The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-06-25
2riyate and Confidential.l
TREASURY DkpaRrs

WAsHINeroSs March %. 1877 {
9eo. +. Baker, Cashier First National Bank,
New York:
Mr DEAR SIR: The President has de.
sided tdisepd & Commission, cVmpbsed
OF men ef prominense and respectable
y. to some OF the Southern States for
che eoparpesesof healing, il possible, The
present political 1ifficu lies which exiAt
In them. Il is also hoped that this course
wilt secure 70 ntte Administration and
The Government the moral support and
cid OF persons residing in Southern 10.
ealities. The only practical difficulty in
the way OF csrfying out this grand prs
ject afises from the want of an sppros
priation. : Touf Sank can remove thai
difficulty, and his for tie purpose of Sc
caring } your aid 10 this matter that ad
dress this aetserlSo you, believing that
you will cheerfully cooperate in work
which has for ,itsraim andI object the
pesceful solution Of grave and perplex-
Ing dialeplties. The amount which will
be required will probably fall between
S3Q09 end a 900 uesx 2s,seu exrgvs
What have to suggest Is this; That
four bank advance this money to some
person, Who will DO appointed the dis
bursipg agent, and receive from him the
vouchers which he will take when he
makes EhisN Disbursements When 1Con-1
gress conveEes again a-defcieney appro
priationfwill be asked for by the ExecnJ,
Give Tor the purpose indicated above, and
what you advance viii be promptly re-
surned to you. ] do not think there can
be any hazard or risk in the matter, or !
would not suggestitoaaIahave thought,
alsos that you would be pleased to have
thevopportunity to renderithe aid which
is needed for astgood purpose at this
time. / shall be glad to receivesan early
reply to this letter. With much respect,
am yours, & CHARLES +, CoNAsr asJ
An early reply to this letter was read,
~ fellows; |eis4sS ~ hiHa i2Af9'r
FiRsr NATIONAL Bank. New York;
.vlseEssq ssica Mach "a, 1877. f.
MY DEAR Mr. CoKAxr: am in re
ceipt efoyour letter Of yesterday in re-
gard TO making an advance of money for
the expenses of the Commission to be
appointed by the President to visit
Southern States and beg to say that the
bank will take pleasure in extending the
accommodation in the manner request:
ed. Yours truly, GEO. F. BAKER.
The nnearthing Of these letters opens
up new lead for an investigation which
is likely to play an important part in the:
impeachment OF John Sherman,.an event
almost certain TO come in thenear future !;
for this manner Of paying the bills Of lhe
Oomnaissiohis held by some Of the best
lawyers Of the House to be fagrant
violation Of law, which prohibits any Of
hcer of the Government from anticipat-
Ing any appropriation. iSherman's name
doesn't appear in any of these letters,
but II is mot conceivable thatithe plan
vas conceived or carried out without his
sanction, sfe'sftiiHi a9as gatsaa7
sCopant IS tie special financial agent Of
che government at London in the inter-
est sof the Syndicate He is Sherman's
confidential man mall business between
the Treasury and the Syndicate, and at
the time the letters were written was As.
sislant Secretary lof the Treasury. II is
further Significant that Fahnstock, Pres
ident Of The First National Bank, is one
ef the FIVE members OF the Syndicate
that his bank is special depository for
unjtcd States four and one half per cen,
hoBdss saLd that itShas for longtime
been Secretary Sherman's most specially
favored financial institution. Sherman's
responsibility, however, win be fully
proved by letters over bis signature, Il
Baker and 10 the Commissions, youching
for Powers. who was the disbursine
agent appointed, and, who was promoted
shortly alter his return from this expedi
ton, helrlo4q4 ebsJ. ed Esgsle7si 9n sur
sI1he Commission'ss bill of expense has
alscubcen uaearthed. IL 1T is an entertain
ing document, and will be fine nuts fol
Ben Butler, especially an item of S5s
and some ctnts for travelling expenses ol
Wayne Mcveiah from Harrisburg to
washington and return. As this amount
Is four or five times above lhe regular
fare, Butler viii be likely TO ask Wayne
20 explain. The, bin further shows that
Justice Harlsn look his son along at The
expense of the appropriation which tho
Rfssid,pt was 10 ask Congress to make
and that il cost about 81 600 to indulge
in that Commission The hotel bill ay
eraeeslSla perrhead per day, sThesdef
cheney appropriation as preordaine6, ,wa'
recommended, and came very near beins
tackled on by Chairman Atkins to the de
iiciency bill. By advices however, b,
declined TO appropriate, and the scht m,
is nsW. 10 have the Senate tack il on Il
che sundry civil bilf.--~
Never blow down, a lamp chimney |,
exfpgutsh the flame, forfit il, quite habl
ioTsturns the compliment and blow 20
ufss ,ksnsis1st-sn 81 81 afsiss sdi isaiz'
ensOh,d dms,n suidi a litilpB girl who ha4
Beetit6 thesZ illogical Gardens s'I'v
seen the elephant, and be walks bach
10.