beyond this his culpabilty does
tend Opposed 10 the grounds upon which the Pres-
dent bases the or Babcock the prosecutors
Of the whissey Ring, guided by Brstew and Wilson,
claim to be possession Of evidence which falls
coincide with Babcocks explanation 70 the
President Neither Brlstow nor Wilson was
satisfied with the manner in which Babcock
ordeavored 90 dispose o. the 'Sylphn dc.
spatoh. Hence they continued their efforts 10 dis
cover further evidence and by their brought
down upon them the dsapprova II not the ire Of the
President who, maintaining his belief in the innocence