The New York herald., 1876-03-07
INTERVIEW WITH MR.. EDWARD T.
BARTLETT. ATTORNEY FOR MR..

EDWARD L. Bartlett the counsel OF Caleb 4. Marsh In
order TO ascertain the correct of his
tions with the Evans contract Mr.. Bartlett did
object answering any questions regard to the case
and the following conversation ensued:--
HERALD RxPoRTRR-I bolieve, Mr.. Bartlett, you have
held tho relation TO Mr.. Caleb p Marsh OF lawyer to
clicntY
Mr.. BARrLErr-Yes sir.
HERALD REroRTRR-How long did you occupy that
positions
Mr.. BARTLErT-Mr Marsh has been my client since
1869. The business transacted between manly
relating to mercantile affairs, In which he inter-
ested
HERALD REPoRTER-About.w what time did the Evans
matter como before you9
Mr.. BARTLRrr-Mr Marsh paid me q visit in 1870 and
asked me to draw up contract between him and Mr.
John s. Evans II was the same contract that was
brought evidence before the Congressional Com
mittee
HERALD RKroRrER-Dd you know anything OF his
connections with General Belknap, how he came 70
! get the appointment of post traderp
| Mr. BARTLETr-I know nothing Whatever Of the out
side facts that led to the framing of the contract
With II merely affair in the regular order Of
| business, and was, consequently, drawn up in the
usual form. l gave advice regard TO 10, and It
simply business agreement such any respect
able attorney would draw up for his client
HERALD REPoRTER-Did you have to renew the con-
tract or make any alterations in itS
Mr.. BARTLETT-No, sir; In fact the matter passed
entirely out OF mind until two weeks ago. whom
Mr. Marsh called upon me and had the interviews
which he has repeated in his evidence before the
mitteo.
HERALD REPoRTER-That then, was your frs. knowl-
edge of General Belknaps connection with the matter
Mr.. BARTLErr-l do not mind telling you this as Mr.
Marsh has already made public before the committee
and in answer to your question freely that
knew nothing Of the facts Of the before
me that confession. Il the first knowledge re-
ceived that the up by was the basis
of improper transactions between Mr. Marsh and Mr..
Evans on the one part and General Belknap on the
other
HERALD REPoRrER-Did you give Mr.. Marsh the ad-
vice that he told the committee he received from your
Mr. BARTLErr-Yes, air. told him exactly what
any honorable practitioner would do-that Is, II he
went before tho Congressional Committee he would
have tell the TRUTH the whole truth and nothing
the truth and that whatever mistakes he had In
the past must not deter him from taking that
would commend itself to all honorable men.
HERALD REPoRTER-Did you tell him anything
further connection with the caseg
Mr.. BARrLErT-Nothing of any Importance In fact
/ think that everybody will acknowledge that Mr.
Marsh's story bears the imprint OF truth, ho has
made effort to evade any OF the questions that
put to him by the committee.
HERALD RKPoRrER-Hsve you had any conversations
with Mr. Marsh since he appeared before the CON-
mitteep
Mr. BARrLKrr-My present relations with Mr.. Marsh
confidential, being those of attorney and client
and SHALL therefore, be forced to decline answering
that question.
As Mr.. Bartlett unable TO give any further in
formation the subject the interview was then
brought to n conclusion
BELKNAP FROM A WEST POINT VIEW.
There are detached detailed duty and on leave
OF absence the city at the present time quite
ber of army officers, many Of whom graduates OF
West Point Some Of these gentlemen the rank OF
major and brlgader general In the late war owing to
distinguished the suppression OF rebel
lion, and their names have gone into history
covered with honor. Those gentlemen sensitive;
they ke My feel any sur that may be thrown upon
profession OF by the revelations made in tho Bel
KNAPP bribery case, and, with the reticcnce for which
army officers celebrated they careful express
ing an opinion to practices their late Secretary
of war-Gencral Belknap. Yet. when member Of
the HERALD staff who had served with q number OF
them in several trying campaigns yesterday sounded
them at the Army Headquarters Houston street
and at the hotels. all showed willingness TO express
opinions only Of the fallen Secretary but OF
their present superior officer, the President OF the
United States.
Said to the writer. "Belknap is not the great Of
fender Behind him and away aPoyo him
who educated West Point. instructed in the points
OF honor should govern army officers and render
them mpervous approach either by politician
plebian has prostitutcd his Office at every step
the interest OF party. will not name him. but you
can easily, Yankee like, guess who he This man
owes the position no holds in uFe
FIRST place to Illinois politicians who had in
nuence with tho well meaning President Lin
coln and in the second place to the fact that
when the closed he had responsible position that
made him popular with the leaders Of both political
parties II was that upon the reputation
OF sheridan, Thomas, Hancock Sherman aud others
he reached goal that has enabled him to
RULE A COUNTRY
and make every army ofHcer subservient to him. I
tell you, SIR, our American people patriotic
when the closed they did not stop to who de-
served the crown of laurel with which, believe the
old Romans aed their vctors but hurredly placed
il upon the brow OF -"
.Frauds" suggested the reporter. ''That Is about
the long and short OF it," said the oncer with smile
'but continued he, 81 forget my enthusiasm that
discipline was one Of the FIRST lessons had at West
Point and should have said so much Please
don't quote me-"
WEST POINTERS ARE HONEST.
Said another THANK God Belknap was not grad-
uate Of West Point Your long familiarity with army
officers sir have impressed upon you one act--
that West Pointers had a code OF honor In
the army that the mushroom generals from the
political knew nothing about will
not say that The generals raised from citizenship tho
men whose only military knowledge when the war
broke out confined to annual review and muster
at some country crossroads in Maine California,
dishonest do say that they do not understand the
code Of that governs West Point graduates
Why TO illustrate this IL is only necessary for me TO
call your attention TO fact Let me put n in the
form OF a question when the closed how many
West Pointers resigned their places in the line or
enn and annnht ndrnncement fhrnunh nolifical innn