Year: 1875

Brlsow that II he would make the assessment as sug
crsted by me he would not only recover the amount
uut ~ which the government had been deirauded Out
that special sums would be appropriated by The dier-
courts pay counsel lees. showed 10 Secretary
Brstow, BY not making the seizures contemplated oy
HIM. nc could save the government at the lowest cal
culations $4,000 day-sly an aggregate Of about
ST. COO 900 year-a very large item in making up tho
expenditures ni the government Atcr demonstrating
To Brisow the merits Of my plan he finally admitted
that il was the only wise scheme which had yet been
proposed for the protection the government, and
that he intended have II at adopted throughout
the supervisory districts


Bristow asked 10 call on the President and sub
nit my plan for exposing those who were cheating the
government replied 10 him that was willing 70 cal
upon the President and make my statement, PROVIDED
he Bristowl present and heard what had 70 com.
municate about the whiskcy frauds This was the 80
day Of April us15) Bristow said 10 me that y was
Cabinet day. and that had better speak 70 the Pres
dent about 1t before he went into tho Cabinet found
the President in his private Office lew
minutes before the meeting OF the Cab
met I told him that Investigations being
made over my head at st. Louis and that
! wished TO apprise him OF the circum
stances; that revenue agents had been sent into
my district investigate alleged frauds without my
knowledge and that great outrage was liable TO DO
perpetrated upon every person holding office The
only reply that received from the President was that
he would look into the matter, On the same day con
cuded that IL almost impossible to secure the
condition OF affairs which desired and determined to
hand TO the President IN person my resignation
When arrived at the Presidents Mansion met the
President and his wife, who were just preparing
for a ride without ceremony handed the President
my resignation. He stepped aside and read it, while
escorted Mrs. Grant to the carriage and assisted her in
One or two servants were present at the time When
General Grant read my resignation he folded II up,
placed his pocket said nothing got in the carriage
and driven out That the last interview ever
had with the President, excepting mere exchange OF
courteses that happened his last visit to -. Louis,
where he did not refuse TO see me- as was published in
some of the papers.


THE GENERAL DIDN'T DO


In conclusion General Mcdonald sad:-I did not go
Washington and figure in having the order changing
supervisors revoked did not write on the subject,
officially personally, but made all preparations to
obey and carry the order by ordering my revenue
agents TO report in Philadelphia and all know
of that matter Is that received telegram from the
Commissioner notifying me that the order had been
revoked | never received that lightning
despatch" as was reported or any other one
on that subject; but my talk with Bristow,
us shown on 22d and 23d OF April kills all that has
been said that subject, as am the first man that
found out that there was investigation agoing on
without the knowledge OF the Commissioner my
sell outside OF the Brstow ring The suppostion that


received the "ighnng despatch" Is utterly absurd.
The fact that found out that investigations be-
ing made and notified Commissioner Douglass and Sec
relary Bristow shows that | was thoroughly posted
about events In St. Louis and that II unnecessary
for me to receive such dispatches.