New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-26
EX-SENAT TOR DOOLITTLEl IND TIL
NEW-YORK TIMES
A CHARACTERISTIC ISLANDER RESULTED.

A CHARACTERISTIC ISLANDER REFUTED.
To The Editor of The Yew- York Timai
DEAR SIR: The Times In the campaign OF
1872 under the head Senator Doolitte" He exacts
money for his influence" 4Grceley's Advocate" A
Model OF Honesty and Reform" made grave charge
against me.
To give color to this campaign charge The Times pub.
lshed an artuIly drawn affidavit OF one T. j. Connatty
full OF falsehoods all depending upon one. the bed
rock Of all the rest Take that away and ali the rest
fall know not who drew that affidavit, nor who paid
for It, The father OF lies could hardly have put more
falsehoods in so small space
When 1t first appeared repealed it, at once. as false
in letter to the Hon. Reverdy johnson, stating facts
to prove 1t not only false, but impossible. But the
accusation concerns matter which occurred twenty
one years ago. generation has come oni and on
the ODD Of April last you repeat It, under the head OF
Doote again." to DO read by thousands, who do not
know me. feel called upon, therefore, to repel 1t
again. do not TO notice the form OF your recent
attack its epitheta and style, purpose only
notice the charge ITSELF viz that Senator twenty
one years ago. procured permit to trade In cotton Tor
Thomas j. .Connatty, aud then exacted or took
promise Of share Of tho profits for obtaining III In
short that sold Senatorial influence In the hope OF
gain No graver charge could be made against SEN
ator II it he ruei and more wicked Islander and out
rage upon him. II 1t be false Is 1t true or 1t false
know It to be false I did not procure his
permit nor use any influence directly or
Indirectly, to procure II. never knew he had
such permit intended to procure one. until nearly
six weeks after he had obtained III and did not exact
or take promise of share Of tho profits for procuring
IT, This statement, upon my personal knowledge. would
be sufficient for all who know me-
But for those who do not will, In addition to my
personal statement briefly give facts known to Others,
which clearly show this charge be not only false but
also morally impossible to DO true In 1854. during the
civil war; Congress authorized tho President to grant
permits to reopen the cotton trade within the eneInys
lines.
To trade In cotton therefore. under the permit OK the
President was lawful business A Senator, ike any
other Citizen had right to obtain permit for himself
ana to trade In hls name. But what he had no
right to do was to sell his influence to obtain permit for
another Although the business was lawful, he would
have no right to obtain necessary authority Tor IL
through his official position and exact an interest Tor his
services This brings again to the precise aud only
question, did l. did not as charged by me Hphs
procure. influence to procure permit 10 traoe III
cotton for Connatty -, no..oo,, ,no,v,e,,o what
the facts The records St which 9Sa Rebuy af cant Of
permit 10 frade;ln cotton for Moore, COnnatty Co.,"
FOR 10000 bales and that he obtained y without tae
charge contentcd yself with the letter to MI John
son. and with causing search oil the records u 10
made 1y the Hon Montgomery Blair. Ihat search
then revealed the fact that Connaty obtained his cotton
permit without recommendation from any person what
But since you have so recently repeated te accusation
have taken pains to procure further ana Conclusive
First-A letter from Secretary Manning OF May !,
1883. confirming tne statement Or o. comnncaon from
to bearing upon the subject can ge lou ~ IA
Sovem6er IL 1864, without Recommendation from ans
person; AMI that not one pound Of cotton was ever
Spe3aG~An liayt Of Mr. Noerr chief Of the division
having charge OF all cotton contracts and permits VINO
Il, unda Mr.
states. who made all tho contracts aud obtained al the
aas and further shows BY tue records
that no person did recommend him, In writing or ofhS'
Taird-More fortunate ,,iu have recently received
he ri,nvit or Che Hon. Hanson A. Risey OF ColoIuo
carefuv drawn by himself the very man upon wnoso
knowledge and discretion all cotton contracts we're
made and all permits obtained lie wears ea Year or
more and that at COnnatys request upon LIE ow
personal knowledge AMI bs sears posTvey
that Connatty was not recommended to him ny any
and that Senator D. of saa connay
TO dcpOnent 10 any other person 10 MS knoNloso
that bis ami nSt e Mr. Rey Himself PERSONALLY
obtained the Older (or perup from President L'uoo'n
!" FonrthI letter from Mr.. Lamb. of Madison wscon
sin who from tho files OF The state journal gives list
o. Rdrs ol my pt nrng October and November until
the election the 9Th, was not within eoV in'Ies VI
Washington. Such prolonged mental ana phy slca ia9o
remained at my home until the 2Sth day OF NoVenper
vi \
IN return 70 Washington. These facts show that when
Connatys permit WIS applied Tor anu 0o.nlnc1 n T
not within 500 miles OF Washington, ana therefore any
uersrna arpcaton for COnnatty's permit was plysi-
railv impossible ncose herewith copies OF the above
tnoH nor what political hatred or fanatcism may
have operared on Connattys Unbalanced mind or uIon
however the secrets OF the campaign OF 1872 u the
truth ware known, would show Just Wnat ihnuen S
onerated GU bis mind. and just how great 1t was DO
not know the dire necessity, the strong temptation
which led him to make this affidavit 49,. ., han
hn.. I'd l.FlK
bonored with official positions by the snnrages OF those
who best when entered the senate OF o Ie
with a modest homestead where sllll I'VE; anu sons
valuable farming lands In Wisconsin ana nv Sio
duties heavy that could give little oiine 20
my ,S nv sasv bald in greenbac Sometimes
worth only 90 cents IN gold, was not sufficient 10 meet
% INV farming lands and to leave the Senate IN 1869
poorer man than when entered IT, 40 NOT spean
,"ore thsn ought tn have done. IL was time for
sacrifice for orr c0Untrys sake Although what was Tar
more than sacrificing lands gold and silver gave my
sons 10 battle and my eldest to DEATH 10 save the
Republic, there hundreds of my countrymen VINO
Wv While was n member of that body, was on the
Committees Foreign Relations. on Military ana on
indian Affairs, for years was chairman OF tne
latter committee During that period. vast pecunIary
Interests depended on my decision ana action: mu
Recommendation But never once was the shghtest
breath OF suspicion cast upon my ocaI hohSr a I'M
Integrity. On this matter challenge ana ueiy 'no
world. M, ,,. .o,sa.
Had been the greedy plunderer me itmes accuses
mo of beng suspicion and gathering wealth would nave
fowed every steT OF my long political career ana
cond Mt have answered this cruel charge "a do now
Thor houoh nave taken part in every exciting canvass
tor thirty-nve years arousng hitter jealonses ana
anlmoses yet no political or personal enemy mas
risLcJ his own standing in any community In when
have ever lived by accusing me OF political or personal
dslonOr kcspecIuiy Yum W. ., -, ,r,r,r
Racine Wis, May %, 1888. j. H. DooLirrLE
OBJECTIONS TO THE CABLE RAHWA PLAN.
Arguments against the cable railway were
made yesterday before the Commissioners by General
lanes NJ Varnum representing the propertyowners OF
80, ,roca cron,ercv Park and Twenty -third-st, and