The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-08-04

l suppose must make up my mind to bear the
abuse of the ring papers, hard as it is. They are
fghting to keep their friends ont of prison, and
will not hesitate TO destroy anybody who stands
In the way As for myself, cannot turn back or
stop 10 parley with the thieves. have no other
ambition TO serve, no other purpose to accomplish,
man TO enforce the laws and secure the honest COL
lection OF the revenue. I will compromise with
nothing short Of this, and upon this Issue am
willing to be sacrificed any day.
p. S.-Ask Webster to write the President about
the Chicago Custom House and the whisky ring
He has great confidence in Webster, and IL will re-
Quire the utmost watchfulness OF his real friends
to prevent him from being misled Tell Webster TO
write strongly, aud tell the truth.
The creation OF the Military Court in Chicago
was considered by Bristow and Wilson as an in
dication that the President had decided that
the prosecution should fail.
Wilson heard nothing of the charge that he
had placed spies on the Presidents track until
Babcock was indicted. Then the President ex-
pressed himself openly against Henderson and
Dyer. Henderson was dismissed in spite of
Wilson's written protest to the Secretary of the
Treasury. Judge Treat and Eaton had both
declared that Henderson and Dyer meant no
offense to the President by their speeches.
Henderson, on the contrary, had gone out of
the way to defend the President. Wilson con-
sidered the dismissal Of Henderson a fatal
blow to the further successful prosecution Of
Babcocks case.
Wilson regarded the Presidents persistent
refusal to remove District Attorney Ward, OF
Chicago, as another evidence that he took little
interest in the prosecution. The President was
informed on Dec. 3, 1875, by Burton Cook,
OF Chicago, that Ward was partner in Powell's
distillery, and had improper relations with
Jacob Rehm. The President told Cook that he
would remove Ward Immediately, and asked
Webster to namc his successor at once.
Wilson read from note ne had written Bris-
tow in which he stated that it was the general
belief that Logan's illness was attributable to
sheer fright.
Wilson produced a letter from Gen. j. ID.
Webster, OF Chicago, to himself dated Dec. &C.
1875, in which Webster said:
Do you not begin to rub your eyes and inquire
whether you are awake? Whether we are awake,
and whether all not involved in some bad
rings: Was there ever such scandalous lying and
plotting? Is it not the most remarkable fight of
the century? Is there any key to it, except that
the banded corruptionists of all classes are sum-
moning all their forces, and placing THEN reliance
unparalleled audacity of vituperation and cum
ningy devised accusations? II is possible that
Babcock has willingly countenanced an attack upon
Brstow while he confesses his own nfany? What
other explanation is there for the Inter Oceans
attack? expect the ring have control of the Inter
Ocean. They want an English organ in the Inter
Ocean, as they already have German organ In the
Stdats-Zeitung
Wilson, under date of Dec. 15 1875, writes
to the President from st. Louis, denying that
he engaged persons to convict Farwell.
Wilson warned the President and the Attor-
ney-General from using c. S. Bell The Pres-
dent had practically engaged him to work indie
pendently of the prosecuting officers in st.
Louiz. Wilson defeated this.
On Christmas Day, 1875, the President
charged Wilson with attempting to indict Or
vile Grant and Fred Grant. In the course Of
the conversation, the President informed Will
son of his belief in Babcock's entire inno-
cence. and denounced Henderson and Dyer
for refusing to send original documents to the
military court.
June &c, 1876, Wilson was invited to a con-
ference at the White House. The President
protested against receiving the testimony
OF accomplices. He sald there was alto
gether too much of that thing. The
President referred to the case OF Roddis, Mil
waukee gauger, who had been nolle pressed.
The President asked Wilson all about Everest
his return from Europe; where he was;
whether he was to be granted immunity; what
it was expected to prove by him; and what he
knew about sending letter to Babcock by
joyce containing $500. Wilson said Everest
had not been promised immunity. The Presi-
dent said Major, when l said Let no guilty
man escape 1 meant it, but not that nine
should escape and one be convicted" Wilson
replied "Mr. President, we are not counting
heads we are trying to break up unlawful COM
binations against the revenue, and to discover
those who organized it, and 1 know no other
way to do this except by getting inside the
ring" Secretary Chandler was present in the
room during this interview. Wilson offered to
satisfy the President further. The President
replied that it was not worth while-there was
too much of it. Supervisor Tuition had been
there that day, fresh from Chicago, influencing
the President. Wilson sent Bristow to the Presi-
dent with documents to counterfeit Tuttons
representations. Bristow did so. Wilson then
produced his instructions as to the use Of in
formers comprehended in the dispatch to Tut
ton in Chicago, Jan. IA, 1876 published some
time afterwards. The President then ex-
pressed himself satisfied with the conduct of
Wilson and Bristow. Babcock subsequently
came to Wilson, showing that he had complete
knowledge CT the entire conversation between
Wilson and the President about Everest
Wilson complained to Bristow that all infor-
nation given the President about Babcocks
case was Immediately conveyed to Babcock
and asked what right Babcock had more than
any other accused person to a knowledge Of
the case against MIN.
Jan. 10, in an interview with Attorney Gen
ersl Pierrepont the latter acknowledged to
Wilson that the circular-letter of instructions
to United States Attorneys relative to the
testimony of accomplices was written
at the direction OF the President. This
was to have been kept secret, and was not
TO have been interpreted as it read, but Storrs,