Year: 1872

- proposition to Carry Tennessee for
Grant.


The following remarkable document has
been furnished us for publication. 1t
needs no introduction or comment:


SwEETwATER, TENNESSEE,


MAY 2Sth, 1872
To HIS ErceUency Z. S. Grant, President


US. ID. Washington, d. G.:TA


SIR: I trust the subject, when stated,
will be sufficient apology for this intrusion
upon the valuable time of the Executive
| of great nation like the one in which it
is our good fortune to live. I trust after
| you hear a brief statement of my case, you
will give such attention as it seems to your
mind proper.


| After the close of the late unfortunate
war, was engaged at wages in an office
then getting up claims of the several kinds,
against the Government growing out of
the war. l served but a short time as
clerk. when began getting up claims as
attorney myself, which business [ have
followed in connection with the Law, to
the present time. Recently the Attorney
General at Knoxville, Tennessee, in con-
| nection with Special Agents of the Gov
ernment, preferred several indictments
against me in the United States Circuit
Court for the Eastern District of Tennes-
see, for what they are pleased to call, the
crime of making and presenting fraudu-
lent claims against the United States, and
for conspiring to defraud the Government
of the United States.


l am innocent of the charges. 1 never
knowingly made or presented fraudulent
claim, nor did 1 conspire to wrong the
Government at any time as charged but
on the other hand, [ at all times gave such
advice and instructions as would if follow
edlead to ajust and equitable settlement be-
tween the Government Oh the one hand,
and the claimant on the other, and [
seriously doubt if the Government was
ever wrOnged in any case where [ had full
control. 1 know it was not knowingly.
Be it far from me to try by conspiring or
otherwise to defraud the Government.


We are soon to enter upon and engage in
great contest, either for your reelection
or that of your successor. In fact, the
contest has already begun. AS matters
now stand, it is exceedingly doubtful and
uncertain who will be the choice for the
next term. I conceive there is no doubt
but that much depends Oh the action of
the Baltimore Convention and the late
rebel element and present Democrats of
the South. Should the Democrats in con-
vention soon to be assembled at Baltimore
fail to make a nomination for the Presi-
dency, which is more than likely, then, in
that event, the race is between Horace
Greeley and yourself. in such contin-
gency, the South holds the balance of
power, and their action will elect the next
Pres ident.


In this State, the people of my party
Democrats are very much divided, while
the press is in favor of Greeley, bit ie nW
opinion it aOiU not take much to turn the
scale before the people and carry the State
for YOU Our people look upon Greeley as
the man who originated the Republican
party, whose work has freed their former
slaves, destroyed their institutions and
brought untold sufferings to their doors.
They are not going to him with much de-
votion, if at all. They look on you as a
brave and gallant soldier, who fought
bravely in war and then was magnanimous
in time of peace. They look upon your
administration as one of honesty and
economy. They admire your popularity
and standing abroad, and as the one best
fitted to properly adiudicate and extricate
the country from the complications with
other nations growing out of the late war.


This feeling, if 1 may be permitted to
judge, is in your favor, and ifproperly cul-
tivated will insure you the State of Ten
neSSee.


/ PROPOSE little government aUiU dismiss
the suits heretofore begun against me at
Knoxville, to take up the cause Of the Re
publican party Of Tennessee and support
the PhiLadeL2ItiG nominees; will canvass
the State, and from my position, will do
much toward defeating Greeley in this
State. [ will read his record and history
from every stump in the State. I can also
buy hedry influence to the front on the
side.


l served through the late war, beginning
as Confederate private in 1861, and sur
rendering to you in the spring of 1865 as
Major of Ordnance. Haze q large and re-
spectacle relationship IN the State, and in
tuH confidence agth the late COnfederateS,
who believe the suits against me are
groundless and instituted by certain Off
cials for self-aggrandisement. E


1t is my purpose to be good and true
man, to make an upright citizen, to pro
tect the institutions of my country and my
fellow-man, and thus do all the good can.
My conviction, if it was probable, could
not benefit the government or people of
the United States. But it will cost them
thousands to prosecute me, and it will
myself to defend, and thus take
from my family the hard earnings of
many years. l have an abiding confidence
in my ultimate success and final vindica-
ton. Should an interference compromise
the standing of any official, don't ask it,
nor would accept it upon any terms, but
that of justice. l assure you I have al
ready been sorely punished for doing that
which | considered to be right and ever
my duty to do.


Having now briefly stated, I trust the
same may be considered, and that / may
be advised.


/ am sir, ee tl
Yours most obedently,