The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-25
The Daily Arens.
The C1ews Exposures.

We are permitted by the favor of gen.
tleman who was In close rapport with the
transactions of the period to print copious
extracts from a record or diary which he
then kept relating to the withdrawal of our
financial agency abroad from the Earrings,
who had held it since the foundation of the
government, and its transfer to the mush
room house of Clews Il Co. These recol-
Iectlons are OF great interest In connection
with the ecent testimony before the reg
lster In bankruptcy, which proves that the
'lansfer was corrupt transaction. Had
the Oh lnge been fit thing in itself the
services o. a paid lobby and corrupt
division Of the profits would not have been
uee1ed to secure it. The remarkable re-
ports Of conversations and extracts from
correspondence which we are permitted to
publish show that every distinguished
man whose judgment was entitled to
antic of President Grants administration,
it we're MIR. Seward, then in London, who
gave his views with great emphasis, and
Secretary Fish, whose disapproval was
strongly expressed, The then recently re-
tired secretary OF state and the secretary
of state in Office were the two most COM
petent judges of the expediency of such a
change. 1tappears from those revela-
tons that even Mr. Boutwell, thought it a
great mistake and that his opinion was
overruled by the only officer who had
| authority to control him.
One of the writer's of the letters from
which extracts are given called on Mr..
Seward in London when the news of the
change was fresh, aud the veteran states
man, with much warmth and vigor, de-
bounced the change and said it would Re
great misfortune to the United States
and he proceeded to state his reasons,
which we print He went on to re-
count instances which had occurred during
his administration of the state department
where the Earrings had gone beyond the
rules of business and taken voluntary
risks in advancing money to tie United
States in critical emergencies. On sub
sequent occasion, at dinner 10 Paris by
Minister Washburne, at which Mr. Seward
and other notabilities were present., Nj.
Seward asked Mr.. Washburne through
what agency he drew his salary, and when
it was replied, Through Messrs. Clews
Habicht Il Co., of London, agents of the
state department" Mr.. Seward asked,
who is Habicht?" and on Mr.. Wash.
burne telling him that Habicht had been
the Swedish consul at New York, Mr.
Seward replied, "Why, when l wa:
secretary of state withdrew his exequatur
because We caught him in blockade run
ming" A precious successor to the old
solid, responsible and honored house o
the Earrings!
When the writer of one Of these letters
expressed his opinion of this change il
Washington the secretary Of the treasur,
J spoke in praise of the Earrings and SAT-
The was not responsible for the change.
The inevitable inference is that it was tn
presidents own act, as nobody but tn
president could have cOerced Secretar,
Boutwell, to act against his Judgment TIL
same correspondent explained to Secretar
Fish the embarrasments that had resulte
= to the public credit from the Withdraw
Of the agency from the Earrings, and MI
Fish deprecated the change, but said
was not Of his making" All who tax
an interest in the subject will, of course
, read this correspondence, The stron
disapproval of Messrs. Seward, Fish an
v Boutwell, proves that the change Va
absurd, and the fact. recently come t
light, that it was procured by corruE
, means, puts the high officer who enforce
it in most unenviable light This i
perhaps. the most humiliating exposur
that has ever been made in the history {
our government.-N Y Herald.