New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-07

his fair and considerate letter Of the Sd inst gives him
PIerrepOnb the opportunity to fully explain certain
charges contained in newspaper publications, copies Of
which had been inelosed 10 him. The AtorneyGeneral
says that tn relation to the whisky at st. Louis,
Chicago and Milwaukee, the Secretary OF the
Treasury and himself were in frequent con
sutarion and they never differed in their
policy, nor in what they deemed the best
mode Of carrying out the policy In October
Last while the Solicitor OF the Treasury In St. Louis,
they agreed upon and the Secretary dispatched COM
muncaOn the Solicitor in the way Of instructions in
which he said among other things that unless important
ends were to be gained in other he would make
no terms with any individual person. The Attor-
ney-General says the policy indicated in this order
was not communicated by him In any circular letter
TO the DstricAttorDeys of these cities tut II in
tended he carried alike in St. Louis, Chicago, and
Milwaukee. Nothing occurred to lead the Attorney
General the Secretary OF the Treasury, the So
lctOr 50 far rs the AttOrneyGcnera knew believed,
TO change this policy in any degree hut about the mid
die OF January. aud subsequent thereto. various news
paper slips, private letters and personal statements
to the Pre- ident, and In lesser degree to the
Attorney General, saying that bargains being made
were about be made with criminals whose testi-
mOny not IN tho slightest degree needed by which
large number of criminals were 20 be let of from
any kind OF punishment, to be relieved OF
prosecution in likely to bring
and quite at variance with the policy expressed
by the Secretary of the Treasury and approved by the
Attorney General These statements were in a large
measure affirmed to thc President and subsequently to
the Attorney General, by one Of the oldest and most
trust supervisors IN the service. who claimed to know
from personal knowledge upon the subject, ana
especially IA relation to criminals in Chicago.
IN this letter tie Attorney said be reposed in
the good m of the officers 70 re rain from every
thing that could 10y any possibility be construed ~ favor
isn toward those who had frauded the Government,
aud remarked: Il is tire Presidents reiterated desire
that no guilty man should escape" few days later
the President, being al further pressed about le mat
ter, sent for the AtDrncyGenefn 10 learn whether nc
had taken any action In the matter As the letter
was purely official, aud as al such letters nc
eye ~ the DstrctAtorueys ana Tor ae sole purpose
Of advising them OF the complaints winch were being
made and To caution men hgan' any aiIoa an'e ~
IMPROPER management the Attorney neral Wa gtaiH
surprised at the publication of the letter. ana quite
amazed that " should De wre'ted IRON It's Original puI
pose ana used Tor ems never Imagined p 'he Ni.eI
The Attorney tcnera set himself 20 work 10 discover
how the letter found It's way into print aud finally came
the copy sent 20 the President; and he received
information which convinced him that ii was So
and the fact that " was lmEHtclY reporter III th'
Western paper led him to believe that II had been read
ano perhaps impcriccily remembered Ga speaking 20
the President the subject the latter said he had no
tOTney-G cueru says q waited Tor TIE on
poftiniIy aud lave now u,ccraincd that
Gen Bs6cock or some one Tor who had 70 the
pres cutE Iapers obtained copy Of the lcicr without
ANY knoylrdpc on the part Of the President. and that
Inc same WIS used in III manner now known 10 all
but under whose advice the Attorney docs NOT
know. II Is quite certain, ho says, Int any one ot the
TO reap advantage FROM the publication on
the letter from the very ias construction which they
mistaken The Attorney General says, that SINCE tue
acqua of Gen Bancok hc had seen II stated IN one OF
lie guilt II Cen. Babcock was communicated To
hi- counsel by the Attorney General lie wished
nd without any possible rrscra ION that there j. not
aud there was the slightest truth in the statement