Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-11-17
b. b. Smalley Interviewed.

In this weeks issue we publish that por-
ton Of S. s. Morey's confession which,
II true, would expose Mr.. B. B. Smalley, the
member of the Democratic national commit
tee from Vermont, to the charge Of suborna-
ton of perjury. A representative Of the
Free Press interviewed Mr.. Smalley on Sat
urday. Mr.. Smalley denied any knowledge
Of S. s. Morey, beyond an introduction o
him at the Democratic headquarters, and
said he never paid him any money for ex-
penses or for coming to New York II any
money was paid, it was by the assistant Sec
rotary Of the committee, who in paying the
bills Of the committee drew his own check
on his private account at the Park bank I;
when number Of these checks had accu-
mulated they were punched" and counter
signed by Mr.. Barnum, or in his absence by
himself or w. L. Scott "for chairman
Mr.. Smalley at the outset believed the
letter genuine. Hart Of the Truth having
sent word TO the national committee that he
had damning letter written by Garfield"
expressing sentiments in favor of free trade,
that would raise the very Tophet with the
Republican party" Mr.. Smalley was sent
by Mr.. Barnum to the Truth office to inves-
gate the matter. Hart said the letter was
on the subject of free trade" by way of a
blind, fearing il its true character was
known by the committee they would "give
it away" and thus he (HarD lose the bene-
fit of priority Of publication. Smalley main
tains that Hart declined to give or even
show him the letter before it appeared in
his paper. He went to the Office of the Tri4
on the day of the publication of the letter
and looked at it,-believed it was genuine.
In reply to the charge that the national
Democratic committee, or some Of its mem
bers, were shown the letter before its appear
ance in Truth, Mr.. Smalley says "That is
not so at all. Hart declined to show it to us
before its appearance in his paper, and told
me when l asked him for it that he would
| not give it to any one for ten thousand dol
lars. He publishes Truth for the sole pur-
pose of making money and he thought the
publication of this letter would give it no.
toriety and help its sale" Compare this
emphatic denial with Judge Davis review
Of the sworn testimony as to the connection
of the Democratic committee with the pub
LEGATION of the forged letter, and it will be
seen there is a wide disagreement between
them on this point. We are inclined to be
lieve that Judge Davis review will take
precedence in the popular confidence This
discrepancy will naturally raise the query
whether Mr.. Smalley's report of the trans
action with Morey relative to the sl5C
check is tinctured with similar probabilities
in favor of Morey's testimony.
The end of this matter is not yet. A con
| spiracy was formed to commit great ma
tional crime. The Democratic national com
mittee, if they did not procure the forgery
were gnilty of uttering the spurious letter
and of persisting in that crime after the
true character of the letter was known
They procured an affidavit of Mrs. Morey tc
the effect that she had a son by the name Of
Mr.. Morey, and afterwards inserted the let
ters 4" Fl. L." making the old lady sweal
that she had son by the name of II. L
Morey. One crime leads on to another. Tt
holster up this dastardly conspiracy agains
General Garfield, and through him agains
the people of this nation, subornation O
perjury was invoked, and while their miser
able tools are caught in the grasp of the law
the great principals in the crime, with head
erect and righteousness in their mien, wall
away from the scene of their plottings. Tn,
strong arm of the law may yet draw som,
of them back to more serious business thar
resoluting" their childike innocence II
connection with an offence so crank i
smells to heaven"