New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-05

tho report. Believing that Mr. Glover would induce his
committee to report me to the House for conemp and
Thus attempt TO execute his threat 70 send me 70 jan
I Immediately prepared a statement, 10 be read p
Justification OF my acton, called before the bar o. tas
House. From that paper make the following extfacsi
The report or statement referred t., copy OF which
declined 60 furnish enc comni.ter contains I'm ue
scTpti0n including marks aud brands, Of several tAou
sand bales OF Confederate cotton shipped BY me 10
Simeon Draper. United states Cotton Agent 10 New
York, I'm 1866, the proceeds OF which went INFO tie
foi nation, sought 10 be elected from me by inc
committee. came into my possession, was fwofh
nation is doubtless now matter OF record n the treas
ury Department 1t was tbe rule 81 TIE dcpartaensg
reasons Of public policy, treat such information az
confidential ana l believe the rule should stil
govern me- have furnished the Information y
given the conmiitee contains all the facts concerning
COMMITTEES or to Congress TIE marks and brands on
the cotton, which 1 refused 60 g1ve could DC
claim agents and their ceBts To faraish the marks
aud brands with fall description OF this cotton 70 DC
printed part OF my testimony would be supplying,
III convenient form, data upon which 90 predicate
fraudulent CLAIMS perhaps the evidence 70 DOstI u
claims already pending. Tie committee have intnAtea
to me no puoe reason, no can conceive OF any WAY
should be called upon to do this nor, indeed WHY II
should be done at ali: Inc lnIormuoB depaheea HouI
me by the committee has never hitherto, 50 lar us
know been called for By Congress, or published IN any
form by authority OF any biAch OF eeafteht o. tne
Government, and l respectfully protest against pehg
made the medium OF furnishing such import mt testl-
mOay 70 the multitude OF clai-agse auu Otnefs VIM
Tie proceeds OF this cotton. ] cannot regard this
part OF my examination before the committee
N any other light than that OF supplying lm-
pOrtant evidence against the Government aud IL does
not accord with my ideas OF right and Justice 10 dFuige,
in the form sworn testimony facts which can be mace
available wrongtuily 10 abstract moneys from tue
Treasury, by irumpeing up fraudulent claims. .
have intended, and have shown, no dsrespeet TO me
House, nor to its committee, and having no peIsohh
reasons Whatsoever Tor Withholding the Information,
hold myself in readiness u obey order the House. IN
its wisdom, may deem it proper to make IN the
PROMISES
Knowing that would be entitled to hearing, before
being committed felt confident that the House would
not authorize Me- Glover to execute his threat But
Secretary Sherman advised me that if the House, by
resolution required HIM TO give the Information he
would do So but that he would appeal to them, IN the IN
terest of honesty. and against fraudulent claims,
and as matter OF patriotic duty, not 70
make the information public. told him that would suit
some OF the men about the committee exactly, for In
my opinion they wanted tho description OF the cotton
for their own private purposes and not for the public
The Secretary also advised me that II the House SO
ordered would have furnish the marks on the cotton
bales TO the committee. The full committee. however
was Informed by clerk took further action against
me- except simply TO refer the whole question back to
Causes subcommittee. Cause continued 10 keep regu
larry saturated with malaria and the matter was dropped
except that was held under subpoena, and notified from
day 10 day 20 report at the eOmmttee-room. until
June IL when testified upon other points and was dis
charged All except three members OF the committee
treated me WITH fairness aud courtesy The eondnet OF
al illegal arbitrary, and contrary 70 Az the
usages which obtain among gentlemen. An nfssllss-
must inevitably result I'm failure and disgrace.
Az any rate Mr. Glover and his experts failed 10 get
the marks on that cotton. Respectfully, =, ro,,r
Washington, d. O.. Aug. 2, 1878.