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About Weekly chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 1866-1877 | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1876)
gftronicU anft JSenftml* WEDNESDAY MARCH IS, 1876. Dobs anybody “ regret” whst Oob dos said to Mobton ? Hadn't the Northern Democrats bet ter keep Gordon quiet ? Won’t the Republicans print Gob ton’s reply to Mobton as a campaign document? General Grant says Belknap “ought to be hung.” Yet he accepted his resignation with “regret.” It is said that the new Secretary of War is anti-Catholic, and stands upon General Gbant’s Desmoinee speech. The Greenback Party, of Connecticut, has put a State ticket in the field and will injure both the Democrats and Re publicans to an inconsiderable extent. Last Thursday Governor Smith ap pointed H. G. Weight, of Richmond county, Publio Printer, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Col. R. A. Alston. It looks as if General Gbant blunder ed in his nomination of Schbnok s suc cessor. The confirmation of Mr. Dana hangs fire on account of a charge against him of literary piracy. The father of the late Jambs Fisk has invented anew kind of harness. It was of the elder Fisk that the irrepressible Jim used to say “he wouldn’t tell a lie for ten cents, but he would tell twelve lies for a dollar.” They hoaxed the people of Carters ville the other day by circulating a re port that Sunset Cox had been killed by Blaine, of Maine. Matters were only mixed. Blaine, of Maine, was mashed by Lamab, of Mississippi. The Oglethorpe Echo does not “ re gret” Mr. Hill’s recent home-thrust in the House at the Republicans. It publishes a spirited defense of the Representative from the Ninth District, which we re-publish elsewhere in the Ghboniole and Sentinel this morning. Hon. Hugh Buchanan, of Coweta county, is the latest entry in the Guber natorial race. Let us see how the book stands now: Habdeman, Colquitt, Smith, James, Gabtbell, Bacon, Wofford, Mclntybe, Lawton, Reese, Undebwood and Buchanan. Will the line stretch out to tli< crack of doom ? We do not agree with the Associated Press Agent when he characterizes as harsh the instructions of the President of the Senate to the Doorkeeper to keep Pinohback from the floor of the Senate. Pinohbaok has loafed too much in the Senate Chamber, and as his case has been disposed of he should be speedily sent about his business. The pamphlet containing the public acts passed at the last session of the General Assembly has been issued. It is a volume of about one hundred pages. A glanoe at its contents will show that the last Legislature enacted about as many and as important acts as its predecessors The price of the book is one dollar, and it oan be obtained upon application to Phillips A Cbew, Atlanta, Ga. The Cartersville Express understands that promises have been made by cer tain parties to carry the Seventh and Ninth Congressional Districts in “a cer tain direction for Governor.” Let us know the name of the sellers and pur chasers . To expose them is the only way to break up such bargains. By the way we may as well inquire if any en terprising politicians has as yet disposed of the First, Fourth and Eighth Dis tricts. It looks as if someone in Washington City is soheming to kill off two promi nent candidates for the Presidency by besmirching them with false charges. Serious accusations have been made against both Mr. Pendleton and Mr. Hendricks. It is confidently asserted, however, that the stories can be easily and effectually disproven. If there is such a dishonorable plot as this its authors will make nothing by their infamy. A , slander exploded helps rather than harms the intended viotim. Hon. Thomas J. Simmons, the present President of the Senate, seems satisfied to let well enough alone. He is not a candidate for either Congressional or Gubernatorial honors, but wishes to be sent back to the Senate, of which body he will undoubtedly be re-eleoted Presi dent. The term of a Senator is four years, and some fine morning there will be orape on the door of the Executive mansion, and as the coffin goes out Colonel Simmons will go in. Well, we inight have a worse Governor. Governor Brown’s testimony before the Lease Investigating Committee is stirring up fresh journalistic troubles. The Atlanta Commonwealth published the other day a rumor to the effect that Mr. Anderson Reese, one of the pro prietors of the Telegraph and Messen ger, who is in Washington City, has written to his brother, Senator Reese, that if the Telegraph was paid $2,000 by the lessees of the State Road, Clisby and Jones did not pay him one cent of it.” As soon as this appeared, Messrs. ■Clisby and Jones sent a card to the; Commonwealth, asserting that the ru- j mor is “wholly and unqualifiedly false,” j and they do not believe Mr. Reese “ever wrote any such letter as is imputed to him.” We fear lively times at the Press Convention this Spring. The South is under obligations to New England for the defeat of Pinch back's claim to a seat in the United States Senate. The votes of eight Re publican Senators were given to the Democrats, which, added to their party strength, gave the latter a majority and , sent Pincrbacx back to Louisiana. The j Republicans who had the moral man hood to vote against what they believed to be a wrong aot of party were : Messrs. Booth, of California ; Chris tianoy, of Miohigan ; Dawes, of Mas sachusetts ; Edmunds, of Vermont; Morrill, of Maine ; Morrill, of Ver mont ; Paddock, of Nebraska, and Wadleigh. of New Hampshire. Five of these came from the New England States —two from Vermont, one from ' Maine, one from New Hampshire, and one from Massachusetts. After the vote was taked Pinohback telegraphed to New Orleans that the “ good old Abolition State of Vermont had gone back on him.” Poor Pinch ! The Newnau Herald, commenting tipou the letter from Atlanta published in the New York Herald ten days ago, says : We are no champion of Govern or Smith, nor are we any special admirer of his administration. On the contrary ; we are forced to condemn much that he has done since he has been in the gnber Tutorial office. But there is nothing in his administration to justify, or wen: palliate such gross and unprovoked j elEoders as those contained in the letter . •referred to. It has been suggested that ; Vie letter was written in the interest of j tee holders of the repudiated bonds, ( awhile some think an indiscreet friend of | ;a rival candidate for Governor is the au- j tthor ef the letter. If the former, then <Govern Smith and the people of the] £tate are dwcbly outraged on account of | iit, because the people, with singular Ynniiy, endorse his action in this mat ter. If the latter, it has only served to increase hie strength and popularity with the people. Gov. Smith has doubt leas had many shortcomings, and in •many respects has disappointed the peo ple; but they need something more than ,+he bare assertion of an anonymous cor respondent of a Northern newspaper to • convince them of his corruption or im becility. THE CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL. | Some time since the Atlanta Common wealth stated that it was informed that the Chronicle and Sentinel had re ceived five hundred dollars for pub lishing a letter advocating the sale of the Opera House to the State for a Capitol A few days since the following editorial paragraph appeared in the Commonwealth : “ The Commonwealth farther charged “ that the Chronicle and Sentinel, “ and Macon Telegraph and Messenger “ also received five hundred dollars “ each for publishing a letter endorsing “ this purchase.” We had at first intended paying no at tention to these publications, but for fear someone may misconstrue our silence we now propose to say a few words about them. The Chbonicle and Sentinel has never published such a letter nor received such payment since the present proprietors, or either one of them, have had any control over the paper. If the charge is made against the management which existed prior to 1871 we shall be glad to have it specifi cally made, and we have no donbt that it can bo explained or refuted. We know that both before and after the year 1871 the Chbonicle and Sentinel opposed, editorially, and to the extent of its influence and ability, thepurchase of the Opera House by the State. Onr files furnish ample and conclusive proof of the truth of this assertion and we also appeal with oonfidence to the recollection of the numerous readers of the paper. If any money was ever re ceived by any management for the pub lication of such a letter as that men tioned by the Commonwealth the pay ment certainly had no influence upon the editorial columns of the Chronicle and Sentinel. CUTTING DOWN THE EXPENSES. The Chronicle and Sentinel pub lished yesterday the details of the plan agreed upon by the City Council for the purpose of reducing the expenses of the municipal government daring the pres ent year. It is scarcely necessary for us to say that we heartily endorse the determination of the Council to estab lish a more economical system of gov ernment. The citizens have long ex pected and desired such a movemeat and we are quite sure that they will be pleased by the action of their repre sentatives. They would have been bet ter pleased if something of this sort had been done long ago. Retrenchment was as much needed twelve months since as at present, but then there was an in crease instead of a reduction of ex penses. The step agreed upon Thurs day night should have been taken at the beginning of the year, when the ordi nance fixing salaries was passed, but it was not. Now reduction becomes a necessity because the value of property has diminished so much that the tax whioh the law allows to be levied will not pay the salaries now attached to municipal offices. Notwithstanding the prostration of business and the distress prevailing throughout the country there is no reason for believing that a ma jority of the City Council would have" consented to any reduction if the law permitted them to assess a higher tax for the payment of ordinary expenses than the one-half of one per cent, fixed by statute. It may not be pleasant to re flect that this is the cause of munici pal economy but every one will rejoice that retrenchment has been decided upon, no matter what the influence that brought such action about. We see no reason why city officials should complain of the contemplated aotion of the City Oounoil. It is natural that employees should not relish a re duction of their wages, but there are other thirgs to be considered. When employers are not prosperous employees must share, to a limited extent, their misfortune. For more than two years past the employers of the oountry have not prospered. Business of every kind has been depressed and employers have lost money. Asa consequence, they have been compelled to lessen their ex penses by reducing the wages of their employees. Every merchant, every fac tory, every railroad, every printer has ent down wages and salaries forty to fifteen per oent. since the commence ment of the panic. There is just the same reason why a municipal corpora tion should reduce expenses as there is thata railway corporation should doit. A railway corporation is run not in the in terest of the employees, but of stock holders. A municipal corporation should be run not in the interest of the officers, but of the people. The reduc tion of salaries agreed upon by the City Council—fifteen per cent.—is not too large. Many—doubtless the majority of—corporations and private individuals have made a large reduction in the compensation of their employees. It is true that officers will have to live on lf>pß this year than they did last, but i they Rinst recollect that theirs is not an exceptional case. Every one has been forced to economize during the past two years, and eity officials will not bo alone in their misfortune. There is, however, one feature of the proposed reduction whioh we do not ap prove. It must have been agreed npon without careful consideration, and |we hope that when the deliberations of the caucus are crystallized into an ordinance that this portion of the plan will be changed. The City Counoil proposes to ; reduce the compensation of every am- I ployea receiving more than five hundred dollars per tfrinum fifteen per oent.; but in the casfl of day laborers they propose to reduce their wage* frpm one dollar aud a half to one dollar per dim-a re duction out of all proportion to the other. ; To u this discrimination against the j day laborer seems harsh, unnecessary and unjust. We oan see no good reason for making the day laborer an exception, to a rule which should work uniformly upon every employee of the eity. Indeed, ; if any discrimination is to be made k i should be made in favor of and not i against the day laborer. It is not usu ally the case that the compensation of a salaried officer is rednoed to snob an extent as to cause actual suffering. The wages of the day laborer m*y be made so low that the bare subsistence of the laborer aud his family may become problematical. They ere not paid for Sundays and for week day* when, on ac -1 count of bad weather or for other causes, they are not employed. We think that there should be no discrimination either way. Let the fifteen per cent, redaction apply to every person in the employment of the City Council, and no injnstioe will be done, nor will any reason be given to complain. We repeat the hope that the arrangement agreed npon will be so modified next Monday os to pat day laborers and salaried officers npon exactly the same footing. Secretary Fish has replied to an in qgixy of the House Committee on For eign Affairs, sayin j that Minister Schenck, stiyre the date of the Secreta ry’s former communication, five days ago, has resigned his office. The com mittee are not satisfied wilt the re sponse, wishing to know the precise on which he resigned, as just previous to Sokenck's taking passage for the United States it was anuoptAad that he had obtained leave of absence. The committee have ealied on Secretary Fisa for farther information on ike subject in the way of notes and telegrams. The committee have aa yet nothing to show, that Sohbnck was required to resign in obedience to the request of the British Government, as has been stated. There is great reason to believe, however, that Great Britain will at the proper time! make a formal claim for indemnity on the United States in behalf of English men who suffered by the Emma Mine scheme, having been deoeived into the belief that it had the endorsement of the United States through the American Minister as trustee. Ld PORT ANT CASES. Amongst the important cases before the United States Supreme Court, the Hew York papers mention two cases from Georgia. The Tribune adds: “In one, the State is a p*rty on one side, and a number of railroads on the other, in which the question is, whether the ac ceptance of new charters since the pass age of a law making all charters amend able, deprives the companies of an ex emption from taxation under the old charter. The Attorney-General of the State and ex-Benator Toombs represent the State, and several leading Georgia lawyers represent the companies. An other case from the same State relates to the great insurance companies of the United States, the point being whether, when a company complies with the con ditions of any State for doing business, it does not have a contract right to do business for the time agreed npon,whioh cannot be impaired. General Bbown, of Kentucky, is against, and Wm. M. Evabts and Mr. S. Dutches, of Geor gia, for such right.” THE SUEZ CANAL PURCHASE. The Baltimore American says the history of the transactions which led to the purchase by the English Govern ment of the Snez Canal is fully revealed by the recent presentation to Parliament of all the correspondence relating to the affair. 'Learning that a syndicate of French bankers were negotiating for the pnrehase of the Khedive’s canal shares, Earl Derby telegraphed to the English representative at Cairo and learned that the Khedive was in immediate want of £4,000,000, and was thinking of hypothe cating his shares in order to raise thq money. The Khedive consented to postpone arrangements with other par ties until Lord Derby could be com municated with. Five days after this again Earl Derby informed the Khedive that Her Majesty would buy the shares for £4,000,000 cash down. This offer was accepted, and the shares were brought to London in four zinc cases and deposited in the Bank of England. The Rothschilds made a very good thing out of it—as they do out of every thing they touch. They advanced the $20,000,000 to pay for -the shares ; for this they are to receive 2j per oent. com mission, $500,000, and they are to have 5 per cent, interest on the $20,000,000 advanced by them until the Government repays it. The Rothschilds paid $4,- 000,000 to the order of the Khedive on December 1. and the other $16,000,000 has been paid during December" and January. It will probably be the end of this month before they are repaid; and, if so, their profit on this little transac tion, in which they ran no risk and out of which they may and probably have made large incidental gains, will be about $750,000 ; that is, $500,000 for commission and $250,000 for three months’ interest. Add to this the profits which the house may have made by buying Egyptians when they were at their lowest, and it would be very moderate to estimate their gains on this little transaction at a round million of dollars. THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA MISREPRE SENTED. The following is clipped from the New York Times, into which paper it was copied from the Cleveland Leader : The Cleveland (Ohio) Leader prints, as fol lows, an extract from a private letter written by a Cleveland lady now in Georgia- “Edwin Booth is playing here to crowded houses, hun dreds ooming in from the towns around. They all admire him greatly, and they like him still better because his brother killed Mr. Lincoln This is strange, but it is true. A Kentucky woman in the house tells me all these things. She has a Northern husband and despises such things, but. being Kentucky born, the women express themselves before her. After the fra oas in the offioe that I wrote you about, one of the most prominent members in the Legisla ture, in the hotel, said every Yankee ought to have a pound of lead in his brains, and Mrs. Habdehan, wife of the would-be Governor, said that when Booth killed Mr. Lincoln it was the best day's work he ever did. Two gen erations must die before there will be any har mony. Slavery made them entirely different from us. The children now growing up will know nothing of it.” It would be impossible to compress into a similar space more unprovoked and wanton misrepresentations than are contained in this extract. The only truth in it is that Edwin Booth played to crowded houses while in Atlanta and ■ in the other cities of the State during his recent engagement. That the peo ple of Georgia like Edwin Booth the better because his insane brother killed President Lincoln is to give currency to a slander. The people of Georgia have no enmity to the memory of the dead President, and no sympathy for the orime that deprived the country of its Chief Executive in the person of the lamented Abraham Lincoln, Had Mr. Lincoln lived it is very proba ble that the South would have been spared the humiliation and spoliation inflioted on her by the vindictiveness and rapacity of the Radical party. Apart, however, from motives of per sonal and ' political consideration, the people of the South had neither lot nor part in the assassination of Mr. Lin coln, and it is a sin against civilization and Christianity to charge them with having sympathy with a murder so fonl and unprovoked as that of Abraham Lincoln. It is, therefore, a slander on the people of Georgia to charge them with liking Edwin Booth the better be cause his unfortunate and weak brother killed President Lincoln. The fracas in the office, alluded to by this correspondent, was caused by an insulting remark made in the dining room to a member of the Legislature, who is one of the least offensive and most gentlemanly men in the State. The insulting party remarked to his wife at the tftfrlw that some of the members of the LegieifciJWJ ought to learn etiquette before attempting to #ke laws. After ascertaining that the offensive Remark had a personal application, the e ber of the Legislature referred to gave the author of it a blow over the eye which a black impression there fop someday*, fhjj&i&ult was offered at a public table in a phfeiit and tho offended party resented it, Wte? b ot b parties had retired from the table, with out stopping to inquire as to from whence he come or as to whither he was going. A man who offers a gratuitous insult desery.es to be punished and onght to be punished for )}}& unmannerly imper tinence. These is statement in this extract which we belieye iq qe £n- "one of the most prominent members the legislature in the hotel said every to have a pound of laad in his twins." A# & the re ‘ mark attributed to Mrs. ffftßftKMAy, we have no hesitation in pronouncing it to be without the slightest foundation. Mrs. H. is an elegant, dignified woman, and she is too mnch of a Christian ever to have naad .the language attributed to her by tins perambulating she-devil, whose poisonous fangs sfaoaif P uU ' ad ont by the roots. This veracious (?) correspondent gives a Kentucky WOBB ip the House (the Markham) as authority for the false statements contained in her letter. Ref haps this Kentucky lady is in some way afflicted with a fertile imagination, which yill account for her hearing things that other* not hear and see things that others did not Certain it is that th opinions attri buted to the people of Georg** P? , this e aissn are false in every particular, and the paptu lhat have given them cur rency have .be*i guilty of circulating ©alioious falsehoods. ?£e people of Geotgis have charity and patrici^sm — charity to forgive the wrongs of the past and patriotism-to build up and protect in th 6 future, the puttie weal of onr common .cqnntry in the smop sad under the Constitution. “Call that a kind man ?” said an actor, speaking of an acquaintance; “a man who is away from his family and never ■ends them a farthing?” Call that kind* neas?” “Yes, unremitting kindness, Jerrold replied. DISGRACE* AND DEFEAT. THE ADMINISTRATION PARTY GONE TO SMASH. Belknap and Babcock —What Sherman Thinks About It. [New York Herald, Tuesday ] In Belknap Wane Than Grant ? By a law of Congress it was made Mr. Belknap’s dnty to designate certain per sons to be post traders at a large num ber of military stations. It was pre sumed that he was the authority most fit tofillsuoh places; that he would be less under local or corrupt influences, and that he wonld appoint strictly from a view to the good of the service; that in such a function he would be Absolutely out of the reach of personal influences. Bnt it is shown that in at least one in stance he appointed a person who made “presents” to his wife; who gave that lady at one time ten thousand dollars in hand, and transmitted to her at regular periods various important sums. Some people call this a sale. No well bred person, no person of delicacy or refine ment, wonld apply such a coarse and vulgar name to a transaction in which there is dearly a . mere interchange of courtesies and kindnesses. Mr. Belknap gave to Mr. Marsh a post tradership for a hundred good reasons, because Mr. Belknap thought it a lucrative place, and wanted to do Marsh a favor. Can any act be more innocent than this ? On the other hand, Marsh gave Mrs. Belk nap ten thousand dollars because it was her birthday, or would be her birthday at some time or another. This also is as innocent as possible. There is only one fact here that the censorious seize upon—the fact that he gave money. If he had given a diamond, it would have looked better, but would it have been different? In order to see that this transaction was not a sale of posts—not bribery, but a fair and proper interchange of good offices—let us suppose that Marsh had not given money. Let us suppose that he had kept his ten thousand dollars, and five successive payments of six thousand dollars each, and that with the forty thousand dollars thus left in his hands he had purchased at Long Branch a cot tage and grounds, and given these to Mrs. Belknap, or even to Mr. Belknap, then it would have been evident that it was {a mere offering of friendship, and not a bribe. Some people gave Grant a cottage in that way, and though one of them was Secretary of the Navy and another Collector of this port, nobody said that Grant had sold these offices, and he has not been impeached and is not likely to be. But if they had given him forty thousaad dollars, the price of the cottage, it might have been other wise. Or if Mr. Marsh had bought for Belknap a house in Washington, as was done for Grant; or a house in Philadel phia, as was also done for Grant; or if he had kept his money until it had be come as much in quantity as the hun dred thousand' dollar purse that was made up in this city for Grant; in any one of these cases Belknap might have given him all the post traderships in the army—except, of course those that are claimed by the President’s brother—and it would have been all right. For all this has happened in Grant’s case, and is all right; and what is right for Grant must be right for Belknap. But he gave money—ulthy lucre, vile trash ! And yet it is a'pretty nice distinction between Marsh's money and that hundred thou sand dollar purse given to Grant; though, of course, a purse makes a dif ference and gives a refined air, especially if it is a silken purse. Gen. Sbernian on Belknap. [From an Interview with Gen. Sherman lie ported m the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.] “Can you think of a cause for Bel knap’s demoralization ?” “Of course, I do not know the cause, but having lived in Washington during his tenure of office, I can form a pretty good idea of it. In my opinion his downfall is due more to the vicious or ganization of Washington society than anything else. I refer to the ridiculous extravagance of those who move in the first circles at the capital. Very few Cabinet officers are able to live within their salaries. While I was there the only member of the Cabinet who could stand it was Fish; with his income of $200,000 a year he could afford to pay most any price for social privileges ; nevertheless it cost him $70,000 a year. Mr. Chandler, who has gone into the •Cabinet since I came to St. Louis, is an other one whose private fortune is so ample that his salary is no object to him. Outside of these two none of the publio officials in Washington can live within their salaries. I left Washington chiefly because my salary would not support me, and because I did not con sider the society there the proper place in whioh to rear a family. I received $13,500 regular salary, besides $3,000 for rent and horses, making $16,500 in all. I outlived this amount every year, by several thousand dollars. I had to keep open house all the time. My-fami ly rarely had any rest from entertain ing people, most of them utter strangers in whom we oould feel no interest. Be sides, everybody considers themselves privileged to practice extortion upon any person who holds a prominent place in Washington. Gas companies, house furnishers, marketers, etc., always charged me exorbitant prices, simply because I was general of the army. Now Belknap got SB,OOO a year, and had no outside resources. He had a fashion able wife, ambitious to lead in society. She must have money, and there was no other mode of getting it except by re sorting to unlawful practices. In my mind this is the key to the disgraceful conduct of the Secretary of War.” “Do you know Mrs. Belknap ?” “Very well.” She was regarded as a most estimable woman, intelligent, bril liant and pretty. She came of a good Kentucky family, and was ambitious to lead in society. She wore a profusion of jewelry, and-her dresses were import ed. Her receptions were among the most agreeable and showy entertain ments at the National Capital. It was impossible that she could keep her ex penditures within her husband’s official inoome.” “Do you think Belknap will endeavor to shield himself behind his wife ?” “To the contrary, I think he is likely to suffer much personal odium by keep ing silent, in order to shield his wife. He is not a man to protect himself at the expense of his wife. If Mrs. Belk nap, for a moneyed consideration from outside parties, influenced her husband to make appointments, the world will never know it through Belknap. On the other band, Mrs. Belknap is just the woman to shield her husband, and will doubtless assume as mqch of the odium as possible. It is a very sad affair all through, and will reflect much credit upon our couatry and society at large." Babcock’** Disgrace. [ Washington Special to the New York Sun ] Gen. Babcock has been . dismissed from the White-House in deep disgrace. He was welcomed back from St. Louis by the President, but since he returned ’he is accused of an offense which in its magnitude is not so grievous as that of Gen. Belknap, but which in its effect is perhaps as damaging to the Adminis tr*tio£ and the Republican party as Belk nap:s fall ft is said that the Secret Service force has bepn for some time fer reting out the manner in which the con fidential letter of Attorney-General Pierrepont to District Attorneys at St. Louis, ' Chicago and Milwaukee was made public. These officials said most positively they never showed it to any body! Atigntfon was next turned to Washington, ana W EjgoW Storrs was known to have given it out, the question was, how did be get it ? The Attorney-General urged that it was not made public through any one in the Department of Justice, and there things rested for a few days. It was then noticed for the first time that the copy given to the press and the original was'different ;n unimportant particulars, and such mistakes might have occurred in the haste of making a copy. At this juncture the President remem bered that he too had been furnished with a copy of the letter, and as it was among his official papers, to which Bab cock alone had access, the suspicion at once rested upon hifo, and from the charge Babcock could not escape. He had furnished his counsel with the copy, and Storrs at once saw the great help it mast be to these who through revenge or hope of pardon would be willing to to all they knew of Babcock’s complicity in the whisky frauds. The letter was neyer intended for the public, but secretly to warn the District Attorneys that no guilty man eould escape punishment, however mnch he might reveal against Babcock or any otberhifet officials whose names had been connected fjg* toe 'whisky ring. It opportunely fell into fcappoofc s hands who hurriedly made the copy, a com parison of which with the -original re veals the fact that it never could have been written from memory, but that the few inaccuracies were naturally those wbki wonld occur in copying any letter under feat Of discovered m the set. The publication has caused suep con demnation of the President arid his Cabinet, has so scandalized the bar of the United States and made the subject of CongrcSfLqn?! investigation that Bab cock is ffent out of the White Honse as a scapegokt tb bear the sins of Grant, and his name is enrolled beside that of injury he has done the Republi can party by hia exposing the letter, is irreparable. Belknap** Tombstone Bniinew. [Chicago Times' Washington Special, 3d.] Though Belknap is politically dead, and criminally beyond redemption, the committee are still wrestling with evi dences of his inexhaustible corruptions. The sntlership selling was by no means the limit of his thrifty peculations. The details at hand show him in even a worse light than the beneficiary of a woman’s dishonor. Congress in 1873 appropria ted $1,£00,000 to place a slab at the head of the grave of every soldier buried in the national cemeteries. September 6 of that year was fixed by the War De partment for the purpose of receiving and opening bids to supply the stones. Walsh Brothers, of New York, who have their quarries at Carrara, Italy, own nine or ten vessels, constantly employed in transporting marble to this country. They had contracts nnder the Tweed management of public works in New York, and had supplied many private cemeteries. They made special con tracts to do the work. They employed an expert to visit the cemeteries and learn the cost of the supply, and ascer tain what the other bidders were likely to do. They made friends with Bab oock, and through his intimate friend; Captain McGningne, chief of the Ceme tery Division of the Quartermaster- General’s Office, learned that a bid of $923,000 would be below any of the bids so far put in, all the bids received hav ing been secretly opened, scheduled and resealed nnder • McGuingue’s direction. They came to Washington with a bid for $923,000 prepared, sealed and fully guaranteed. On arriving on the night of September 5, they ascertained that another bid had been put in by a party either at St. Louis or Louisville for $913,- 000. They were urged to put in one for $906,000, but believing that the bid* for $913,000 was not bona fide, and consid ering the work unlikely to yield over 4 per cent, at the price offered themselves, they deoided not to go below that price. September 6, at five minutes before 11, a. m,, the bidders assembled in a room of the Quartermaster General’s office. Each bidder deposited his sealed bid in a basket. Mr. M. J. Walsh took care to deposit his bid first, ss that it would be covered by the basketful and reached last. This was to prevent any other lower bid being slipped in after the amount of his was known. The basket was carried intp another room and was brought back in company with Captain McDougal, in whose presence the bids were to be qpened. Among the first bids taken from the top of the basket was that of Mr. Walsh, who at once said: “Captain, I want no fraud here. That bid was at the bottom when the basket left this room.” “Well,” said the captain, “if you are dissatisfied, report the matter to the Quartermaster Gener al.” The opening of the bids proceed ed, and at 11:15 o’clock in came a bid which was received and opened, and proved to be from Samuel Bridges, of Keokuk, lowa, for $900,000. Mr. Walsh sprang to his feet aud exclaimed: “Cap tain, there is fraud here. This bid came in 15 minutes after the opening began, and it is not accompanied by samples of stone, nor properly guaranteed.”— “Well,” said the captain again, “if you are not satisfied report to the Quarter master General." Mr. Walsh did so and Gen. Meigs struck Bridges off the list, and also the bid of the St. Louis party for $913,000, the samples of sioue acoorrfpa nying the latter being of an inferior quality, which left Walsh Bros, the largest bidders at $923,000. In this shape the list went to Secretary Belknap, but it came back, with Bridges’ bid in serted, instructing them to award him the contract. Mr. Walsh was indignant and disgusted beyond expression, and said: “I meant to deal honestly by the Government. I have dealt with New York city under Tammany rule, where every party could inspect the bids him self before they were formally opened and pnt in his own after doing so, but I never saw such barefaced corruption as this. I have seen Babcock at Long Branch, and spent $30,000 mainly on him to make suie of this, and now I have nothing to show for it all. The ex planation is that Belknap is seeking to be a Senator from lowa, and this fellow will help his cjsvtss.” The contract was subdivided and distributed in part as follows: Fredericksburg cemetery, to Capt. Dougherty; and the rest among the Bridges, three Washington politi cians and others. None of these par ties were dealers in marble, nor had any of them practical experience. Three of them tried to sell their contracts to Walsh after getting them, and all have failed to fulfill them to the satisfaction of the Government inspectors. The price at whioh the contract was awarded was less than $900,000. It has been as serted that this price was purposely made too low, so as to furnish an excuse for demands for a larger compensation. The disappointed lowa bidders made so much trouble that Belknap sent McGuin gue to the West on army duty. Bel knap gave as a reason for opposing the Walsh Bros.’ bid that their marble was 1 not American, bnt no such requirement had been made in inviting competition. Walsh told Belknap that if he wished to carry out the principles of the old Know Nothing party he would furnish him, Grant, and McGuingue with suits of American hemp. Captain Robinson—Hi* Military Career and Trial—An Alleged Threat by Belknap. Balimore, Md., March 6.—The resi dence of ex-Oaptain George T. Robinson, who resides at 15 South Chester street, in this city, was besieged yesterday with interviewers. Captain Robinson’s pres ent employment is that of draughtsman in the Columbia Iron works. He was at Fort Sill from 1868 to 1874. The Sun this morning publishes the following asj the result of the interview of its repre sentative yesterday : Captain Robinson claims to have pre pared these charges against Belknap in the different letters sent to President Grant, direct through the military chan nel, between 1869 and 1872, long before aoy charges were made against him (Robinson). Captain Robinson has in his possession a numberof bills of items covering this period, in account with J. C. Dent & Cos. and their successors, J. S. Evans & Cos., military and Indian traders at Fort Sill. An idea of the prices may be formed by citing a few items, as follows : Two bushels of potatoes $lO 00 Five gallons of coal oil 10 00 Two pounds of cheese 80 Six boxes of matches 75 A bottle of soothing syrup 1 50 Abroom 1 00 Flat irons, per pound 35 A tin pan 1 50 A half bushel of potatoes 3 25 A paper of needles 25 Two pounds of crackers 1 20 In regard to the charges made against him, Captain Robinson says the princi pal charge was for drawing what is known as “longevity pay,” being 10 per cent, of the officers’ salary after a ser vice of five years, and 20 per cent, for ten years' service. Captain Robinson says that he joined the * ifty-sixth Regi ment Pennsylvania Volunteers at Har risburg September 9, 1861, which can be proved, he says, by his commission and mueter-in-roll, now in the hands of his attorney, General Henkle, at Washing ton, and also by a certificate from Gen eral Hoffman, of Philadelphia, of the same regiment. The official army reg ister credits him with service only from February 26, 1862. He claimed and drew “longevity pay” from the first date and was notified of its stoppage by the Paymaster-General, September 15,1874, and immediately returned the disputed surplus, $553, to Assistant Paymaster Brown, at New York, for whioh he holds the receipt. The other charges against him, he says, were purchasing goods from post-traders and not paying for them, and also not paying a doctor’s bill and condnet unbecoming an officer and gentleman. $e claims to have paid both. 5e was placed under arrest Sep tember 12, 18?4, and without ]}eing fur nished a copy of the charges was tried at the St. Louis Barracks, October 19th following, without counsel. Mr. Eaton, of St. Louis, a lawyer, would have rep resented him, but he was called to Washington on very important business, and called on Secretary Belknap to re quest a postponement qf the case until his retqw, The Secretary refused, and is represented a* baying added: “If that Court don't convict biR3. by G—, I’ll find one that wilL” Captain Robin son says that the Court was not com posed of his peers, as required by law, but with one exception underrated him. There were several officers wh° ranked him in St. Lonis, be says, at the time, and a competent Court could have been summoned. Sentence, as before giyen, was rendered April 15,1875, The pro ceedings and findings were approved by Judge Advocate General Holt, with ex ceptions. Robinson was not released until May 3, 1875. He bqs since entered suit in the Court of Claims for tb* Iqngeyity pay he refunded, and has taken steps to be re instated.' _ ' Mr. T. JS. Speight, of Clay county, arrested on bi£ plantation the negro, Sam Fillman, who murdered a Mr. Mns frrove, in Baker county, last January. The Governor had offered two hundred dollars reward for his capture, and Mr. Speight has taken him to the Sheriff of Baker, They have some very bad citizens in Walker WoiLitj. The Rome Commer cial Bays that; las* weag, three young men, who live on Duck Creek, got drunk, went to a lady*B house and at- i tempted to commit a crime on her per son, bnt failed to carry ont their hellish ■ designs. They then left, and after i creating quite an excitement and getting into innumerable difficulties, were in duced to go home. Their parents are i highly respected citizens of Walker oonuty. One of the young men was be- | fore Judge Underwood last year for dis turbing publio worship. 1 THE CROOKED PAPERS. THE BRIBERY CHARGES AGAINST THE STATE ROAD LESSEES. The Testimony Before the Investigation Committee of the Legislature—The Facts as Developed Coder Oath—What Money was Expended by the Lessees—How Much and to Whom Paid. | From the Atlanta Constitution. 1 Atlanta, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1876 1 Capitol, at 3, p. m , ) The committee met pursuant to ad journment. Wm. S. Thompson, sworn: Examin ed oy Mr. McDaniel, Chairman. Q Have you ever received any money from the Western and Atlantic Railroad Company in connection with the pas sage of a resolution through the Legis lature of 1872, to endorse the lease ? A. Gov. Brown paid the firm of .Lester & Thompson SI,OOO. He retained us for the purpose of defending the lease and alsO expected us, I presume to use our legal knowledge in convincing any mem ber of the Legislature of the propriety of sustaining the lease: Gov. Brown said that it was the intention of the com pany, if certain legislation occurred, to fight it in the Courts. We were re tained for the whole purpose, and for which we were paid SI,OOO as a retaining fee. We were retained in June, 1872, and in September, 1872 received the money. At least my books show the transaction in that way. Q. To what purpose was that money applied ? A. It was a fee recived by Lester & Thomp son. Q. Was any portion of it used by the members of the firm in payment to other persons in furtherance of that pur pose ? A. No, sir; it was never expect ed that it would be used in that way. Gov. Brown talked more particularly with Col. Lester. He did not talk much to me, as I was a young lawyer and not supposed to have much influence out side. But, the whole tenor of Governor Browns conversation was that no improp er use was to be made of it. He simply considered our services worth SI,OOO. Of course he expected us to use all prop er arguments to prevent improper leg islation, but if it was had, then to de fend the matter in th'e Courts. Q. Did any portion of that money ever go into the hands of a member of the Legisla ture ? A. Not one cent, sir. Q. It was wholly applied to the purpose of the members of the firm? A. That is all the use made of it, sir. Q. (By Gov. Brown.) You have already stated that as you were a young lawyer at that time and Col. Lester was a distinguished member of the bar, that I looked to him for the service to be 'rendered, that my inter view was with him and the contract with him; that is the receipt he gave me and it is in his own name? (showing the re ceipt to witness) A. Yes, sir; that is correct. I know that is his own hand writing. Q. Col. Lester says, in a state ment that has been presented here tp the committee, that I paid him SSOO down and SSOO afterwards; do you know how that is? A. My books show that the entry was made on the 7th of September. I told Col. Lester that my recollection wao that at the time you paid the first SSOO he just retained it and no charg. was made, except as to the retainer, and amount was not put down until after all of it was paid. Q. The entry is on the 7th of September, corresponding with this receipt? A. Yes, sir. Q. This was all that I paid you ? A. Yes, sir. Jotn C. Hendrix, sworn: Examined by Mr. MoDaniel, Chairman. Q. Were you an officer ef the Legislature of 1870. A. Yes, sir. I was Assistant Secretary of the Senate in 1870. Q, Do you know any members of the Legislature of 1871- ’72? A. I suppose, sir, I might, by referring to the long term Senators. I believe the odd districts went out in 1870 and the even ones held over to 1872. Some of them I would know by the districts and others I would have to think of what districts they were from. Q. Do you know of any money having been paid, either by the lease company or by any person for them, or in their interest, or otherwise for their benefit, to any member of the Legistature of 1870 who held over and was a member of the Legislature of 1871-2? A. No, sir. I do not know directly of any member who received anything out of those from any of the districts that held over. As to who composed the Legislature of 1871-2, I do not know. Q. Did you ever hear of such a thing ? A. Nothing definite. Just as you and other persons I have heard rumors and insinuations, but I have never heard anything of the kind from those parties or the members of the lease company. Q. Do you’know any members of the lease company, or any one acting for them, .having used money in any way upon a member of the Legislature of 1870. A. Ido not think that comes within the scope of the authority of that resolution. It don’t come within the oath that I took—it refers to corruption of the Legislature of 1871-2. Therefore, under my oath, I cannot answer that question. Q. You have had your attention called to all those members who held over, and I repeat the question: Do you know of any money, directly or indireotly, hav ing been paid to any of them upon the part of the lease company to influence the votes in the Legislature, or other wise ? A. No, sir. Ido not know any thing of my own knowledge. Q. You still decline to answer as to other mem bers of that Legislature (1870) ? A. Of 1870 I do, simply from the fact that it does not come under the oath admin istered to me. That resolution under which you are acting does not require it. The oath and the subpoaua both state 1872. Q. (By Mr. Peeples ) Do you know of any money having been paid to members of the General Assembly of 1870 who were members in 1872, either of the House or Senate ? A. No, sir. I answer that question that I do not recol lect of any and know nothing of the sort. Q. You were asked if you knew of any money paid by the lessees; do you know of any being paid by any one else ? A. No, sir. Ido not know any thing in answer to that question. Q. (By Mr. Walsh.) Your answers are con fined exclusively to the Legislature of 1871-2 ? A. That is all that is required by my oath and the resolution you are acting under. 1 Atlanta, Thursday, Feb. 17, 1876. The committee met in the room of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at the Capitol, at 3, p. m. E. W. Cole, sworn: Examined by Mr. McDaniel, Chairman: Q. Col. Cole, were you present at any meeting of the lease company in the Fall of 1872? A I cannot answer that directly, sir, but I suppose the minutes of the Board will show. It is likely that I was there, if it was a regular meeting of the Board of Directors. lam in the habit of attend ing all the regular meetings of the board, but at some time I may not have done so. Q. How often were those meetings held? A. They are ordered I believe by the by-laws to be held onee every three months. Sometimes, however, they are not held because there is no quorum present. Whether I was at the special meeting you refer to I cannot say. I undertook to attend to such meetings regularly. Q. In 1872 did you hold any office connected with the oom-. pany ? A. I did, sir. Q. What office? A. I was denominated General Super intendent, but with the distinct under standing, as I understood it, with the other officers and the directors, that my connection with the company as an officer was to look after and try to regu late through rates and connections west of Chattanooga. Q. Did you have any control over, or knowledge of, the ex pense account of the road? A. Well, I had some general knowledge, but I did not undertake to manage the details. That was not expected of me, as I under stood it. and I did'not so understand my relation to the company- Q- How was your knowledge derived? A. From the statements of the officers to the Board of Directors chiefly. Q. How often were the statements made? A. I think, sir, at every meeting we had some statement from the officers. Q. What would these statements show? A. They would show the receipts and expenses of the road. Q. Would they show the items of expense? A. In a condensed form, they would. Q. Will you illus trate what you mean by condensed forms? A. Yes, sir. The statements furnished would show the earnings from passengers, freight and mails. These would be the earnings. The expenses would be maintenance of way, motive power, maintenance of cars, conducting transportation and general expense ac count, lawyers’ fees. Court costs and so on. Q. Do you remember any item in such reports in 1872 which shows the payment of lawyers’ fees and other out side expenses? A. Ido not remember any particular item in those reports Q Do you remember ever having a conver sation with Mi. E- 5. Walker on the sub ject of the proportion of the gross receipts expenses? A. I do not remember any to the special conversation. j suppose | talk ed with Mr. Walk e F, a® T did with other officers of the road when J was here. I was here seldom, and generally I talked with all of them about the business of the road. Q. Do you re member any conversation that occurred in his office after the adjournment of a meeting of the Board of Directors, in which the expenses of the road was spoked of? A. In 1872? Q. Either in 1872, or at the next meeting thereafter? A. No, sir; I have no recollection of any special conversation with him. Q. Did you ever have and conversation with Mr. Morrill on the subject Of the ex pense of the road in that year? A. I may have done so, but I do not remem ber that I did! I have just stated that I was in the habit of talKing with all of the offioerg upon the subject. Ido not remember any special conversation, however. (Report of conversation as con tained in Golohel Alston’s testimony was read in the hearing of the witness.) Q. Do you remember any such conversa tion? A. Ido not recollect the conversa tion that is specially referred to as hav ing taken place in my presence. Q. Have you ever heard Mr. Morrill make any such remark? A. No, sir; Ido not remember of his ever having made any such remark to me. Q. Did you know the fact that a large sum of money had been paid out to lawyers and news papers in connection with this matter?. A. All that I know about that I heard from Gov. Brown. Q. At what time? A. He spoke to me about it some time ago. It may have been about the date you are speaking of, but I could not say that it was. It was to me rather indefi nite. ‘He said something to the effect that, in order to have the lease properly represented before the public, “we may have to spend some money in that way,” or he may have said, “I will have to spend some money for a paper or to pa pers.” If the sum was mentioned Ido not remember it. Q. Did you ap prove of the expense? A. I do not remember what reply I did make. No doubt I thought at the time that it was proper that the facts in regard to the lease should be made public; and that the defense as well as the opposition should be heard. Q. Did you ever make any inquiry afterwards as to how much they did spend? A. I never did, that I remember. Q. Did you ever know how much was spent? A. I did not know how much was speDt. Q. Did you have an idea of how* much was spent? A. I cannot say that I had. I left such mat ters to'the officers here just as the direc tors leave such matters to me at Nash ville. I felt that the President would do what was just and right. Q. Do you know whether the other members of the company were aware that the money was being used in that way? A. I cannot say what they knew. Q. Do you know whether the sums used in this way ap pear in the reports as having been so used? A. I suppose they do, as with the other expenses, if paid at all. Q. Would the names of the persons who re ceived the money appear? A. That is not usual in reporting to the board of Directors. Q. You were not in this place during the time the resolution was pending before the Legislature? A. If I was, Ido not remember it. I may have passed through or been here, as I come down this way as often as I could con veniently in connection with my official relations with the Western and Atlantio and Georgia Railroads. Q. You know nothing of any efforts to influence mem bers of the Legislature in their votes upon that measure? A. Nothing at all, sir. Q. You say you have no recollec tion of ever having any conversation with Mr. Morrill or Mr. Walker, in which tl e amount of expense that had been brought on the company by the Legis lature was mentioned? A. I have no re collection of any conversation - of the kind. Q. yßv Mr. Alston.) Col. Cole, when was the last time that you were in Atlanta? A. The 3d of February. Ido not think I have been here since. I know I was here that day, as it was the day for a meeting of the Directors of the State Road. Q. Didn’t you leave here on the evening of the 4th? A. No. I was here at the time I say. The third was on Thursday, the day of the meeting of the Board. My recolletion is that I left here on the 4 o’clock train on Thursday even ing, the 3d of February. Q. Didn’t you and Mr. Walters, Mr. Morrill, Mr. Peters, Mr. Nutting, Mr. Johnson and Gov. Brown dine together at the Kim ball House on Thursday, the day that the resolution was pending here in the Legislature? A. I do not, remember about the resolution, but we dined together. Q. Did you never make any complaints tojMr.;E. B. Walker about the extraordi nary expenses of the road in 1872? A. I may have done so. Q.. Did Mr. Walker make any excuse about the necessity of employing Mr. Sherman on the State Road, and that if Gov. Brown would confine himself to his own duties as President, they oould soon reduce the expenses of the road? A. Ido not re collect of Mr. Walker reflecting upon the President in that way. Q, Do yon recollect Mr. Morrill’s coming in and saying that they were “making a hell of a fuss about the expenses of the road,” but that he had examined the expense account on the Southwertern Railroad, and that the expenses on this road were no’ greater than they were on Bill Holt’s road. A. Ido not recollect. He may have compared the expense ac counts of the two roads, as is frequently done between one road and another, but Ido not remember that he did so. Q. You do not remember such a conversa tion ? A. No, sir. Q. Didn’t Mr. Mor rill say, furthermore, “they forget that we had to spend $70,000 on that damn ed Legislature ? A. Ido not remember of his ever making any such remark in my presence. Q. Mr. Waiters, Mr. Pe ters, Mr. Nutting, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Morrill, Governor Brown and yourself were all here on the 3d of February and took dinner together at the Kimball House? A. We were; it was the day for an annual meeting of the directors; that is the reason why I remember. I had a notice lying on my table in Nash ville for some weeks previous, notifying me to attend on that day. Q. (By Mr. Peeples.) Are you one of the iessees ? A. I am. Q. Was there a meeting of the board of lessees just before the meet ing of the Legislature in August, 1872, at which time the resolution was passed ? A. Ido not remember. Asa fact Ido not now remember that there was any meeting of the Legislature at the time you mention; there may have been. If am asked the question if there was a meeting of the lessees in the Summer of 1872, Ido not remember. I suppose we had our regular quarterly meeting of directors that Summer. Q The point is, whether or not the lessees or Board of Directors took any aotion in regard to expenses, or what expenses should be incurred in having this matter brought before the public ? A. I remember that there was something of that kind men tioned in the board; I do not remember at what meeting, and I think that it was referred to a committee, which was to take such action as they thought proper or just in protecting or defending the company in any proper manner, and my recolleotion is that Judge King and Mr, Hill were appointed upon that commit- tee, Q. (By Mr. McDaniel, chairman.) Any one else ? A. I do not remember positively, but I think there was. I think they were to act in conjunction with the President, who is usually in such companies ex officio chairman of all committees. Q (riy Mr. Peeples.) The whole matter was referred to that committee without reference to what they were to do ? A. There was no ac tion as to what they should do, as I re member of. Q. It was leaving the whole matter in their discretion ? A. Yes, sir. Q. Have you any recollection that any report was made by them as to what had been done ? A. I have no recollection of any report having been made by them. Q. (By Mr. McDaniel, chairman.) Do you know, now, how much money was used under that res olution or action of the board ? A. I do not know, sir. I only know what Gov. Brown told me in regard to money that had been spent with newspapers and at torneys. Q. (By Gov. Brown.) When the conversation took place between you and myself, don’t you remember that I was speaking of the formidable opposi tion and able counsel arrayed against ns and that the members oi the company that opposed us lived here and were strong in the lobby.and that to put our case properly before the public we might have to spend money for the pub lication of the facts and to get attorneys ? A. Yes, sir; you said you thought that it was proper, just, and right that there should be somji medium of giving the facts and arguments iq favor of the lease to the country and to, every body. Q (By Mr. Alston.) Do you know of $15,000 having been put up in the Dollar Savingb Bank to get Ed. Blodgett out of jail? A. I don’t know that such deposit was made. Q. Wasn’t it charg ed up against the lease company as ex penses? A. I know nothing of my own knowledge. Qov. Brown said something to me in connection with it, but my re collection is that it was a matter for him or the committee. Q. That same com- mittee of which you spoke 1 A. I can't say that the same committee acted on it. Q. Do you knot? that $15,000 was de posited in that bmk by (he lease com pany? A. It is my recollection that something was said about a deposit of that kind, but can not say that it was made or where. Q. Was the money ever repaid ? A. Ido not know, sir. Q. (By Mr. McDaniel, ohairman.j Do you know the object for which the deposit was made ? A. I could not say that I did or that it was made at all. As I say I had always confidence in the Presi dent and that he would do what was just and proper. Q. I will ask you if it was referred to as a mattter in connec tion with the expenses brought upon the company by the assaults made upon it by the legislature? A. I do not re member. (j. Do you know of any mon ey having been paid to Foster Blodgett in 1871 2 by the company, or any one in its behalf ? A. No, sir; I have no per sonal knowledge of such payment to Mr. Blodgett. Q Have you ever heard of it from officers of the road or the com pany ? A. By the President. Q. Have you ever head of any payment to'him by the President, or any one else? A. At what date? Q. In 1871 or 1872? A. No, sir; I have no recollection of it, except I understood Gov. Brown to say that he had had transactions with Mr. Blodgett, but I never heard bim Say he had paid to Mr. Blodgett any mpney on account of the lease, fie said that ha had had individual transactions with him dating back for years, and had received from and let him have money. Q. (By Mr. Alston.) I will ask you if yon knew of the lease company having sent H. I, Kimball, with a check for $3,000, to South Carolina to see Blodgett when Blodgett advertised in the Greenvill, News that he was going to expose the facts about the endorsement of the State Road lease? A. No, sir. I have no recollection of any such transaction. Q. (By Julius Brown, Esq.) Was the meeting held on the 30th inst. called or influenced by any action that the Leg islature was going to take about the lease ? A. I stated that it was the regu lar annual meeting of the Board of Di rectors and gave that as the reason why I remembered the day. James P. Simmons, sworn. Examin ed by Mr. McDaniel, chairman. Q. Did you, in 1872, receive any money from the lease company in connection with the endorsement of the lease? A. Perhaps I had better state that I did receive some money from the President of the Lease Company in 1872." I turned to my cash book, after receiving your subpcsna, and got the precise amount and date. In August 7th, 1872, I received from Gov. Brown as the representative of the company SSOO, and on the 3d of Septem ber, 1872, I received from Governor Brown SSOO more. This receipt (shown by Gov. Brown) was written by me. The money was paid me as it is expressed in the receipt, and it says “as a retaining fee in any litigation that may be institut ed to set aside the lease by the State.” This had reference to the Courts and not the Legislature. But perhaps it would be as well to explain the purposes of it and the manner in which I was ap proached and what occurred. I will state that before this money was paid I was here and in the Capitol. I met Gov. Brown and he asked me about. this question: “Have* yeu entirely retired from the practice of your profession ?” I replied to him I had not; that I had retired from general practice, but still took special cases. He said some litiga tion might possibly grow out of the road matters and he would like to have my services for the defense of the lease. I told him they could be had, and he proposed to pay me a retaining fee, and if the case came up I was to have a rea sonable fee. He asked me what would be a reasonable retaining fee. I told him he knew about as well as I did. He asked me if SI,OOO was satisfactory. I said it was and he agreed to pay me that. How long the contract had been made before the first money was paid I do not remember. I looked upon it as a contract the that would be responded to in due time, and that when I called upon Gov. Brown I would get the money. Ido not remember at what time, but sometime after I agreed to represent the lease company before the Courts, it oocurred to me that it would be a service to both the company and the State to call at tention to the lease through the press. I wrote an article which was published in the Constitution. It was not at the instance of Gov. Brown, but on my own motion. I submitted it to Gov. Brown whether it would not be well enough to do so, and be said “perhaps it would.” I drew up the article but it was never seen by him unless it was in the news paper. That was not done for this mon ey, but as a duty I felt to both the com pany and the State. I wish to state that one reason, I suppose, why Gov. Brown applied to me was because he knew I was a friend of that lease. He knew that from this circumstance, that im mediately after seeing that Mr. Ste phens had declined taking his interest in the lease, I wrote down and said to Gov. Brown that I would like to take it myself. He replied that it was promis ed to another party, but if he did not take it I should have it.' I had a con versation with him afterwards in which he told me the other party had taken the interest. The duty I undertook in this matter was to defend the lease in the Courts if the contemplated suits were brought. That is all. Q. You used the monoy for your own purposes ? A. The Legislature never got any of it, and that I guarantee you, sir. I used it in my own business. If I ever spoke to a member of the Legislature who was not friendly to the easo Ido not re member it. It was not my duty to lobby in any shape. Q. (By Mr. Alston.) Did you ever do any service for that money ? A. No, sir; the time has never come for that. This was a retaining fee and the litigation has never come to pass. When it does I hope to be no hand and ready. Q. (By Gov. Brown.) Was not the litigation looked for no the part of the State to set aside the lease ? A. You stated that it was desir ed by some parties to have litigation started by the State to set aside the lease on the ground of fraud in procur ing it. That is the case I was to appear in. Q. Perhaps you remember that I remarked that we would resist in the Courts of Georgia, Tennessee and the Uuited States ? A. Yes, sir, I do. GOVERNOR LETCHER. Ex-iGovurnor John Letcher .Stricken by Paralysis—llls Right Side Useless—His Re covery Not Expeeted. [Richmond Whig , March 3d.] Night before laßt ex-Governor John Letcher, who has been in the city all Winter, attending the House of Dele gates, of which he is a member, from the county of Rockbridge, was passing from supper in the Ballard House to his room in the Exchange Hotel, when he was stricken with paralysis on the bridge across the street connecting the two houses, and would have fallen had he not been caught and supported by Dr. Henry E. Smith, member of the House of Delegates from Amherst, who was with him at the time, and who assisted the venerable ex-Governor to his room. He was put to bed, and it was hoped that the attack would be but slight and temporary in its results, but yesterday morning it was found that his whole right side was partially paralysed; that he could not use his right arm and hand, that he could move las right leg but little, and that he spoke with diffi culty and indistinctly. During the day yesterday his emdition seemed to grow worse, although he suffered little or no pain, and was quite conscious. At the last accounts his condition was reported to bfe very unfavorable, although no im mediate fatal results were apprehended. Ever since his prostration, Mr. Letcher has been sedulously attended by Drs. Hunter McGuire, of this city, Smith, of Amherst, and John W. Lawson, Senator from Isle of Wight, and by a multitude of personal friends, and he has lacked no attention that skid and friendship can provide. The opinion of Dr. Mc- Guire, in which the two other physicians concur, is that the attack is due to au effusion of blood or on the brain or spinal marrow. Ex-Governor Letcher is now quite aged, being sixty-three years old, and he has been one of the most laborious members of the General Assembly, hav ing constantly oocupied his seat since the session began, never absent except in cases of illness, and always devoting his whole time and energy to the work of legislation. Besides, he had been for many years since the war quite removed from the excitements of political life, and has aocommodated himself to the calm quiet of his Rockbridge home, and his recent re-entry upon the stage of stirring and exhausting discussion has evidently been too much for him. For weeks he has at times been extending his left hand in greeting his friends, apologizing therefor by saying that he was suffering from rheumatism in his right arm and hand—these indications doubtless being the precursors of the attack that has now followed- The med ical opinion expressed is that if Mr. Letcher shall ever rise from his bed, it will be as a tottering and almost hope less wreck of his former robust man hood. Although there was no fear of a speedy death last night, it was easily understood that the ultimato recovery of Virginia’s war Governor is not ex peoted by his medical attendants. There will be general sorrow at his sad and critical situation. At the latest hour last night there was a change in his condition for the better. He was moved into a larger room, and the moving appeared to benefit bim. His wife and family will reach the oity to-day. FROM NSW YORK. Sentence of Thieve*—Cnee of Abduction—A Schenck Canard Exploded—New* From the Indian Country. New York, March 9. The river thieves, John Lowry and Charles Mey ers, were sentenced to 15 years hard la bor. Senor Josef Olgeads, an eminent Span ish gentleman, who had resided twenty five years in Cnba, drew $25,000 from a banking house, and was arrested by a man showing a star. Olgeads’ com panion ran to the Spanish Consul, but the searoh for Olgeads has been vain. The object of the abdnetion is supposed to be money: not political. The Herald’s special from London says : “Qn the highest anthority I can say there is no foundation for the state ment that the British Government de manded Gen. Schenck’s immediate re call. The Government never even inti mated a wish for his removal. ” A special dispatch says that abont the time the Indians drove off the horses at Cnstar City, Wyoming, on the 4th, an emigrant train near Pleasant Valley was attacked. Every able bodied man in that section has been enrolled, and a mounted party of whites, sixty in nnin-' ber, started at one in pursuit of the red skins, who retreated in the direction of the fijed Cloud Ageney. There is great excitement, and trouble is anticipated all throngh the Black Hills. Rev. Mr. Martin, from Tennessee, has accepted a oall to the Cumberland Pres byterian Chnrch at Tunnel Hill. MOTHER WOMAN IN IT. HOW SEC BETA BY ROBESON’S WIFE FAHMED OUT LUMBER CONTRaC is. And Cot a Trifle of $40,000 for the Job, to Which le Kindly Added @O,OOO a Month—A Laet Desperate Effort to Choke OUT Inves tigation, Which Is Promptly Defeated in the Democratic House. Washington, D. 0., March 7.—These dispatches stated Saturday night that it could be proven that Mrs. Robeson re ceived large sums of money frem par ties interested in lumber supply con tracts with the Navy liepartment. The committee has been on track of this matter for some time, and your corres pondent was requested not to publish the names for fear that it would afford the guilty parties opportunity to get dangerous persons aud papers out of the way. The injuuetiou of seoreoy is now removed and the facts may be given. One S. P. Brown, of this city, has au immense contract *for timber supplies. Brown has a silent partner by the name of Wallack. Wallack is the individual spoken of in my dispatch of Saturday night as the trustee of Mrs. Robeson’s slush fund. Statements vary slightly as to the amount of money set apart in Wallack’s hands for Mrs. Robeson’s benefit, but none of them put it Under $45,000, and some plaoe it as high as $75,000. For some time past Mr. Wal lack has regularly, invested $5,000 every month for Mrs. Robeson in various se curities. Heavy investments have also been made in the name of Judge Smith, an uncle of Mrs. Robeson. The committee has recently had un der examination a Mr. Wolfe, book keeper for S. P. Brown, and has elicited from him considerable information as to the nature of the contract, showing that its profits were enormously dispropor tionate. To-day Wolfe was asked whether he knew of any money being paid or promised to aDy body for the purpose of securing the oontraet, and whether there was any arrangement by which the amounts paid to Mrs. Robe son were entered on the books in cipher or otherwise, so as to conceal that part of the transaction. He refused to an swer. He was therefore placed under arrest, and will be oommitted for oon tempt if he remains contumacious after to-morrow. Mrs. Robeson has been in Washington society, and au intimate and devoted colleague of Mrs. Belknay. She was a widow when she married 01ie rotund Robeson, and some strange stories were told about her. When Grant’s gang was at the zenith of power, Mrs. Robe son, Mrs. Belknap and Mrs. Williams ruled society here with a high hand. Two of the triumvirate have stepped down and out, and now the remaining one is approaching the jumping-off plaoe. All the devilment seems to be raised by the widows. The advice of the elder Weller should be placarded in the Departments. The accusations made as to Governor Hendricks and the Gatling gun con tracts do not seem to have any founda tion. The worst that can be shown as to the Governor’s aotion is that he ÜBed his persuasive powers to assist some of his personal friends. But tho tee having the subject in charge said that no proof or shadow of proofs exisßP to show that he received any considera tion or had any pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in the transaction. General Love has indignantly denied the charges. The Belknap Dado. [Correspondence Nero York Bulletin.] Washington, March 7,lß76.—Theßel knap matter has assumed a strange phase as a matter of fact. The commit tee has gone forward upon an irregular proceeding, and has not the slightest evidence of any legal character against him. The Committee on Expenditures in the War Department took the testimo ny of Marsh without power to adminis ter an oath, and while ail the testimony there is undoubtedly true, there is no tes timony competent mXCourt of justice, or before the Senate, as the high court of impeachment. Still there are euough things yet at issue and discovered to convict Mrs. Belknap of all sorts of peculations and dishonest transactions, and it is thought that General Belknap will fix the guilt, wherever guilt is charged, against biß wife, and assume the responsibility to himself. The Ju diciary Committee merely wants the op portunity to take competent testimony aud authority to administer oaths and send for persons and papers. It eannot be doubted that they will get all the evidence they want, and it is highly probable that Gen. Belknap will be con victed. The witness Marsh is looked upoa here as a consummate scoundrel, and it is shown that he did not teil the whole truth. It is believed that he joined with Mrs. Belknap in deceiving her hus band, and that he was the man who caused the deception from the beginning to the end. There is no sympathy here, for him, and the case is quite distress ing from any P oint of view. Investigar tion now in progress will show that Postmaster-General Jewell, while not guilty in a criminal sense of corruption and fraud, has perpetrated frauds that ought to be punished beoanse they were perpetrated by people under him with his full knowledge and consent for political purposes. It is probable also that a good many doings will be dis covered in other branohes of the service, the details of which are sickening to contemplate. Ido not like to go into their enumeration because of charitable feeling towards those implicated and because the committees are now at work and will have developed all they intend within the next week, and then the guilty persons will be called by name. A SCENE IN THE HOUSE. A Witness Is Brought to tho R„r And Faints from Nervous Each miem. Washington, March B,—A very ex traordinary scene, painful and' melo dramatic, occurred on the floor of the House to-day. Mir. Elchias B. Wolf was yesterday remanded to the custody of the Sergeiuit-at- Arms for refusing to answer Vserfc&in questions propounded by the Committee on Naval Affairs, before which oommittee he was a witness. To day the Sergeant-at-Arms brought the witness to the bar of the House. It was observed as Wolf walked down the main aisle toward the Clerk’s desk that he was very nervous and excited. As he stood in front of the Speaker, in full view of the House and crowded galleries, conscious that all eyes in the Chamber were fixed upon him, his nervousness beoame so great that be was forced to step back and lean for support upon Mr. Chittenden’s desk, which is in the front row. The Sergeant-at-Arms, observing his weakness, had a chair placed in the open space fronting the Speaker, into which the witness sank. As Mr. Whitthorne, Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, oommenoed to address the House preparatory to introducing a resolution discharging Wolf from custody, he moved uneasily in his seat, and finally leaned his head upon his right hand supported by his elbow on the arm of the chair. Mr. Whitthorne had not spoken more than thirty words when Wolf ottered a cry, threw up his arms, and slid from the chair to the floor, his form assuming the rigidity of a corpse. This produced intense excitement upon the floor and in the galleries. A num ber of members rushed to the relief of the sufferer, but by direction of the Speaker all retired, except two or three, who, under direction of Senator Con over, who is a physician by profession, and who fortunately chanced to be in the House, continued to render the necessary aid to the prostrate man. Be fore it was known Senator Conover was in the House Speaker Kerr requested that if there was a physician present in the galleries he would come forward. In about five minutes the spasm passed off, and Wolf was carried from the Chamber to an adjoining room, where he soon recovered, and was taken home. NEW YORK. Strike of Railroad Employees—Arrest of u Forger—Failure of Tufts & Cos. Reported. New York, March 11.—There was a strike among the employees ot the New York, Bayridge and Jamaica Railroad Company, at Bayridge, yesterday. The contractor kept back from each man ten days wages. The police were called upon to prevent breaches of the peace. Frederick Revil, charged with com mittii g forgery in Prussia, was arrested here to-day in the steamer Klopstock from Hamburg, and was committed for trial. The failure of E. O. Tufts k Cos., Woolen commission merchants of Boston and 85 North street. New York, is re ported. The liabilities are variously estimated from $250,000 to $1,000,000. Further Reduction of Freight Rates. The conflict between the Virginia and Tennessee Air Line Railroad and the coast line of steamers is still going on vigorously, and the rate of freights has been again reduced this morning by the railroad. Bedtli of Journalists. Boston, March 11.—Wm. B. Robert son, journalist, of Boston, whose letters, over the signature of “Warringtpn” are widely known, is dead ; aged, 58. New Haven, March 11.—James Alex ander Merivat, editor of the Common wealth, a Prohibition paper, is dead. Handsome Flower.— A fine peony, in fall bloom in the flower garden of Judge Samuel Levy, on Centre street, attracts much attention.
