New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-31

sec that Gen Babcock WAS honestly and s1uarey dealt
with, and that injustice was don" MN, put
further than that I could not and would not 20
that the matter in the hands OF the local officers at
St Louis aud world u.ge upoa them the grave n'-
po puce 20 all parties that mistake should be made
10 reference to Gen. BabcoCks connection with The
Ring Gen Porter expressed himScl: as wholly ana
entirely satisfied with explanation Of my letter ana
with the rositicn which assumed AMI assured me that
the attention of the President had not been called 70 the
forged letter, and would not he. said 10 him " want
you 10 tell the President of the United ~ates about That
letter have conccamcnts a1out It. none whatever
stand upon it, ana willing the whole world should
see ana read and of IT, and have apologies to
make for IT, want That clearly and fully understood
hopo you will tell the President OF tho matter and that
he will give me an opportunity to TO him what
have said you aud the Acknowledgement ana the
Secretary" heard nothing more about this
August early IN September, before the Presi-
dent West, urged upon Secretary Brisow tat ne
call upon the President and tell him Of the "Syiph tel
eram and that the Investigations were likely to involve
Gen Gabcock He told me that he would and early III
September believe about the Sth met Gen BahcocS
at Philadelphia he coming from Long Branch ah" rom
Cane May, and made M my mind going down WIFE MIN
that would urge Secretary Brstow tn tell Cen b'o'o'"
about the "syIph telegram aud give him an oPportn
nifty 10 explain il frankly and ry feeling that MS posi-
ton was such entitled him to know the situation
in which telegram placed him, and also 10 nave an
opportunity Of making any explanation wiiich nc "Sh'
he able to make On arriving IN the city | saw Cen
BrstOw and told him what thought Ought 10 ne u"h'
He assented promptly AMI notified Gen Babcock ON that
day touching the telegram. He asked Gen baocoeN ~
tell the President Later but just before the rI'N
dent went West Secretary went to Long Branch
himself aud understand that the "syph telegram
was the subject OF an interview between the President
and himself.
AFTER INV interview with Cen Porter supposed
1 IL TRVN "A IL
20 it until was sent for by the President The President
said To me in substance that seemed to him that was
cndeavorng 10 impcatc him in the frauds. expressed
my surprise and asked him upon what grounds nc S'"
Won wrote a letter to 81 Louis to Gen John b Hcu''i'
son, copy which have seen in which you 'et ten
Henderson that he 90 the very bottom ana TOP Z"
the W H. It was written Gen. Henderson during my
visit 10 ST. Louis about the time left Long Branch ana
the time which YOU therein seemed 70 indicate ~ neces
sary for extra vigilance the ten days or aoodt inc
time that il was understood TO remain there lie
asked me what explanation had TO make ot H. stating
That Mr. Dyer and Mr. Henderson were personal enc
lust what atttade the prosecution meant 10 assume Win
! reference TO those trials
GRANTS OPINION OF BABCoCK.
He cxp~essed his confident belief in gbcock's in
norencc He said that the telegram had been s1siac-
torlv explained TO him aud, that he thought that thlt
ought to stop matter; that ought To re't lherc lie
| add, 4. however, II Gen Babcock is guilty, which
don't believe he is the most guilty wretch III te
| world. lie has betrayed my confidence IN the most
| famous way. and besides has betrayed MS
Official trust and punishment woljhc too severe Tor
him Ny relations with Gen. BabcocK he said, "haVe
been on tong Standing" and he referred to their army
associations and Generals subsequent position IN
| injection with public works IN which, a. an engineer
OF the army he had expended large sums of money and
as the President believed, With entire hdely ana hr
said that his private secretary he had every oprnr
tunity and Judge the man. and he could LOT Ice
licyc that hc was involved IN the fihS'
WILSON'S Defense or HIMSELF.
When the President finished | expressed my surprise
and indignation al being confronted with ne forged let
Ter and asked him who told him about IT, ana BE- SAID 70
me that he had known Of Il until Cen Porter had eN
piiucd the nat,crfo him the sunday before said to
bin: Is II possible 3r President that Gen. Porter iud
that letter before you aud did not say to y0d that h" aud
had an explanation touching itthat he had expressed
himself AZ satisfied OF the forgery and satisfied wholly
with my conduct IN the prcm-c~f The President sad
! in reply that Gen. Porter had said 10 HIN that
claimed that letter forgery, aud that u seemed 10
be b. reference the cttef-prcss copy. told TIE
President That we would the matter rest there until
could 20 aud ect my lettcrbook aud record as con
tanned in my private memoranda in connection with tie
whole abcock matter aud h. consented To that got
my cttar-prcSs book. got his Barnard letter. Eot 80
| other memoranda which THOUGHT would throw any
light upon my connection with Gen. Bhhcocha clie ana
went back showed President 10 tie first place the
]
! tract from IL In which Mr. Nornilc credited
with IA, ing said substantially "Ihc President dare not
go too far with Mcdonald and Joyce, or Bahc1cS Is LOST
read to him that part OF his letter IN which jim casey
WAS referred to- and turned the letter, and OF ha
hack Of il read to him with great drberaton the iu-
/ dorsement in which bo had said, "Ihese newspaper
clippings aud th,cttcr are to the Department 10 the
end that II they throw any light upon witnesses TO be
sunmoned they may be brought out LIT no guilty man
| escape If it can be avoided" / read to the
President of tie United states the concluding
/ sentences in bis letter, in which he said,
! BE especially yigilaut charge those IN author
ity to be- against all those who claim TO have high at
thorty 10 protect to protect them-mc1nug to pro
tcct others To protect thcm,evcs-and Ia which he
finally said that personal considerations should not
! stand in the way OF the performance Of
pcblic duty" Aud said to him: Mr. President,
what have done in the prem touching Gen. Babcork
have under the warrant and N fun pursuance Of
your own Instructions the Secretary Of the Treasury
and 20 myself" He said: Certainly; had Hancock
and Jim Casey In mind when made that mdOihcmcnt,
aud expect you to do your duty | said to him
Mr. President that II precisely the reply which expect
cd YOU President OF the United States to make 10 me-
showed him my lctter-book containing the original,
and showed him the forgery, and that he expressed
nimsci as entirely and wholly satisfied | explained 10
him that II Gen. Dacbock meant IN the lcc. and
not himself; that il entered my mind for
neut that under any possible combination OF crcum-
stances was 1t possible for him to have had improper
relations with those parties With any other party Ell
gagged ia violation Of the Of the land; when /
fixed the period during which investigated should be
made in st. Louis, had reference to the fact Of Gen
BabcOcks soiOurn la that city and not TO his OWL aud
that when referred TO the associations Of Mcdonald
referred 10 wG!l-knOwn and familiar associations OF
Mcdonald and Joyce with Gen. Bdbcock. / called the
Presidents attention 10 the postscript In nay