The New York herald., 1876-07-29
BLUF0RD WILSON.
The Ex-SolicitOr'S Testimony Before
the WhiSkey Committee.
VACCINATIONS OF THE RING EXPOSED.
The True lnwardness Of the Presidents
Antagonism to Secretary Bristow.
THE INDICTMENT OF BABC0CK.
When General Grant Began to Grow
Cool on the Whiskey Frauds.
TIE EFFORTS TO SAVE THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.
What the Secretary and The Solicitor Had to
Contend Against.
History of the Famous Circular
Letter.
When General Grant Began to Grow
Cool on the Whiskey Frauds.
TIE EFFORTS TO SAVE TIE PRIVATE SECRETARY.
What the Secretary and The Solicitor Had ia
Contend Against.
History of the Famous Circular
Letter.
MOST REMARKABLE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
WASHINGTON, July zS, 1870

WASHINGTON, July 2s, 1870
Boioro the committee the whskey trials to-day
the examination Buford Wilson, cx-Solcitor OF the
Treasury, was continued.
In connection with the statement In his previous
testimony Of General Porer explanation OF the term
"Sylph" Mr. Wilson, having refreshed his memory by
reference to letter IRON friend in New York.
fed that the annoyance which it was said tho woman
ylph" gave the Presidon. by her efforts black
mail him In ST. Louis.
The examination continued as follows:-
Question by Mr.. Coohrane, chairman Of the sub COM
mltee-fou SAID in your examination yesterday that
from the time OF the discovery OF the
.syph" despatch duplicating General Babcock
In those whiskey frauds, or tending to I'M
picate him, the President OF the United States
did net show the same sympathy with the Secretary OF
hc Treasury or yourself that he had previously shown
Please state any act or acts oil the President IRON that
time forward indicating to you that he was
not in sympathy with those whiskey prosecutions ?
THE BARNARD LETTKR.
A. Before proceed to answer that question: l wish
TO make an addition TO my testimony OF day IN
reference to The contents OF the Barnard letter,
which the President made the well known indorsc
mcnt, "Let no guilty man escape, II be avoided
Either III the body OF that letter or in ACCOMPANY
document, there was statement IRON Emory $. Eos.
ter Of 81 LOUIS to the effect that President was
himself Charged with being party to the unlawful
combination III that city TO deraud the government Of
Its revenues want that fact TO be noted, because
have no doubt that he President made his Endorsement
much with reference to that fact and allegation
rs with reference TO tho allegations Babcock
party, and that 'Jmn Casey, the Presidents brother
inaw, openly asserting the Secretary OF the
Treasury would not hold his Office Tor thirty days.
Another point. was asked yesterday whether the
President consented willingly TO the publication OF the
Endorsement on Tho Barnard letter. which has
often referred TO- By reference 10 ctier addressed
10 me by General Brstow. under date OF August Z,
written in the Treasury Department find that the
Hecreiarv OF the Treasury had addressed an official
communication to the President asking him for per
mission - publish that Endorsement anu that at nat
late august y he had received no reponse For the
purpose OF fixing the date when the 'Syphn telegram
was discovered refer 10 letter OF General Brislow
10 me, written IRON New York. August O. 1875 and
which have no objection to make part OF the record
1t Is us iOlVws:-
LETTER OF GENERAL BEisrow
NEw YoRK August o. 1875
My DEAR wsoN-your letter of yesterday with encio-
with se na
70 or viii s' s
complications such that the former be done and
..nySSdy havs heard here that the matter about
ss' WIN s.sEsa 's and 1ns~S Sssseea
.s With WITH s"ybody about t. or s i' nss
os % Sssr Is @ sSs sS0 o The as max, up
to do They fighting to keep hcr friends of prison.
sek destroy anybody stands in their way,
stop 'Gp p.ey With H" haSs No an a1I x,
to serve and no purpose 70 accomplish but endorsement OF
promise on nothing short of ths but this will
sacrificed
p s.Ask write the President fully his views
abon, the Chicago Custom House the whiskey Ring.
aure the utmost Of his real friends to prevent
s so eeqs . asS y s e %s,d for To " but
strongly and give him the plain tru,h and mark has letter
Now, IN response TO the question Of tho chairman
may say that the Secretary OF the Treasury my
se having been ordered by the President to that
on consultation, mutually concluded that the Presl-
dent could not go back on that Injunction without
stultifying himself and placing his officers in false
position, and VIC therefore resolved to leave the whole
matter OF General BabcOck's alleged conhec-
lion with the whskey Ring at 81. Louis to oe dealt
with by local officers there. Until about the lst of
Dec 'mocr-and indeed may say until IL known
absolutely that General Babcock had been indicted
the relations OF General Bristow and myself with the
President were passabic but 1t was seen
u at General Babcock was TO be indicted the idea OF
military OF inquiry was brought to the front to
my knowledge by General Babcock and his friends
The idea OF military court broached before the
Indictment was found against Babcock and the fact
that that military court should suIcrcdc the proceed
ngs before the civil tribunals at ST. LOUIS taken
by myself and by the Secretary TO be a marked indca
ton OF mis- purpose TO
DKrEAr THE PROSECUTION
In that CITY, On the Sd or 4th OF December wrote let
ter General Henderson, advising HIM iuy Of my views
and indicating to HIM the settled purpose of the Sccrc
tary OF the Treasury to see by all honorable that
proceedings before tho civil tribunal should not be
postponed or delayed Embarrassed f he could pre-
vent 1t by any proceedings 10 be instituted or had be-
fore military tribunal OF that letter have
copy, bat General Henderson. believe has the orig
ipa In the next place VI fact that heard nothing
from the President Of the charge that had put SPIES
.ea,ns' , me, as stated IN my 'esumony yes.
sraay, sana,,, us, tI, i was seen and known that
' snse between n the President % and nd myself Myself
whch think stated yesterday TO have taken place
ato IN November took place, as find by reference 10
sontctnporancous documents on the Sth of December,
1873 1t Will be remembered that IN that conference
The President expressed himself me- with regard to
General Henderson and Mr. Dyer with great bitterness.
and Immediately thereafter
GENERAL HENDERSON WAS DISMISSED
rom the Prosecution. He was dismissed in opposi-
Non 10 my written protest, addressed TO the Sccrc
tary Vi the Treasury, in which 1 called tho
attention OF the secretary to the fact iha, | was
advised ohcaiiy by Mr.. raton OF counsel for the gov
ernment, tnat Judge Treat the presiding Justice at
the trial in which the alleged objectionable remarks Of
clarcd 10 Mr. Eaton, and TO have requested Mr. Eaton
TO notify the authorities here, that in
his Judgment, General Henderson's remarks
tanned reflection whatever on the President
also called attention 10 the fact that Mr. Eaton, Mr.
Dyer and Mr.. Henderson had all in writing informed
nc that no such purpose existed on Hcndersons part
and that the contrary II appeared from the official
records in my possession at that tmc and the
Treasury Department, that General Henderson went
,ut OF his way argument IN that to state
hat. in his Judgment the PreSIdent OF the United
states was altogether above reprcach, so far
he knew and TO pay the President a
compliment saiJ. therefore to tho Secretary of the
Treasury that received the judgment OF General Hen
dcrsons colleagues and OF the Court as conclusive on
that question: and judgment the President OF the
United states ought TO rise above personal consdcra
lions IN view OF te iact that thc puoHc interests I'M
pcrativey required General Henderson, retention in
the prosecution The dismissal VI General Henderson
was, IN my judgment fatal blow TO the prospect OF a
successful prosecution in General Babcock's case.
BY Mr.. Paisted--Havc you the protest 10 which
you Just referred? A. have not, but 1t now on
1le the Treasury Department, aud will make IL an
exhibit before get through by reference to my pr.
vatc letter book | find under date OF December 4 tho
following letter written by me-
LETTER TO MR.. BATON
DEAR EATON IL General HeEoerson confidential
letter night giving you the situation affairs at this
end In the 'Syiphn mster. We DO not know here what
you doing but OF course doing your
duty.
That is the letter in which have made references 10
The controversy regard to the military and the civil