The daily gazette., 1880-12-29
How Conkllng g. Co. Treated N
Y. Merchants.

FROM Tue ~. L Wofios
Those who run with Mr.. Conk-
ling's machine are endeavoring, by
contemplate attacks upon Phelps,
Dodge Il Co., to divert the attention
of the public, and of the members
OF the Assembly who will soon meet
in Albany, from the political scar-
dals which Mr.. Conkling deliberate
ly revived against himself by the
unmannerly note which he and others
addressed to Mr.. Bayard. What the
importing merchants oil New York
and the members of the Assembly
(who have not sworn fealty to Mr.
Conkling) will now insist on learn
ing is why Mr.. Conkling was en-
ployed at all by the custom officers,
what services he rendered, what
sum he was paid for rendering them,
and by whomt The character of
the customs invoices presented to
Mr.. Arthur, now so soon to be the
Republican Vice-President, or to
Mr.. Cornell, the Republican Gov
ernor Of New York, or to Mr..
Latin, the then Naval Officer of the
Port, will throw no light on those
inquiries respecting Mr.. Conkling.
Any member OF the New York
Assembly who wishes to get clear
perception OF the situation in which
the customs laws then in force put
Mr.. Dodge, should study the cor
rective legislation which Mr.. Bayard
and Mr.. Beck carried through Con
gress after the case of Mr.. Dodge
became public. That legislation is
now the Bill Of Rights, the Magma
Charta Of New York importers.
When Mr.. Dodge was arraigned a
slight error Of five dollars in one
: line OF an invoice Of as many hun
dreds OF thousands OF dollars for
tslted the whole invoice.
That monstrous law Mr. Bayard and
Mr. Beck worked TO repeal with view
}. to contine the forfeiture to the erroneou.
= line. When Mr.. Dodge was set upon
by the Custom-llouse, certain Judges
= were in the habit OF telling juries thai il
d false statement appeared in all invoice
;. they must somehow or other conclude
Il that the person who made the invoice
intended 10 make the false statemen,
which was made. Mr.. Bayard and Mr
J Beck put an end 10 that tyrannical sop.
II hlstry by compelling the judge to say te
the jury that the merchandise could not
be forfeited unless the jury found speci.
ally that the false statement was made
= with a particular intention 10 cheat The
. legenne. The consequence has beer
that since the work of Mr.. Bayard aat
e Mr.. Beck was done there have beer
: very few condemnations. Do the i'm
porting merchants of New York desire
!, 70 see Mr.. Conkling control AMI compe
4 the choice Of New York Senator buunc
Il at bis behest to repeal the Legislation
e promoted by MIR. Bayard and Nj. Beck
n As for Mr.. Boutwell,, he cannot easil,
escape from the alternative vice IN whici
e be is caught. He consented to condemn
p Mr.. Dodge either Tor 10 great sum o.
If for too small a sum. de was the mas
"a ter and superior of Arthur, Cornell, Laf
lin, Jayne and ali the rest Of them. II,
was bound to stand as { doer of perfec
a justice between the prosecuting officer
n and Mr.. Dodge. II he had any doubt
a, whether the compromise was Just b.
was bound 10 reject it, and send til
prosecution to be tried by jury Of III
n nelghbors Of Mr.. Dodge. Who and b
m what means persuaded him to keep hi
: hands OF aud permit the compromise t
= stand?