New-York tribune., 1876-08-11

GEN, GRANI AMI MN DlNlCiON'
MEANS he HAS TAKEN TO AID THE SECRETARY IN
THE WHISKY PROsEcUTIoNs-TliE ANSWER TO
rx-sOlCITOR WILSON.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-The positive assertions
,,h;cb have been made through the press that the
PRESIDENT intended to prepare a statement in reply
90 the testimony of ex-SOictOr Wilson in regard to
tho whisky Investigations and trials have the follow
;nc foundation: 1he President has not at present
node mn his mind to publish any such statement
tho rfason assigned being that Mr.. Wilson's testi-
,onv has involved so many other persons that Gen.
Crant thinks it possible that he may be sufficiently
o,overed by them before the investigation closes
Ifbowever after the adjournment of Congress, any
thing remains in Mr. Wilson's testimony which III
tho opion of the President needs further notice he
,, confer with his Cabinet as to what course IT will
lao nroper for him TO pursue.
Tn the course OF a conversation with friend to-
aovCep Grant reviewed the testimony ofeX-Sohcltor
Wilson in detail showing that he had gwen the sub
,oct very close attention and study. From this same
conversation il was learned that the President has
deferred 10 Secretary Brstows opinion in all matters
relating to the whisky frauds investigations and
the trial Of the offenders, and that he at that tlme
had so great confidence in Mr.. Brstows fidelity and
honesty that he was ready and willing to go to any
extent TO strengthen the Secretarys hands, and even
IN sacrifice many officers who had been ms personal
friends. and in whom he had reposed as much
con6duee on account of their supposed honesty and
ability as in Secretary BristOw himself. As an IN
stance of this willing disposition it was mentioned
that at Mr. Bristows solicitation he removed United
States istrict-AttOrney Patrick and United states
Marshal Newcomb of st. Louis. when representations
were made to him by Mr. BristOw that the retention
- +base ,,orsons i'm Office would embaTass his
operations against the rng.
In reference to the assertion of Mr.. Wilson as 10
the Endorsement of " Let no guilty man escape,
on the Barnard letter, that he had no suspicion Oh
either of those persOnswhen hewrOte reimbursement
and that at that time he had heard OF nothing cacu-
lated to excite the slightest anxiety in his mind III
regard to either of them, he believed them both IN
nocent He was led to write this Endorsement by
having had his attention frequently called TO asseI-
tions made by certain persons ST. Louis, that they
had such potent influence at the White house that
the Secretary of the Treasury would not be able TO
reach them III his efforts TO bring the ring to punish
ment. In order to strengthen the hands of Secre-
tary Bnstow and TO convince these unprncipieN
persons of their impotence as well as TO show all
members of the Whisky Ring that the persons re-
ferred TO were impostors and had influence at the
Executive Mansion, he made the Endorsement IN
question In referring TO the accuracy of Mr. VIII
sons testimony so far as it relates to dates the
President said he could not help thinking that MI.
Rristow must have taken notes of what occurred at
every Cabinet meeting in which the prosecution OF
the Whisky Ring was discussed, and that ihnne-
diately after each he held conference wI.h Sohci-
tor Wilson, On many points the President said t.at
he thought ex-SOlcitOr Wilson had already wered
himself.