Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-30
A TRADER FOR MEAT.
Beverly fuckers Explanation of His Deal-
ings With the COnfederacy-He
Occupied Only Legiti-
.,r,,,, -rTrcR4E no THE DIS

rsPFc1AI TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.i
WASHINGTON, May 29.-The withdrawal
4 the nominations of the Hayti Commits
sinners is still a subject of inquiry, but as
vet no hint of the explanation has come
from the taciturn President or his close
mouthed private secretary. Secretary
Blaine is equally mysterious. General
Beverly Tucker claims to be yet wholly in
the dark in regard to the reasons for the
peculiar actions of the President and Secre-
tarv, and could only guess at them as Others
have been doing. He has not seen Mr..
Blaine since the occurrence.
In regard to his alleged connection with
war conspiracieS Mr.. Tucker unbosoms
himself to an evening newspaper with the
following curious explanation:
As to the sensational stories about my being
associated with conspiracy, and the like at
tacks upon me, the whole thing is without an
iotaof truth. All that was answered in my ad-
dress so the people during Johnson's admins
tration The only positions ever
held under the Confederate Govern
ment were perfectly legitimate
mission abroad to purchase quartermaster's S
stores, and a mission to Canada TO exchange
u. L
with any of the military operations OF the
Confederacy. their guns, or their soldiers, or
their military plans in any way, and was in
absolute ignorance of them. was in Canada
70 trade cotton for meat, pound for pound.
President Lincoln and Secretary Seward were
aware of my mission; knew Its character and
all about IL
President Lincoln issued a permit, s'under
the Treasury regulations for Mr.. w. g. Ford,
of this city, to 20 to Canada TO trade with me-
The permit was written by Mr.. Lincoln but
four or five months before his assassination.
He wrote it while in barber shop, resting the
paper on his hat while he wrote. had the per-
NIT, and would have it now butthat it was left
with my other valuable papers in the bank Of
Baron, Forbes d Co., in Mexico You know
was in Mexico during the last years of Maxi
milianis reign and left with Marshal Bazaine.
When I left placed a trunk with my papers
in the bank Mr.. Emilio Baron, the President,
died, and never got them again. But Mr..
Ford is living IN New York believe. Mr..
Lincoln gave this permit but about four months
before his DEATH Do you think it likely that
should want him killed.
came hack to this country during Mr..
Grants administration, and have been here
since. When went to San Francisco, Secre-
tary Sherman and Secretary Evarts lntrusted
TO me an important service. PRESIDENT G2rneld
appointed me one of the board of visitors to
the naval academy. There was no cry against
me at that time.
General Tucker said that while in Canada
he and Mr.. Clay were in the same house,
and he often saw Clay and Thompson, but
that he heard nothing at all of the business
Of those gentlemen, and purposely avoided
learning. Never a word passed between
them on the subject of Mr.. Clay's mission,
and he (Tucker) would always leave if any
one called to see Clay on business when he
was in the room. He didn't know, or sus-
peet, or care to know what Clay and Thomp-
son were doing. He had no interest in the
military or political intrigues. His mis-
sion was that of trading for meats.