New-York tribune., 1878-10-10
MR. LYDECKER'S ANSWER.

soURcE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST hlM-FLAl>
LANGUAGE ABOUT b. }. JAYNE
To tAs EdUOr OF The TFt6"He'
Sw. There have recently been pubhshed
two reports made by three special agents Vi .no
urv Department, in which am charged with onlelai
,iseopduct These charges relate to transaeuohs "0
,oolx ulare ten years ago, and are apparently no"
raed IN affect puc opinion with reference TO recent
oeeurrepces in tue hope that stale ana reluteo cnS
f mast corruption may be accepted as evidence OF
misconduct. ,-, ..uoa,o
Tho first report dated June 25. 1878, was cslleSto
my attention july by Collector Arthur 10 Whon
bsd been referred for investigation The second one
I.vs never heard OF prior to It's recent publication
urhn the Collector was directed TO inquire into the
nth of the charges he naturally requested the depart
,,cnt 70 furnish him with copy Of the testimony ana
doeiments on which they were based, but the depart
ept dd not comply with the request He also asked 70
b, furnished with a copy Of report made by special
asent of the Treasury Department who investigated
one of the charges at the time OF the uahsae-
tiaps AT first the department prOfessed It's lg
porapce OF any such report; but when tne
prreise date OF its transmission was furnished, II was
reluctantly produced The fact that the report entrey
exonerated me from blame probably accounted Tor the
reluctance The department having by petty devices
sueeseded ID rendering impossible new investigation
by General Arthur which had pretended to desire l.
on July 49, tue day before his suspension took eject
addressed him letter. of which copy Is herewith
transmitted.
There are two distinct charges against me- both OF
them as have said, relating Te transactions which oc-
CURED ten years ago. The most serous OF them was
then investigated by the Collector, Naval officer and
Surveyor and they ALL as well the special agent al
ready referred TO- coneurred In fully generating me-
The charge has been once twice renewed since but
has been after Investigation dismissed. and have
been promoted II is renewed by the notorious b.
g. Jayne who has his personal reasons for hostility to
me. He naturally found favorable reception rom
commission OF special agebts WHOSE must I'm, -,
member IS generally understood 70 have Deeh MS part
ner in his raids upon merchants
Mr. Lydeeker here gives AZ great Iengtn extracts
from, his letters dealing in detail with the cases in
which charges were brought against him; quoting the
laws, giving the fscts, etc.l
In conclusion, allow me TO say that If have used
strong language IL Is beesuse feel strongly. have
been In the customs service twentyfoUT years, having
risen gradually 70 Iny present position. nave hl
times, doubt erred through mistake IN Judgment
through csreessness, through gcOd-natured desire
Go facilitate tie business Qi the mercantile eOmniG-
nifty. through disregard OF red tape, but l
have never dOno dIsnOBest unworthy act For
about ten years, however have been followed by The
persistent pers eutiOn OF notorious man whom an IN
dignant public drOVe from the public service He has
preferred caused 10 De preferred charge after charge
against ne; they have been Investigated, not once but
repeatedly and have each time been dismissed. This
has done through undue influence. but on the
facts In private conversation one OF the reasons as-
signed why should be dismissed has been that
alleged not 10 belong to the dominant political party
As you know, the position hold Is not one have de
sired TO retan But my character 10 Of value % me and
mne 30 long as this enemy persisted IN his charges
and long spite OF their staeness lac found those
In power ready to lend willing ear ~ tnem, 50 long
has been impossible for me TO retire voluntarily from
the service. had, however come recently to think
they had been finally disposed OF, and that should
be at liberty toconsut my own wishes Butt seems
10 reserved for commission, alleged u have
been appointed 10 protect the merchants to throw IT.
into the arms OF the man who 10 known pre-
eninently their peFoecutOf, ana TO revive stale
charges repeatedly dsproyed and dismissed feel that
In the pursued gross injustice has been done
Before otBsr Judges character Is st some yaiue
entitled TO sOmc weight Years Of public service give
under other auspices, Il right 10 consideration
The action past Secretaries aud officials IN smssing
tue charges would, in the absence OF evidence be
decisive Bat Omnseience OF special agents sweeps
ell tns aside.
Asking that you will do tho justice 10 publish this
letter, am your obedient servant
JoHS r. LYDEcKER,
He1e- York Oct. 3, 1873