The New York herald., 1876-03-24
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON. March %, 1870
ATTORNEY GENERAL PIERREpoNT BEFORE THE
JUDICIARY coMMITTEE-MoRE LIGHT ON THE
CIRCULAR LETrER-GENERAL BABcocK's AD-
MISSION THAT HE MADE IT PUBLIC AND HIS
REASONS THEREFOR.
Attorney General Pierrepont spent three hours TO-
day in attempting TO satisfy the curiosity Of the judi
cary Committee tho subject OF Executive interior
with the late crooked whiskey" trials in the
West Naturally the examination covered great deal
OF matter which has altogether lost tho inter-
est Of freshness novelty The committee
manifested the interest in the Attor-
ney Generals famous circular letter to the
District Attorneys OF ST. Louis Chicago and Milwaukee
which received the popular Interpretation of being
designed to discourage prosecutions of the whiskcy
Ring conspraors. Mr. Perrepont's account OF is
that tho President very much disturbed at the
constant receipt of newspaper slips and letters and
personal statements giving Information OF attempts
the part OF the government officials in those three
cities compromise fraud the revenue, and that tho
President spoke TO him five or six different occa-
sons, expressing his fear that such things If allowed.
would bring scandal the administration. Mr..
Pierrepont himself rather inclined treat these
statements exagGerations, and did not believe that
the District Attorneys the special counsel OF the gov
would be guilty anything improper in the
matter. He had, therefore, rather wardcd Off the
Presidents advances until finally the President sug-
gested that the Attorney General had better
write to the District Attorneys the sub
jcct. Mr. Pierrcpont had therefore, prepared
and forwarded the letter, couchcd las he
said In terms that rather lame. Nobody had
made suggested draught of this letter. and he had
submitted 1t TO the President In fact tho Prcsi-
nothing Of II for three four days after
ward when he asked Mr. Pierrepont whether he had
taken any the matter, and thcn he told him
he had written this letter and he him copy OF
IT, couple Of days aftcrward, the discovery that
letter had been published the Chicago papers on
the LIST OF February, himself and Mr. Bristow
pressed great indignation the presence of the Pres
the gross improperly of giving publicity H.
and the President who did manifest any feel
ing the subject remarked that he had read
the letter
gMr Perrepont further stated that General Babcock
admitted to him the Sd OF March that he was In
strumental in giving publicity to the letter. and de-
Tended himself ground that they were trying to
drown him, to destroy him. and that he had the right
defend himself He (Mr. P,erreponp called the
Presidents attention next day TO Babcock's admis-
sion.
The committee wanted to know why Babcock did not
call for court OF inquiry ascertain whether he had
been guilty OF conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman; whether he still Commissioner OF Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds, &c. but Mr. Picrrepont
unable to give any information those points.
His examination Is TO be continued next Monday.
Mr.. MARSH EXPLAINS WHY HE WENT TO MON
TREAL.
hafor tbo auh-co oF
the Judiciary Committee this morning His attention
called to the article the Now York Tribune OF
March. 1872 in relation the post leadership Fort
SILL stating tnat Evans had paid Marsh S12 900 year
for the place &c Marsh replied that he called
era Belknaps attention the article and asked who
could have written or inspired IT, whom General Bel
knap replied he supposed it the work of General
Hazcn
Marsh explained the reason why he went to Mon
trca after giving his testimony before the Committee
on Expenditures in the War Department He said no
apprehended when he read the debate in the House,
which appeared the morning OF the day nc left New
York, that he might be indicted for a criminal or
fence and hence his anxiety get OF the way Of
arrest
THE POST TRADERsH1P-MoRE INTERESTING
INSTRUMENTATION THE TRADERS ARE
MULcr FOR POLITICAL PUBPosEs--"ALIcK
M'cooK on NEEDED REFORMS.
C. r. Peck recalled and testified before the Com
mitteo Expenditure IN the War Department. to-day
that the post traderships assessed for political
purposes and during the last Presidential he
paid from S. 600 S. Oo0 he thought rcmtcd tho
money the chairman OF the committee at Washing
ton he presumed they asked subscribe
they held post tradeships under Administrations
he did consider they obliged pay but
notified that contributions would be acceptable; he
and his partner Darfec, held four military posts
anc six Indian trading posts; they recommended
for the military posts by military officers and obtained
the license or Indian traders under law OF Congress-
having complied with It's requirements; be thought
the Of contributions from the military posts
was designated proportion the number OF traders
there
J. J. Fisher recalled. and testified that the arm
Of Evans Co., post traders. contributed money for
political purposes. pursuance OF request contained
In printed circular lie did understand that the
contribution was compulsory. bu, he thought II vas
the safer way to pay the money apart from pOitcal
Mr. Evans recalled. and, being asked whether he
contributed money during the last Presidential can
vass, said that he had In compliance With circular
sent Fort SIN sent $500 the Republican Executive
Committee in Washington, and he has paid $50
the committee within the last SIX months; tho
witness said he bad voted for Lincoln President
against Mcclellan, but now mixed up in poll.
tics; he would have paid the money n be had not
been called upon TO do so; he sent the chcck for the
money TO Postmaster Edmunds
Lieutenant Colonel Mccook testified, among other
things he had heretofore his belief ,nas
could proved that post tradershps bad been sold
did know that such sales could be 10 tho
Secretary Of War; but believed that or somo middle.
man had been selling them; this was . matter .