New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-19
WASHINGTON.
Cnntinnrd from rIrst Page.

His Impression is that Mr.. Eyarts occupied the
next chair nj the table 10 that Of the French
Minister Of Foreign Affairs. Under these CIR
cumstances. he thinks it very strange that MI
Evarts should have been Obliged to 90 to brussels
TO secure the good Offices of Minister SANFORD before
he could obtain such an interview with the ftehch
Minister a. he desired whatever may have been
the facts in the case, whether Minister Sanford was
really an exceedingly earnest and useful represent
alive Of the United States, or whether ms zeal was
only ofiiciousness as Ministers Adams and Dayton
more than once asserted il is undoubtedly true that
he had something TO do with the transaction Oh
almost every important matter OF business winch
the limited States mt that time entrusted TO us
representatives abroad.
Mr.. George 2. Smith, the gentleman who filed ac-
cusations against Mr.. Sanford with the President
last Spring has been requested by the Senate COM
mittee on Foreign Relations to exhibit his papers
and tell his story TO the members OF that cohhi'tee'
Mr. Smiths papers do not contain anything WHICH,
unop their face yould convict Mr. Sanford OF any
improper action in connection with the business
which Mr. Smith went to Europe to transact. lhey
simply show an intense anxiety on the part OF MI
Sanford first to meet Mr.. Smith Immediately upon
his arrival in PARIS; and secondly, to have manu-
in any purchases that might be made Mt ohl'h
says that he did 90 to Europe "a 1t has Deen re-
ported that he did, the agent of Simon Cameron
then Secretary Of War. lie was a dry goods mer-
chant Just then out OF business, anu
while visiting Washington. was dcputized by
Colonel Thomas A. Scott. who was Acting Secretary
of Warm the absence Of Mr. Cameron, to 20 to Eu-
rope and purchase army CLOTH in order that General
McCiellan's men might be properly clothed General
Mcclellan was Just ut that time constantly writing
letters to the War Department, calling attention 10
the destitute condition Of his men, and even threat
enng that if they were not provided for, ne woulu
appeal to the country in their behalf No army
cloth was to be obtained in the United States, ana
the necessities Of the Government became so urgent
that Mr. Smith was begged By Colonel Scott ana
Ouarternaster-General Meiggs to go to Europe anu
purchase the necessary supplies OF clothing
The object Of his mission was teegraphed from
the coast If Ireland. and caused an immediate
advance IN the price Of all goods OF the character 10
be obtained. On Mr. Smiths arrival IN Paris he
found a note from Mr.. Sanford which he stu mas
requesting an Immediate interview. lie SAYS that
the Minister to gum at once proposed that the
two millions of dollars which Air. smith took with
him. should be Immediately placed to his Sanfords
credit and that he be allowed to transact the bust
ness i'm hand. This Mr. Smith refused to do, and he
has several notes and cards from Mr. Sanford which
only show that the latter was extremely anxious 10
see him and mention that his business was very
urgent and important.
AtAlr. Sanford's repeated request Mr. Smith says
he went to Brussels in order to see about the cloth
which the Minister TO Belgium said he had the re-
fusal Of. and which the Confederate Government
was attempting to Obtain. The curious thing about
It, Mr. Smith says, IS that Minister Sanford urged
hin; TO close the contract without seeing the cloth at
all and that It was only after much persuasion that
our Minister to Belgium arranged an interview be
tween Mr.. Smith and the agent who had control OF
the goods Mr. Smith says that he agent was moth
inQ more than commercial traveller; that he dis
covered this fact al once: and that upOn looking at
the samples they turned out to be gray Belgian
cloths wholly unfit for the use OF our army,
both on account of their color and their lack o.
sufficient weight as well as their poor quality. MIR.
Smith says that ne utterly refused TO hayo anything
further TO do with the matter, and that Minister
Sanford was very much offended and threatened %
report him to the Government OF the United states.
On his return 10 London Mr. Smith wrote letter to
Quartemaster-General Meiggs, a copy OF which be
retained, in which he reported that Mr. Sanford had
tired to induce him 10 purchase, without seeing 1t.
lot Of inferior cloth wholly unfit for the Of the
army. lie says that after his return to the
United States on meeting General Meiggs, he
spoke with him the subject and the
General said that Mr.. Smiths letter arrived
in Washin gton just in time that Minister Sanford's
Secretary OF Legation had come to the United states
70 induce the Government to purchase these cloths
and that the Observation-Disclosures had received
suggestion, which had almost the force OF an order,
TO close the transaction. Mr. Smiths letter had pre-
vented it. Quartermaster-General Meiggs Is report
ed TO have SAID recently that he recalls this subject
very vaguely but does not remember the details OF
the transaction.
The letters which Mr.. Smith now has, taken by
themselves would make no case ar all against Nr.
Sanford The most important Of these seems to have
been one which ex-senator COwan had, and winch
cannot now be found. This Is the letter that was
used in the Senate when Mr. Sanford was previously
nominated and defeated. Mr. Sanfords reply TO
tbese accusations mas been published very fully and
is already in the possession of the Committee on
Foreign Relations 1t is doubtful if any decision Is
reached on this subject By the committee during the
extra session Of Congress.
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