The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-16
Grants Deposition.

Ufdht DtpoNhIOhp
The President has testified for hancock
TO the fun extent of strong personal par
TALLY, and under the influence Of belief
which Boss SHEPHERD and other boon
companions have fastened on his mind.
that the trial Of his confidential secretary
lisa moral arraignment of himself. To EN-
list his active interest and to stir his deep
est prejudice nj the same time. they have
constantly dinned in his ears the story
that the whiskey prosecutions were inst-
gated to break him down; that BABCoCK
was pursued because of their close rela-
lions, and that BRIsTow's ambition to he
President, was the secret spring of the
whole proceeding.
GRANT believes, or pretends to believe,
these absurdities, and his action is shaped
upon that idea. when SAWYER and
HAINEs were recently indicted in Wash
tngton for passing fraudulent claim
through the Treasury, he said to a friend.
=" see they are still pursuing me-" And
this because SAWYER was one of the in
Inmates of the White House. while "A car
pet-bagger in the Senate, and afterward as
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury, was
pillar of the Washington Ring aud was
strongly suspected OF having aided to help
the safe burglary conspiracy.
With all his logged obstinacy Of charac-
ter and tenacity in holding OH to II purpose,
GRANT took good care to seek shelter UNI
der convenient deposition ut the White
House rather than to expose himself TO
the hazards of cross-examination on the
stand NJ 81. Louis. He has left Washing
ton repeatedly while Congress was in ses-
sion, 10 seek personal pleasure at q dis
lance. Therefore that excuse will not
hold good on this occasion. IL he really
wanted 20 go in person to confront the
jury no ordinary obstacle would have
stopped him.
The truth is, while wishing 10 uphold
BABcocK in every way, he did not care to
meet various questions which the District
Attorney would have asked with point and
force, and which could be evaded by the
other method. His expressions of CONT
dence in BABcocK will 20 for what they
are worth in view of the existing clrcum-
stances. They were to have been expected
from the peculiar intimacy between the
two men, the extent and character of
which are imperfectly known by the
country.
nv itSAutut ftcOllttt mat DAB
COCK interfered in regard 10 the order
transferring Supervisors, and its subse-
quent revocation by his own order, but the
late Commissioner of Internal Revenue, J.
w. DOUGLASS who on Friday last was a
witness in st. Louis, swore that he had va
rious conversations with BABcocK, at the
White House and in his own Office, on this
very subject, in which the latter remon-
ftrated against the change of Supervisors
and deprecated the character of two Off
GERS he had sent to the West TO investigate
frauds. He also testified that BABcoCK
showed him the copy OF a confidential let
ter from Brooks, one OF these agents, adj
dressed to the Internal Revenue Office. and
which must have been surreptitiously OBJ
tanned. The letter plainly Indicated that
Senator LOGAN and others were implicated
IN the Ring, for BABcocK asked DoUGIAss
what might sensitive man like LOGAN
say II he saw that letter." The witness
further said
After addressed the letter to the Secretary an
the Transfers ~ ne supervsors were made, had
conytrsation Win The defendant. The eonv,rsation
lie 10 me 1t wss an INV icasgre ana would result
;fat fTC gr, 10 E h oP tRe fT'idrEt
pleasant to ne. The conversation held at Gen
There is more Of such testimony, but this
is sufficient, not only TO establish BAB-
COCKS efforts to prevent the order from
being made, but also "A menace that il
would have to be recalled" rs il was by
GRANTS peremptory mandate, procured
through McDONALD aud This Republican
Confederates in the Senate and House of
Representatives 1t is very well for the
President to assume the responsibility of
his own acts and to deny that they were
directed by his secretary. But here is the
proof. clear emphatic aud positive, from
witness partial 10 the defence, that BAB-
COCK did seek in every possible way to con
troll his official action, ana failing TO do so,
predicted that ii would be revoked.
The plea of the President in his own de-
fence, that this order of revocation was
in,ended to assist in thedetection OF frauds,
when the change OF Supervisors was the
nrst efficient step in that direction, and
never would have been taken but for
Mr.. BRIsTow, Is an insult to public in
tellgence, besides being wholly destitute
of truth. The simple fact is that he de-
llborate,y set aside the policy of the Com
missioner and the Secretary, because the
Whi-key Ring demanded IT. GRANT in
stead OF helping BABcoCK, has seriously
hurt both himself aud his friend in this
deposition.
COngrc gatiOnaiIsm on Trial.
II isannomcod that Mr.. MoULToN has
been before the Examining Committee of