ything from outside
sources. In 1844-'46 and 1848 I was the candidate of the Democratic
Party for the National House of Representatives. I canvassed the
district at my own charge. I did not make any contribution to any one
for any purpose, and I did not receive financial aid from any source.
The subject was never mentioned to me or by me in conversation or
correspondence with any one. Again, I may say the subject was not
mentioned in my canvass for the office of Governor in the years 1849-
1850 and 1851.

In 1862 I became the candidate of the Republican Party for a seat in
Congress. After my nomination the District Committee asked me for a
contribution of one hundred dollars. I met their request. The request
was repeated and answered in 1864, 1866 and 1868. On one occasion I
received a return of forty-two dollars with a statement that the full
amount of my contribution had not been expended.

While General Butler was in the army, Mr. James Brooks, a member from
the city of New York, charged him, in an elaborate speech, with having
taken about fifty thousand dollars from a bank in New Orleans, and
appropriated the same to his own use. General Butler was then at
Willard's Hotel. That evening I called upon Butler, and said to him
that if he had any answer to the charge, I would reply the next day.
I had secured the floor through Mr. Stevens, who moved the adjournment
upon a private understanding that he would yield to me in case I
wished to reply. As Butler lived in my district and as I was ignorant
of the facts, I avoided taking the floor lest an expectation should be
created which I could not meet. However, I found Butler entirely
prepared for the contest. From his letter books he read to me the
correspondence with the Treasury Department, from which it appeared
that the money had been turned over to the department, for which
Butler had the proper receipts. The money had been seized upon the
ground that it was the property of the Confederacy and was in the bank
awaiting an opportunity to be transferred. The morning following, I
called upon Butler and obtained copies of the correspondence that had
been prepared the preceding night. I rode to the Capitol with Butler
and on the way we prepared the letters in chronological order. Having
obtained the floor through Mr. Stevens I made the answer which
consisted chiefly of the letters. It was so conclusive that the
subject was never again mentioned in the Hou