The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-18
President Grants Testimony.

BABCoGK TOOK NO PART IN CONTROLLING
on ADVISING AS TO THE APPOINTMENT OF
REVENUE OFFICERS.
WASHINGTON. Feb. IL, 187G.-The depO-
sition OF President Grant touching the
case of Gen. .. r. Babcock was taken
at the White House to-day, the proceed
ings occupying two sessions, one 81 .nree
and another Of about two hours this
evening. The latter was devoted to the
rc-rending, revision and certification OF
the testimony.
4 ruinor In the morning that the OK
animation would be conducted with
bpen doors sent not only every news
paper correspondent In Washington,
but quite large representation OF inc
local judiciary to the vestibule Of
the White House, which they besiegod
with great earnestness and patience,
but friiitlessly, Us the doors Of the apart
ment i'm which the proceedings took
place were rigidly closed to the press MS
to the public in general. This apart
ment was the Executive Chamber itself.
The business on hand was not only
serious and important, but the scene
was i'm measure impressive and august.
The President occupied his usual seat
at the head Of the historical table,
across which SO many matters OF state
| have been discussed and accomplished,
AZ his left sat the Chief Justice OF the
Supreme Court of the United States,
Mr.. Morrison II. Waite, who was pres
ent i'm the capacity of notary TO attest
and certify the result Of tho interroga-
| tiOn of the President. A simple notary
or - United States Commissioner would
have been competent for this purpose,
but owing to tho eminent position OF the
deponept whose deposition was TO be
taken. courtesy demanded that the no
tnrinl office should be performed by
judicial official Of exalted rank.
1t will be remembered that the de-
/ fence. i'm whose interest tho testimony
OF President Grant, elected to-day, Is
| to be presented ut st. Louis, confcIn-
plated asking his attendance in person
ut the trial, but the advantage OF such q
strong circumstance for the defence had
| to be foregone, i'm view OF the custom,
| which has become almost n law by sue
cegsiye rulings Of the Attorneys Cen
eral. that the President shall not leave
the vicinity of the Executive Mansion
during q session Of Congress. In defer
ence 20 this regulation commission,
duly authorized by the United states
Court at st. Louis, came to washing
ton to take the deposition OF the Presi-
dent in answer TO q series OF lnterroga-
tories agreed upon by the opposing
counsel i'm the case, and prOp0unded 10
him sertattm.
Next to the Chief Justice sat Mr.. Bris-
tow, Secretary Of the Treasury, and u
little further along the table Mr.. Pierre
popt, the Attorney General. To the
right of the President, and occupying
the other side Of the table, were the a.
torneys, Messrs. Lucien Eaton, Of st.
Louis. government counsel, and William
A. Cook. OF Washington, who submitted
the questions, on behalf OF General Bah
cock. Two stenographers made short
hand memorandum of each interroga-
tory and the answer thereto, being en-
ploycd at the instance OF the Chief JUS
tice, in fulfllment OF his Impartial duty
to the opposing interests involved In the
proceedings. Secretary Bristow and AT
torney General Pierrepont listened at
tentively, but took no oral part in the
examination.
HOW HE TESTIFIED.
The President made q good witness.
, He spoke readily and without hesitation,
telling what he had to say In direct
and fluent manner. Where the mono
| syllable yes or no was required ne gave
it promptly Where he was asked tC
} relate something, he narrated 1t quietly
{ and easily. The plan OF written ques
tions as laid down in the original com
mission had to be departed from ut sew
eral stages Of the deposition, owing to
the Presidents answers being different
from what was expected or anticipated
! The testimony ELECTED Is
STRONGLY FAVORABLE TO GEN. BABCocK,
, and was i'm no portion essentially i'm
! paired by the crOsS-examinatiOn. The
time set for the examination to bcgir
! was II o'clock this morning, but it was
nearly noon before the business was wei
under way. Two hours were then con
sumed in steady, continuous work, ant
i - recess was taken between 2 and
, o'clock in the afternoon.
, The distinguished party reassemblet
! this evening, when the stcnographers
/, who had written out their notes, sub
!, mitted the completed transcript Of thu
, testimony, which was then duly verified
. by the Chief Justice, and will to-nigh
, be committed to the PostOlIice to taxi
! its course in the regular mail for st
3 Louis.
9 Another copy is to be prepared from
i the stcnographer' notes for the use 0
/ the defence, and as u precaution agains
D mail The deposition covers about fifty
! two pages Of legal cap, the large
q portion being the heterogeneous OF
: behalf Of the defence as propounded b,
Mr.. Cook and the Presidents answer
4 thereto, and the other portion, maxim,
q about one-third Of the whole, com
= prisng the cross-interrogatories 0
Mr.. Eaton and the Presidents answers
The entire testimony would take vi
about four columns Of the Herald.
4 pURPoRT OF THE DEPOSITION.
|, On the direct examination Ulysses S
u Grant having been duly sworn, depose'
y substantially as follows: Had know
. Gen. O. u. Babcock for u period cover
| ing the last ten or twelve years depO
h nent's relations with him had been o
o an intimate nature. The President her
;, expressed himself as entertaining an
9 having entertained constant conf
/ dence in the accused. The Court of In
quiry at Chicago was ordered at tn
e request Of Gen. Babcock. After it ha
& been found that he could not appear b
o testify in the Avery trial or any othe
Vt case within reasonable time, no effor
h was made, to the Presidents knowledge
d on the part Of Gen. Babcock or Of any
= body for him to prevent trial on tn
g indictments. Neither the appointment
Of Joyce nor those Of Mcclure or Nc
v Donald, or either of them, or Of any on
q else involved in the investigation OF tn
q whisky ring frauds. had been made a
r the solicitation or by request Of Genera