Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-16


GeneraI-There Cabiaet Officers and
Commissioner Collins Implicated.
Chicago Times, June Il.
Reporter-How did your fight origi-
nate?
Mr. Binckley-Well, it was near the
close IF Mr.. JobnsOn's administration.
The time was past when he could look
for a reelection; ne had successfully
weathered the impeachment storm,
though "by the skin Of his teeth, " as
the phrase goes: he was IN favor with
neither party, had no friends TO serve
or enemies tOpunish, at least for party s
sake, and hence 1t was a good time TO
do something for himself, to hand his
name down 10 posterity with a great
refOrmatory movement. l think Mr..
johnson was In earnest when he en-
tered upon the war, and he gave up
only because he was scared out of It.
/ don't blame him much. Few Presi-
dents would care to see half the men,
bers Of their cabinet exposed, and that
is what would have happened If l had
been let alone but a few days Logger.
R.-You were acting Attorney Cen
eral at this time
Mr.. B.-Well, in certain sense 1
was. Mr.. Stanberry was old, not capa-
bic of attending TO much routine work,
was absent a considerable portion Of
the time, and so it devOlved on me to
take his place IN the cabinet.
Rid you enter upon the fight as
assistant Attorney General?
Mr. B.-NO. When Mr.. johnson
finally decided to make the raid, l was
delegated to do the work, and to that
end was made a solicitor of internal
revenue. which MAIDEN a sort Of At
torney General 30 the Revenue Bureau,
with full powers to prosecute whoever
and whenever I s-w fit.
Rid you succeed IN finding
mlIch evidence?
Dir. Ban enormous amount. l
found that to be the least difficult part
of the Job 10 lay to hand on every
side. and not little available evidence
turned up against at least three mem
bers of the cabinet and d number Of
other officials high IN authority. So
far as Mr.. Johnson Is concerned I
think his skirts are entirely clear.
R.-What did you do whenyoumade
this discovery:
Mr.. B.-WeIl, I must confess l was
stunned for a while, and did a good
deal of hard thinking. I held IN my
hands the evidence that would ruin
scores of proud families, not to men,
ton dozens Of politicians without any
pride, and did not know but l had
taken on my bands a bigger contract
than I could deliver. But as the
thought came to me that was but an
instrument doing the work OF the peo-
pie, and backed by the President, l
concluded to pitch in, and consequent
IL continued to accumulate evidence.
AS I proceeded the atmosphere Of Of
fetal corruption became thicker and
thicker about me, and soon l felt my
self compelled to prefer formal charges
g., Tainst Rollins, Commissioner Of In
+s2,, al Revenue, and others Of the de-
,,ar+,,. ut for which l was then acting
5s ,7ros. -utor. When this was done
tba aTcitan >eut among politicians and
ring people o 'sJlerally was intense; Cab
met members became alarmed, Tor
they could not but feel that the tate
that had overtaken Rollins was also IN
store for themselves; / suddenly 1ounu
scores of detectives on ny track; great
brides were offered in one form END
another, threats were freely II, a1e1' anu
when these means failed a sea.'on Vi
palaver and COOLING set n that ""9
disgusting TO nausea.
Rim the meantime what was
President johnson doing?
Mr.. B.-Weu, 1t wasn't long before
he began to scent danger to his sttmln-
istration, and particularly Gel tam
prominent members Of it, and he be
came badly scared. 1 suddenly feit
that I stood alone. with three-fouTths
Of the press at my heels, and the whole
political influence Of the country bent
on my destruction, for you must re-
member that Johns0n's administration
was not like Grants, backed by par
tisan press. had entertained EOpes
that the Democratic press Of New
York would come to my aid, but soon
found reasons why they should not DO
so, unless they sought seif-exposure.
James Brooks was then the Democratic
press leader, and he was deeper IN the
whisky ring than he ever was IN Credit
Mobilier. l tried in vain TO get some
announcement from Washington, but
not a word came to help ne on. 1 was
not recalled, but was simply left to my
own devices. Then the ring demanded
my recall. but TO such a step President
johnson would not accede, and still he
would not support me.
R.-What did you do under those
circumstances:
MIR. B.-Weu I soon found myself
entirely IN the dark, and not reishing
the position sent IN my resignation.
R.-Was it accepted;
Mr.. B.-No, it was psremptorlly re.
fused. In the meantime a number Of
prominent men had secured the services
of Sam Ward, and be made various at
te,apts, with ways and means peculiar
TO aim. to get me to promise to deny
the sruth Of the charges that were
being rumorsd against them. Plenty
of money and glory was promised, and
when they found that would not bend
to their wishes, the feeling amounted
almost TO panic.
R.-When you sent IN your reslgna-
lion, did you remain in New York!
Mr.. B.-No, went on to Washing