The New York herald., 1877-01-21

REPORTED OvERTURES BY THE REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO THE Ex-sEc-
RRrARY OF THE TREAsURY-AN EXCITED
PERSONAL ALTKRcAT1oN-A QUESTION OF
vERAC1TY.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
LorIsvILLg, KY, JAM 20, 1871
sensation Of very decided nature iransprcd here
to-day, ex.secretary Brstow and Colonel Edward Polk
Johnson city editor OF the Evenng News Of this city,
figuring in it most conspicuously The trouble came
about IN this way:-Jobnson, having information
which he deemed of sufficient interest for
the Associated Press sent to Mr..
Edward F. Madden, the representative OF the
Western Press Association in Louisville, asking him 10
call at the News Office Madden complied promptly,
and was told that johnson had been informed OF O
letter Brstow from person authorized tS speak for
Governor Hayes, saying that in the event OF the lat
ters Inauguration he Hayes would see to the vind-
cation of Brstow and his friends from what the Grant
party has said against them. johnson pronounced
his Information perfectly reliabein fact, honest
beyond doubt and thcrcupor Madden sent
the information TO the Associated Press In
a telegram OF sxty-four words. He then
sought Bristow for further facts, finding him with
United States Ds,rc, Judge Ballard and ColoneI whar-
ton late United States District Attorney OF Kentucky
Brstow was told OF what the Neos would publish, and
asked Tor q copy OF the letter He manifested consd-
cradle excitement and SAID There's not . word Of
truth in the matter Then calling upon Colonel
Wharton to hurry around TO the Nsws ONCE aud dc.
mand the item be suppressed, he himself remaiued
with the Associated Press agent and Judge Ballard, and
proceeded TO tell the former that the whole story was
entirely false Bristow asked the agent 10 80 tec-
graph, and the latter complied
PERSONAL RRNcoNrRg
The cx.Secrstary then proceed TO Colonel Johnson's
Office aud meeting the latter spoke severely OF hs nc
ton johnson gave hun to understand that conduct
ing the United States Treasury Department and editing
a newspaper very different things; whercupon
Bristow IL Is said, intimated that Johnson sought TO
traduce him by publishing an article which he knew
was false. johnson called Brisiow "a damned liar"
and SAID his informant was entirely reliable A COL
ltsion seemed imminent when friends interfered aud
separated the bcllgerenis
THE OPPRESSIVE PUBLICATION.
The interview, as published IN the Evening lNescs,
was as ioiows:-'Well, Ben Bristow has recently re-
cciycd a letter from prominent man, authorized to
speak for Hayes. saynR, that In the event OF his IN
auguraon he lBristowi and his trends shall be iuly
viudicatcd. or course that can moan nothing more
or less than that Rristow aud those who supported
h and their heads for II Will either be reinstatcd
or gwen something else. Now dd not see this letter
myself but gentleman VINO gave me this Information
did see II and read II.
..NEws MAS--Havc you any objection TO giving US
his name Tor publications.
Is reliable gen ntemah known to the people Of Louis
vile. You can depend upon this Information being
correct
.rhs Nsms representative attempted to learn some
thing additional that would assist ham In
fixing the identity oil the person VINO had
read the letter, but failed The gentleman
had been in newspaper Offices before aud knew the
ways OF the journalistic world Put IN wnat have
told you and depend upon IT., said he
Is THERE ANY Truth ~ 1T?
The affair produces good deal OF excitement.
johnson Is a Kentuckian and was once IN the Legs
ature, He has been connected with the Courier
Journal ST. Louis Times and other papers ana y
well regarded despite all that has happened Many
people here incline to the bclief thai therc exist
grounds and very good grounds Tor Johnsons article