The daily gazette., 1876-02-23
Grant. Psri in the whisi.ry Era uds.

One fact stands out clear and posi-
tive III Bibcock's trial. The Presi-
dent not only interfered with the pro-
per duties and responsibilities of the
Secretary OF the Treasury, but he will
fully obstructed the faithful exec ution
of the laws intended to prevent frauds
on the revenue. This Interference
was always on the side of the Whis
key Ring, aud uniformly against the
public interest. His own deposition
furnishes the proof, without calling in
{ other testimony.
The first practical and really vigor-
GUS step for breaking up the Whiskey
Ring, was the order for the sudden
change of Supervisors issued in Jan
| nary, 1875. That movement was con-
| certed between Mr.. Bristow and Mr..
Douglass, then Commissioner of Inter-
nal Revenue. Strangely enough, the
President claims for himself the credit
of having originated this idea, and
even goes SO far as to say he "sugges-
ted il to Mr.. Bristow."
The object of that order was to sun
der the ties between the Ring in the
West and their confederates at Wash
ingtOn, so that it would be impracti-
cable to run in the old ruts of corrup-
tion. 1t was policy designed to cut
connections between organized THE
very, and never was proposed in any
way until Mr.. Bristow put the ma
Ichinery in motion in the beginning of
1875, though Mr.. Douglass swore on
the stand that the Ring had been opera
ting successfully from 1872 with the
knowledge of the department.
| I,pcQ than uoalY oftar thia ipoppr.
tant order was adopted, 1T was revoked
as Babcock told Douglass it would be,
when he was secretly striving to pre-
vent its being made at all. How was
it done? Let the President answer in
the words of his deposition:
'I gave the directions for tine suspen-
sion Of the order making the transfers
My recollection is that / wrote the di-
rection on a card with pencil, certain
ly before leaving the office that after
, noon, an that the order rent to the Irea-
suTy signed by one Of my secretaries.
, Here it is distinctly admitted that
f in an administrative matter affecting
the collection of the internal revenue,
, which by law devolves on the Secre-
, tary of the Treasury and the Commits.
, sioner, the President arbitrarily inter-
: it of which he had before complacent
2 ly assumed. He did this too, without
"a word of conference with Mr. Bris-
/ tow, and in direct opposition to his
well known wishes.
Instead of consulting with the Sc
! cretary of the Treasury, as to the ex-
( Ipediency of undOing an act intended
to arrest frauds, or in any way consid-
u Ia. a L, 4
camp to direct the change of regi.
t ment, and "wrotc the directions on a
r card with pencil" and sent it off by
n one of his secretaries to the depart
/ ment! That was the first notice Mr.
f Bristow received of the revocation, and
, to make the interference more marked,
7 it was telegraphed abroad instead of
going through the accepted official
| course.
How this change in Grants mind
was brought about is no secret. The
Ring chiefs, Babcock and the corrupt
officials in their interest were all work
ing zealously. Bnt it was necessary
to call in the political influences that
shared in the spoils, and had always
been relied upon Tor aid in legislation
and for support at the White House
, when there was any sign of serious
! trouble. Upon his cross examination
the President testified as follows:
"Q.-You have said that you resist
ed tie pressure brought to bear upon
you by prominent public men in trans
, ferring Supervisors. If you have no
objection, will you please state the
names of those prominent men who
brought that pressure to bear upon
you? A.-There were many persons,
and think could give the names of
SeUerdt Senator's and probably members
of Congress-; but probably l should
have to refer to papers that arc on file;
L do not knoo that it as material.
''Q.-Can you from memory name
any Senators or Representatives? A.
I could name two or three, but / do
not belieoe that is necessary"
This suppression of names was by
no means accidental. 1t was most
"material" that the country should
know from him what Senators and
Representatives had interested them
, selves so actively in defeating the new
policy to detect frauds, and who were
powerful enough to have the Secre-
tary of the Treasury ignored, by ap.
, pealing over his head to the President.
. Graat is familiar with all the names,
and knows perfectly the considerations
that operated. upon their endeavors to
, have the order recalled. He has only
partially concealed these Republican
: Ring Senators and Representatives from
public view, because they are we'll
3 known, and he may yet have an op-
! portunity TO identify them before an
investigating committee.
1t cannot be pretended that Grant
, acted without knowledge when he
thus overruled the Treasury Depart
ment, and usurped the functions of
the Secretary for the protection of the
whiskey thieves. He had his eyes well
, open, understood all the ramitications,
and measured every man who came
near him at his exact political value.
Nor was he more ignorant when he
insultingly disregarded public opinion
IN St. Louis, and the protest of the
1