The New York herald., 1876-02-10
A DEFENCE OF sECRE AIRY BRIsTow.
FALSE REPORTS SHOWN UP-soME CURIOUS
FACTS ABOUT THE wHIsKEY TRIALS


with Kentuckians, while the truth is thar but two ap
pontmens have been made by the Secretary from that
stateone the Assistant Secretary and the other the
Chief Clerk Both OF these ohcers are gentlemen Of
high character The Assistant Secretary is graduate
OF Yale College was IN the class with Mr.
Evarts, is lawyer OF high standing al the
Bar OF hrs state was conspicuous
for his loyalty 90 the Union and has served his parry
the State with credit to himself and 10 the
satisfaction Of his constituents The Chief Clerk is
native of Massachusetts graduate OF Harvard and
brother Of the author Of 'Old Sergeant with so many
/ attachments sull binding him to the old Common
( wealth to make him much more Yankee than a
Kentuckan He has but short time occupied the re-
sponsble confidential position OF Cnef Clerk, but
old enough in Office to have demonstrated the Wis
Of the secretarys selection and prove himself
honest and capable of1cer
I Ono other appointment, perhaps, to subordinate
position is that OF Captain Adams native OF OHIO,
transferred from tho Interior Department This com
prises the entire list OF the appointments by the secre
tary from that State since Office
In Kentucky hls friends inclined to complain
that he ignores claims while the charge has been
made but unruthfuly, about the poorest recommenda-
ton for appointment IN the Treasury Department IS
that the applicant halls from Kentucky or the South
In Washington gentlemen who choose 70 consider
him IN the way Of their Presidential aspirations charge
the other hand that he is using the patronage OF
his once freely the South and in Kentucky to ad
vance his political II is certain, therefore
that either General friends State
badly mistaken his enemies al Washington slander
him Both cannot be right.
A word tins point. II is a we'll known fact
that only positions the Treasury Department
which any patronage Of consequence attaches Ged
by friends of one prominent avowed repub-
candidates Tor the Presidency. While certain
other candidates exclaim against this and say tha,
Morton too highly preferred the important customs
ports OF the country-Boston, New York Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Or
leans Chicago and san Francsco-are IN every single
instance occupied by gentlemen who open and
tive friends Of those who well known 10 be. in
training for the Presidency
Besides this il is true that in two conspicuous in
stances gentlemen, Governors OF Western States,
now large influence in their sections been ap-
pointed 20 vacancies IN the Treasury Department
wholly without reference 70 any real supposed poht
ical influences Of General Bristow
these cases all others, the Secretary has
stopped TO inquire what the political affiliations
OF his subordnates He has only cared to ask and
has only asked in point Of fact If they were competent
honest and faithful The truth the Secretary has
garded with absolute indifference the preferences Of his
subordinates in that direction He has with great
good nature and Kindness, seen without objection or
feeling the patronage OF his department used 10 advance
the political fortunes OF other candidates he has also
tolerated ID like spirit, the partial perhaps
overZealous friends in his and other departments
who, in two instances have ventured to suggest
that he has claims upon the country and the party
which II would be well 10 recognize in the interests OF
good government and the perpetuity of the party tse
The ntimaton that the Secretary declined 20 receive
aud act upon information from one Woodward until
Mr.. Fishback, early in 1875 went in person TO Wash
ington reiterated all that Woodward had written,
has no more foundation in point OF fact than the Sian
derous suggestions heretofore answered
The truth is that the Secretary OF the Treasury nau
gurated the investigation Immediately upon receipt OF
information from reliable citizens and members Of
Congress as well as Mr. Fishback that there were lust
suspect the presence OF organized fraud
ST LOUIS IL is wel known fact that the Commits
soner OF Internal Revenue had given Woodward and
.Fka tifNf nFhnV
the LIST Of March, 1875 after having tried in vain all the
regular agencies at his control TO get in upon and
expose the Ring, the Secretary directed the
Solicitor of the Treasury TO take charge OF
! the matter and turn loose upon II the Secret
Service force under his control This officer in
s,ructed 10 institute such investigations as might be
necessary the existence OF fraud and n fraud
established TO naugurate thereupon such steps
might be necessary 20 break up the corrupt combna
ton and bring the parties concerned therein " JUS
/ Mr. James J. Brooks Of the Secret Service force a
gentleman who had long experience in investigating
frauds upon the revenue, was directed to cooperate
with the local agents in 81 Louis.
They instructed by the Solicitor 10 exercise
great care their undertaking, to keep within not
only the letter but the spirit Of the law, and occasion
honest taxpayers no just cause Of complaint As TO
the others 'you are directed to catch them If you
can
! The rorues were caught What is worse have been
convicted; what is still worse, have been in many in
10 the Penitenuary, and what perhaps is
worst Of ALL their infamous political hackers and
/ GATES have been are about 10 be exposed.
| It is wonder, therefore, that these same eminent
] and nsnuaung that the Secretary is ambitious and
that although he has done noble work. done It well
done duty yet iorsooth be has done because he
I aspires be President of the United States
1t be the devout aspiration OF every true repub
lican and every lover OF his country that other aspr
ants would push their fortunes by the same noble and
! legitimate methods
The suggestion that the ''wily Secretary has put
host OF in Office Southern cities notably in
Kentucky Tennessee &c. has other ndation than
4 that stated in the letter itself Kenneth Cobb,
nooriously corrupt and inefficient officer super
] T. III
4 from Kentucky and a thoroughly honest man IL IS
significant tact tnai sooner had Colonel Hunt been
appointed aud entered fairly upon the duties OF his
olce than the dstllers at New Orleans, who are now
beginning feel the strokes Of lightning hastily shut
up their disteries, burned their books and retired
IRON business
The nsnuaton that the transfer Of Hunt to Brady's
Indiana district and Brady TO Hunts district had
htical motive is worthy Of the source from which it
originated The truth the transfer was made solely
because the Secretary was determined shat no just
occasion should DC len for the charge that his own
state and Tennessee had not been thoroughly examined
for fraud In distilled spirits II other officers could
have been sent 10 these districts consistent with press
ing interests elsewhere 1t would have been done.
The result OF the Of the Secretary is mani
fest the fact that Mr. Brady admirably completing
tue good work iBauguraed by Colonel Hunt while
Colonel Hunt has rendered valuable and etioent
IN connection with the late remarkable trials and
convictions At Indianapolis.
Buckner, OF Kentucky, "Bristow's oster father" u
IS claimed appointed by the accommodating Secre-
tary, and that the whole Buckner famiiysx IN mum
ber-have been given positions IN the revenue
Il enough TO say that Colonel Buckner in office
he time the secretary assumed Cnarge OF thc
partnenL and t is that not single appoint
mcnt has been made by the Secretary In connection
with internal revenue Affairs In that state
4 The ntimaion that Bristow has hit Logan through
Ian Mum, struck Carpenter through friends at Mil
waukee and that Jewell has bagged Holloway At In
danapos aud that Blame has received a shock through
wind and water the Foster letter, from pc
culiary of JEWELS mail system, Is all OF piece Of the
whole letter and has other foundation than the fact
that unfortunately the grand ures acting under their
oaths have proper 10 indict Mum at Indiana
potts certain friends Of Carpenter In Milwaukee, and
Holloway At Indianapolis
The inference nom all this is that General Brstow
has also prostuted all the grand ures OF the country
10 his own eager political aspirations.
The alleged personal promise Of the Secretary 10
Fshback that be would pay him 500 900 for his Dfor
nation gard 10 the Nhskcy Ring is upon the vhoie
amusing lie that carries with IL its refutaton.
lt may well be et with the statement that MI Fish
back from The drst peremptorily declined for
ment 20 consider any suggestion Of benefit 20 himself
u 40 Inn