The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-29
Who is Greatly Annoyed
from Fear Of Blackmail.
The Origin of His Order, LET
no Guilty Man Escape,
"F IT CAN BE AVOIDED"
Bristow Fearing Decapita-
ton When Entering
the Fray.

WASHINGTON, D. G., July 2S.-Before
the Committee on Whisky Trials to-day,
the examination of Blulord Wilson, ex-
Solicitor of the Treasury, was continued.
In connection with the statement, in his
previous testimony, of General Porters
explain alton Of the term "Sylph," Wilson
having refreshed his memory by refer
ence to letter from friend in New
York, testified that the annoyance which
it was said the woman .'Sylph" gave the
President, was by her efforts to bsckmail
him in st. Louis. The examination was
continued as follows:
Question-By Cochrane, Chairman OF
Sub. .Committee-You said in your ex-
animation yesterday, from the time OF
the discovery of the "Sylph' dispatch
duplicating Gen. Babcock in those whis-
ky frauds, or tending so to implicate him,
the President of the United States did
not show the same sympathy with the
Secretary OF the Treasury or yourself
that he had previously shown. Please
state any act, or acts OF the President,
from that time forward, indicating to
you that he was not in sympathy with
those whisky prosecutions?
Answer-Before l proceed 10 answer
that question, wish to make an addi-
ton to my testimony Of yesterday, in
reference TO the contents of Mr.. Bar
Aards letter, "Let no guilty man escape,
if it can. be avoided" In the body of
that letter, or in an accompanying docu-
ment there was statement from Emory
s. Foster, of st. Louis, to the effect that
the President was himself charged with
being party to an unlawful
combination in that city TO defraud the
government of its revenues. l want
that fact to be noted, because L have no
doubt the President made his endorse
ment as much with reference to that fact
and that allegation, as with reference TO
the allegations that Babcock was apsrty,
and that Jim Casey, the Presidents
brother-in-law, was openly asserting that
the Secretary Of the Treasury would not
hold his Office for thirty days. Another
point: l WAS asked yesterday whether
the President consented willingly to the
publication of the endorsement on
the Barnard letter, which has
been so often referred to. BY reference
to a letter addressed to me by General
Bristow, dated August 7th, written in
the Treasury Department, l find that the
Secretary of the Treasury had addressed
an official communication to the Presi-
dent, asking him for permission to pub
lish that endorsement, and that at that
date august 7th) he had received no re-
sponse. For the purpose of fixing the
date when the "Sylph" telegram was dis
covered, refer to letters of General
Bristow to me, written from New York,
August 9, 1875, and which l have no Oh
lection to make part of the record. 1t
is as follows:
New YORK, August 8, 1876.
My Dear Wilson:
Your letter of yesterday, with inclosure,
is received. The time is very near at
hand when l must make square issue
with the thieves and scoundrels who have
combined to destroy me. 1must be sup
ported earnestly and thoroughly, or l
must and will break. l fear the the COM
plicstions are such that. the former cannot
be done, and the latter must. You can
not be too careful about talking to any
one. ! have heard here that the matter
about the "Sylph' dispatch and our hsv-
ing seen it in connection with
Pierrepont is fully known to P.
and B., meaning Porter and
Bsbcock, and they are greatly disturbed.
Don't suffer yourself to talk with any
body about it. Uf course this is not
meant for censure, but caution. sup
pose l must make up my mind to bear
the abuse Of the ring papers, hard as it
Is to do so. They are fighting to keep
their friends out of prison and save them.
selves from exposure, and OF course will
seek TO destroy anybody who stands in
the way. Well as for myself, / can't
turn back, nor will stop to parley with
the thieves. have no ambition to serve,
and no purpose but the enforcement OF
law and the honest collection OF, the
revenue. / will compromise on nothing
short of this, but on this issue am ready
TO be sacrificed any day.
S.-Ask Webster 20 write the Pres
ident fully his views about the Chicago
custom house and the whisky ring. He
has great confidence in Webster. 1t IS
going to require the utmost watchfulness
of his friends 10 prevent bis being misled
by men who profess friendship for him,
but who are acting tresc chercusiy. Tell
Webster 10 write strongly, and give
him plain truths, and mark his letter
confidential.
[Signed b. Ii. b.
Now in response 10 the question Of the
chairman, l may say that Secretary OF
the Treasury and myself having been
ordered By the President TO see that no
guilty man should escape if it could be
avoided, on consultation, il Sas mutu-
slly concluded thst the President could
not 90 back Oh that Injunction without
instultiiying himself and placing his
officers in false position, and We there.
fore resolved to leave the whole matter
of General Bscock's alleged conviction
with the whisky ling Al ST. Louis,
70 be dealt With by local officers there
until about the 1st Of December.
lnoeeO, NAY sS' uStA .. was n"o :. .
absolutely that General Bsbcock had
been indicted. The relations of General
Bristow and myself with the President
were passable, but as soon as it was seen
that Babcock was 10 be indicted, the ides
Of q military court of inquiry VA;
brought TO the front 10 my knowledge by
General Babcock and his friends The
idea Of military court was broached BE-
| fore the indictment vas found against
Babcock, and the fac. that the President
of the United States took the ground thai
the military court should superosde th.
proceedings upoa .ths civil tribunal ai
81. Louia, and taken by myself and BY thu
secretary 70 b nHksd indication o