The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-06-14
SHERMAN'S SHAME.
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF SECRET
HISTORT.
who Furnished the Money for the
visiting Statesmen An Import
AMI Link in the Chain OF Evil
dence for the Impeach.
ment of Sherman.
Special Dispatch to the Enquirer.

Special Dispatch to the Enquirer.
WAsHINGToE, June l2.-An other in
teresting chapter OF the history OF the late
| Presidential election has come to light.
1t will be remembered that when the
Presidential Commission was sent South
the question was frequently asked in the
newspapers, WHO pays its expenses p
The following letters fully answer that
hitherto unanswered question:
Private and Conidential.l
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINGToN, March %, 1877. !
Goo. +. Baker, Cashier First National
Bank, NeU York:
My DEAR SIR-The President has de-
cided to send a Commission, composed Of
men Of prominence and respectability, to
some of the Southern States for the pur-
pose Of healing, if possible, the present
political difficulties which exist in them.
1t is slso hoped this course will secure TO
the Administration and the Government
the moral support and aid OF persons re-
siding IN Southern localities. The only
practical difficulty in the way OF carry
ing out this grand project arises from
the want of an appropriation. Your
bank can remove that difficulty, and 1t is
for the purpose of securing your aid IN
this matter that | address this letter to
you, believing that you will cheertuliy
cooperate III u work which has for its
aim and object the peaceful solution Of
grave and perplexing difficulties. The
amount which will be required will pro-
bably fall between $1,000 and $4,000
What | have to suggest is this: That
your bank advance this money to some
person, who will be appointed the dis
bursing agent, and receive from him the
vouchers wh hCh he will take when he
makes his disbursements. When Con-
gress convenes again deficiency apprC-
priation will be asked FOR by the Execu-
i've for the purpose indicated above, and
wha. you advance will be promptly re-
turned to you. DO not think there can
be any hazard or risk in the matter, or !
would not suggest it. l have thought,
also that you would be pleased to have
the opportunity to render the aid which
is needed Tor q good purpose at this time.
| shall be glad to receive an early reply
to this letter. With much respect, | sm
yours. CHARLES f. CoNANT.
An early reply to this letter was read,
rs follows:
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, New YORK, /
March "a, 1877.
My DEAR Mr.. CoNANT-l am IN re-
ccipL of your letter OF yesterday in re-
gard to making an advance of money for
the expenses OF the Commission to bs ap-
pointed by the President to visit South
ern States and beg to say that the Bank
will take pleasure in extending the &C.
cOmmodation IN the manner requested.
Yours, truly,
GEO. F.BAKER.
The unearthlng of these letters opens
up new lead for an investigation which
is likely to plsy IN important part in the
impeachment OF John Sherman, an event
almost certain TO come in the near future;
for this manner Of paying the bills of the
Commission is held by some Of the best
lawyers Ct the House 10 be fragrant viO-
lstlou OF law, which prohibits any officer
Of The Government from antiCipst ng any
appropriation. Shermsn's name does Mt
appear in these letters, but it is not con-
ceIvable that the plan was conceived or
carried out without bis sanction.
Conant is the special financial agent Of
the government at London in the inter
est OF the Syndicate. He is Sherman's
confidential man IN all business between
the Treasury and the Syndicate, and at
the time the letters were written was
A. si.tsnt Secretary Of the Treasury. 1t
Is further significant that Fahnstock,
President OF the First National Bank, is
one of the five members OF the Syndicate;
that his bank is special depository for
United States four and one-haf per cent
bonds, and that it has for q long time
been Secretary Shermsn's most specially
favored financial institution. Shermsn's
responsibility, however, will be fully
proved by letters over his signature, TO
Baker and to the Commission, vOuching
for Powers, who was the disburslng agent
appointed, and who was promoted short
ly after his return from this expedition.
The Commissions bill Of expense has
also been unearthed. 1t is an entertain
ing document, and will be fine nuts for
Ben Butler, especially an item of fifty
nine dollars snd some cents 'or travel
ing expenses Of Wayne McVeigh from
Harrisburg to Washington and return,
As this amount is four or five times above
the regular fare, Butler will be likely to
ask Wayne TO explain. The bill further
shows that Justice Harlan took his son
along at the expeIse of the approPris-
ti)n which the President was to ask Con-
gress to make, and that it cost about
$4,000 to indulge in that Commission.
The hotel bill averages Sl2 per head per
day. The deficiency appropriation, as
preordsined, was recommended, and
came very near being tackled on by
Chairman Atkins TO the deficiency bill.
BY advice, however, he declined 10 ap-
propriste, and the scheme now Is 10 have
the Senate to tack it on to the sundry
civil bill.