Newport daily independent., 1911-03-04
MES were pretty live

daily met with. Each had an axe to grind. It was busy aay for adventurers and sharpers. Every device that human ingenuity could invent was in vogue for money making purposes. Men of respectable Ity when at home often turned crooks after sojourning at the nations capi- fol for a time. The war had left It's demoralizing influence upon many and the opportunities for acquiring wealth were numerous and varied. For a long time before General Grant took his seat in the presidents chair, there had been a looseness in the ad- ministration of government affairs resulting in organized frauds that would not be tolerated in this day.
 The Credit Mobiler conspiracy, the whisky ring and many other monu- mental steals were being carried on in high-up official and private circles. The big fellows set the pace and the smaller crooks lettering about the city felt quite safe in taking a hand in what was going on. Some of the de- vices resorted to by the lesser fellows were quite ridiculous. I will disinter one of these schemes for the purpose ,f exhibiting the folly of some of the ,lotters of that day.
 Shortly after President Grants in Auguration in the spring of 1873 he sent messenger with a note re uuesting me to call at once at the White House. On entering his office I found him at his desk. He pointed to a nearby chair and bade me be seated. Reaching into drawer of his desk he took out two long black cigars, and handing me one of them he bit off the end of the other and put it between his teeth. Straighten ing back in his chair, the big black cigar was pointed upward at an angle of about forty-five degrees. As the smoke curled lazily above his head l saw that there was something in his manner indicating that his usually placid temper was riled Picking up a package of letters from his desk he turned towards me and said. Here, Colonel, is a matter that needs your careful attention During the last few days I have been receiving these letters. l want you to make an in vestigation at once. The. persons en- gagged in this work must be punished. It is an outrage. It is probable that there is more than one person in the scheme"
 President Grant spoke with great earnestness, and 1 saw that he was not little disturbed and that his idea was to let no guilty man escape. The circulars he handed me were printed Tn letter form and had been sent through the mails to many postmasters throughout the south and west The circulars read as follows. I give them verbatim.
 Executive Mansion, Washington,
 Oct. 18th, 1872. memorandum of conversation between tne president and his secretary. Secretary-I wish to refer this tele- gram Of Senator Morton's to the president.
 No the President.
 A conspiracy has been formed to overrun southern Illinois, Indiana and onio and to keep the colored vote uom the polls in the southern states. several thousand nonresidents will o'e In Indiana Men and money are leeded l send a man to you who has been in their council.
 o. P Morton. riesioent-Yes, have thought that ~a, a,'er all over. and had long talk .'Nl tne man the senator sent. What yves MT Cook say about money? You Anow that we have none. and that the ssommlttee's means are all necessary VI .ne regular business.
 Secretary-Mr. Cook will furnisb sou any amount you require.
 rresldent-very well, will fake no responsibility. Have CantoIn snd seiect a dozen men to go west w u south with funds and organize w,m mere fact of good organization ueler lawless bodies from at. nolls pns 10 defraud the people at the
 
 onai conversation, March 24tb 1873
 datas1 datuae'ary-Mr. President. have vo,, Mr nined how you will rei,n vsa October? inoaey furnished last has ssssluent-Yes, have The h,shon act as asssested Rev. J. Hale Barnav '1 tp 7 po,rt as :, secretary in the matfar to maIs ar nm immediately, and as a,,r mp
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