The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-01
Daylight on a Few Of
the Awful Secrets Of
the White House.
The Part that Grant
Played With Refer
ence to the Whisky
Prosecutions.
The President a Fence" for
Babcock, and Chief Mourner
During the Trial.
The Whole Story as Told by
BIuford Wilson, Ex-So!ic-
itor Of the Treasury

WASHINGTON, July %. - Before the
committee on whisky frauds to-day the
examination OF Bluford Wilson. ex-sol-
citor of the treasury was continued. In
connection with the statement in his pre-
vious testimony of Gen. Porter's explana-
ton of the term "Sylph." Wilson having
refreshed his momory by reference to a
letter from friend in New York. testifi-
ed that the annoyance which the woman
"Sylph" gave the president was by her
efforts to blackmail him in st. Louis. The
examination was continued as follows
Question (by Cochran, chairman OF the
subcommittee: You said in your en-
animation on yesterday that from the
time OF the discovery of the
'sYLPH" DISPATCH.
duplicating Babcock in these whisky
frauds or tending so to implicate him. the
president of the United States did not
show the same sympathy with the secre-
tary OF the treasury or yourself that he
had previously shown. Please state any
act or acts OF the president from that time
forward indicating 10 you that he was
not in sympathy with those whisky pros
ecutions? Answer-Before | proceed to-
answer that question wish to make an
addition to my testimony of yesterday in
reference to the contents Of BarnarCfs LET.
ter; on which the president made the
well-known Endorsement. LET no guilty
man escape, if ii can be avoided" Eth
er In the body of that letter or In the ac-
companying document there was a state.
ment from Emory 5. Foster of st. Louis,
to the effect that the president was him
self charged with being party to an un.
lawful combination In that city to defraud
the government of its revenues. want
the fact 10 be noted, because have no
doubt the president made his Endorsement
as much with reference to that fact and
that allegation as with reference to the
allegations that Babcock was party, and
that
JIM CASEY,
the presidents brother-in-law, was open.
ly declaring that the secretary of the treas.
ury would not hold his position for thirty
days. Another point. / was asked YES
terday whether the president consented
willingly to the publication of the en-
dorsement on the Barnard letter which
has been so often referred to. By refer
ence to the letter addressed to me by
Gen. Bristow, under date of August Z.
written in the treasury department. find
that the secretary OF the treasury had ad.
dressed an official communication 10 the
president asking him for permission to
publish that endorsement, and that at
that date, August, he had received no
response. To hxthe date 'Sylph"
dispatch was discovered, refer
to the letter of Gen. Bristow 10 me writ
ten from New York, Aug. s, 1875, and
which have no objection 10 make a part
OF the record. 1t is as follows:
NEW YORK, Aug s, ls74-MY DEAR
WILSON: Your letter OF Yesterday with
ihcloseure Is received. The time Is very |
near at hand when l must make a SQUARE. |
Issue Win The thieves and scoundrels who |
nave combined 10 destroy me. | must be
supported cordially and earnestly or
must and Will break. fear that The com.
pHcatlons are such that the former cam
not be done and the latter must, You
can De too careful about talking 10
anybody. have heard here that matter
ABOUT The ''sylph" dispatch. and our hay-
ing seen II in connection with Pierrepont
Is iuly known 10 l.. and b. (meaning Por
yer ana Babcock J, and they are greatly |
uIsiuroed. Don't suffer yourself 10 talk |
"i.h any uous about IL. OF course this is |
not meant Tor censure but caution. 4 sun
pose / must make up my mind TO bear the
abuse OF the ring" papers. hard as il is
10 do: They are fighting 10 keep their
friends out OF prison and to save them
selves from exposure, and of course will
seek 10 destroy anybody who stands in
their way. Well, as Tor myself cannot
turn back nor will | stop 10 barley with
thieves. i have no ambition 10 serve and
no purpose 70 accomplish but the enforce
ment OF the law and the honest collection
OF the revenue. l will compromise on
nothing short Of this, but on this issue
am ready TO be sacrificed any day.
+. S.-Ask Webster TO write the presi.
ueht iuiiy MS views about the Chicago
custom mouse and whisky ring. lie has
II. : o.
Ing 10 require the utmost watchlulness az
ms real friends 10 prevent his being mis-
ieo by men who profess friendship Tor
MN put who are acting treacherouslv.
Ieil webster 10 write strongly. and Give
MIN the plain truth, and mark his letter
0onnoehtiai' Ii. IA. b.
Now, in response TO the question of the
Chairman, Imay say that the secretary OF
the treasury and mysely having been Or
dered by the president TO see that no gull
ty man should escape. on consultation
mutually concluded that the president
could not go back ON that Injunction
without
sTuLTiPYING HIMSELF
and placing his officers in false position.
ana We therefore resolved To leave the
whole matter OF Babcock's alleged con.
necuon with the whisky ring at 81. Louis