, 1876-02-12
BabcOck and Whisky.
ALittIe BIT Of History.

AS IL 10 hAONh " AiN'J -
readers that7General Babcock's trial
for completely with the whisky frauds
was about to be entered upon
at the latest advices from st.
Louis under the fostering care of
ex-Attorney General Williams, who
has been using his utmost endeavors
to shield him, a short sketch of his
career may not be without interest,
particularly with reference to Presl-
dent Grants solicitude in his behalf.
Since his indictment Cor alleged con
spiracy to dcfraud the revenues of
the Government, he has not been on
duty at the Executive mansion, but
has contented himself with merely
drawing his pay asa Major of Engi-
neers. Babcocl, made himself rath-
er agreeable as the Presidents pri-
vate secretary to all callers, at the
White House, and, as consequence,
was generally very popular. AS
Commissioner of Public Buildings
and Grounds, he was brought largely
into personal contact with the citi-
zens of Washington, great majority
of whom are very partial to him for
the many improvements he has made
in the public grounds. 1t is gener-
ally conceded that in discharging the
duties of this office he has surpassed
all his predecessors, not only in the
matter of taste and efficiency, but in
the economy of his expenditures. In
former times this Office was usually
filled by civilian, chosen without
regard to fitness, and with the one
qualification of being on terms of
personal friendship with the Presi-
dent and the members of his house
hold. During the administration
of Andrew johnson law was passed
which provides that the incumbent
shall be an officer of engineers, Sc
lected by the President and detailed
for the purpose. When Gen. Grant
was elected President he selected
Babcock who has held the position
ever since.
With Horace Porter, George Leet,
Amos Webster and a few other
young men on staff duty in the army,
he became a favorite with Grant to-
ward the close of the rebellion, and
when the General left the army to
accept the honors heaped upon him
in civil life, he made provision for
his proteges. Porter and Babcock
were taken to the Executive man
sion, Leet was given the profitable
warehouse business sHqebsssF Of tAs IVA was Tpsh Sdt
into the snug berth of Register of
Wills at Washington, and the others
we're equally well taken care Of.
Babcock possesses in a marked de-
gree the pra4s.l,i..lE : New New EE,nSlEpd
is-l.---. snlTr5. Ere Deiieves the
advice Of Iago, @put money in thy
purse" i" is sound, and since bis ad-
vent in Washington hehas observed
it with a faithfulness that has result
ed in his accommodating a large prop
erty.- Before the rascality of the
Western whisky ring was uncovered
it was charged that Babcock had be-
come rich through his association
with the famous Board of Public
Works of Washington; that he was
in the "real estate pool" out of
which SO many fortunes were real
lied; and that in many other ways
he was mixed up with the " District
ring" which was finally abolished by
act of Congress. However he may
have acquired it, the fact is attested
by numerous fine residences,in some
instances entire blocks, in the best
part of Washington which belong to
General Babcock. Babcock's friends
are certain that he will be trium-
phantly acquitted; and there are
those, also, who believe that in the
trial the fact will be developed that
part of the black mail levied by the
whisky ring upon the distillers was
devoted to political purposes, and
that Babcock was cognizant of the
fact.
TuE Wolla WoIla TTn;o,, -.;,,,,, Al. :.