Year: 1871

Letter Of OrviiIe Grant TO His Brother, the
President, Exposing tho Ncfarioss PROPOSE
tiOns Of Wbisiscy Men for Compr0mis
General Bloomfield Implicated.


'CINCINNATI, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1871
The Commercial, oil this morning publishes what
purDorts to be q copy OF confidential letter from
Orville Grant TO the President. The Washington
correspondent ID. Gu sayo the letter is authentic
though II would not be correct to say the President
had authorized its publication. The correspondent,
says that though the President didn't hand him a
copy OF the document he will not deny It's authent
city. The following is a copy OF the letter.


CHICAGO, ILL.,, June 1S, 1870.
DEAR BRoTHER-The matter that referred to in
my note and which l expected DR.. Lampber to
ton made by General Bloomfield to the dlsul-
lers who bad been evadng the law and
who is General Bloom1ed's confidential ASSIST
ant, was authorized to make overtures to
tsao, ,oool paid into the hands OF any man wnom the
might select he tBloomaeldl would place with the
man all the papers and evidence he had against the
dstillers, with the positive assurance that the
was afraid 70 approach the distlers. as
II might have bad effect, and proposed me than
II would act a third party and get the dstillers
TO raise the money l was to retain part as
the the honesty Of Of his Intentions d'' and thought ought
| 1t might be ruse to see whether would loan my
self for such work or not and ! gave him TO under





| Bloomfield would carry out In good faith all shat
was sproposed nothing could be done. He gave
tied by Bloomfield to make such overures; that
knew that he and Bloomfield had discussed the
question: and that he (Bloomfieldl had instructed
Crosby 10 make such propositions Ihave had nothing
to do with 1t, but know and prove 10y under
oath that such propositions were made to them.
These are all facts that most positively Know and
can swear TO them, and can prove every word OF Is
by men under oath.


l also know there are men here gaugers and
storekeepers VINO have assisted the dlstilers in
stealing whskey, and received their pay for doing It,
and that Bloomfield knows and still retains them In
ofcehf Bloomfield were TO take his solemn oath thas
suchi is not the case such strong evidence can be
be- R1nsah Ssa fa Sy eS
r;s rsrs, srs se'lei Eeroshoiisr s Coz disnery,
gauger, 1 Dave forgotten which, and after the
supervisor left, the case was not prosecuted.
Know no reason for II unless II would commit JUS
sins brother.ln-law. There Is not one man IN the
Revenue Department here who has u particle OF
political influence and the success ol the party here
demands some change. The party IS trying or II.
Ayres has worked hard for the party, ai.a MS ap-
pontment as supervisor would give general salts
faction.


II could see you would tell yon much more than
like to commit TO paper even worse than nave
written, and equally true, yet might not as easily
prove IT, have written you enough that you may
know that you have dishonest man in Office. Now
that you are apprised the fact you are ndi-
vidually responsible for his dishonesty in the
future. have gained my knowledge OF the whole
aaalr IN the srcest sn commence ana TO ten lt





logy can make for doing man so great an act OF
injustice Is that my duty TO you IS stronger than my
WORD or confidence to one who Is nstri-
mental in delraudng the government and
running your reputation. for all the frauds
OF our appontees fall upon you and
the party. prefer that you do not Tins letter
publicly, but remove Bloomfield ana II necessary to
prove all have written, can and Will do II, and
great deal more, think know where parties are
stealing under the protection Of the revenue officers,
which an investigation would prove, and when you
get proper man in charge OF the revenue here will
put him at work, bat to make the report now Will
only inure me and not stealing to be stopped.
1t would injure me because the officers woud cover
it up, which would show me up as making false
report. do hope you can see the necessity Of
change and that you Will try to preserve the integ-
rlty of your party and your position by re-
moving such men. II you wish to retain
thieves ana scoundrels In office you alone must be
responsible for 1t. would like to you person.
ally and tell yon little that l know
about Cuban bond corruption. You wond
then know why one or two prominent re-
pubcans worked SO hard for recognition
and why they make such strong attacks on you.
got information from Mr.. Taylor, who tried a
bribe for my influence. l knew he was preparing
to make proposals. for he had letters which he
showed me authorizing MIN to do so.