Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-04-03
VOL. vi.
Extract from MI BIRcHARD's Address at
the late Townshend Convention, holden
January l6, 1910.
THE DEFALCATIONS.

SAMUEL SwARTwOUT, was large specu.
la:or in SrocKs s. Real Estate, and used
the Pubic MONEY in his gambling opera
tions oil this kind, during the whole time he
was collector OF New York This was no.
torious. And al the time Of his appointment
in 1929, and Of his disappointment in 1894.
bis character was VIGOROUSLY bad for pecu-
MARY responsibility. No prudent man would
have trusted him 10 any considerable amount
But notwithstanding all this he was suffered
20 hold the Office OF collector OF that great
Port. with millions Of the public money pas.
sing through his hands monthly. WITHOUT
THE SHADOW OF BOND 10 secure the dear
people against loss from 1884 to 1887, three
years. And then after Swartwout had act
ually become delaulter for large amount
then honest Lcpi. MIR Van Buren's Secre-
,sry, accepted mere shadow Of bond, from
this faithful partizan-THIs PUBLIC PLUMB
ERER, with only three sureiies one OF
which was not worth farthing, and the 9TH
er two uominally about fifty or sixty thous-
and dollars.
The character Of PRIcE, was equally no,
torious with that OF Swartwoui--boih at the
time he was appointed by Jackson. and a,
the time he was re-appointed by Van Buren,.
He had no pecuniary responsibility what
ever.
Here is fair specimen of the devotion OF
this electioneerng Administration to- the in
terests of the people Here is an officer
whose quarterly returns show that he has
the custody of TEN MILLIONS OF THE PUBLIC
PROPERTY. without personal responsibility,
and without giving bonds for three years
And finally. when bond was given. the
Secretary might as well have taken clean
piece Of paper
Look at ITEM MILLIONS SECURED by
THE BOND OF THREE INDIVIDUALS, WHOSE
PROPERTY UNITED DID NOT EXCEED SIXTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND THE PRINCIPAL A
DEFAULTER AT THE TIME ON THE FACE OF
MS RETURNS TO THE Treasury DEPART
NENT TO THE AMOUNT OF SEVERAL HUMID
RED THOUSAND DOLLARS
The real secret OF this Infamous business.
il secret it may be called is, that S~anwoul
& Price were influential parlizans--lhe
Tammany Hall orators Of the AdministIa-
ton. They could use the public money 10
advantage in importing voters--surrounding
the polls with CUSTOM HOUSE BULLIEs. and
in the performance of various other infamous
partizan services necessary to carry the e.
city of New York. In addition to all this,
believe the subordinate officers OF the New
York Custom. House were allowed FIFTY.
THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS over and above
their regular salaries in 1886. the year that
Mr. Van Buren, was elected President. Prob
ably the interest of the party required all this
TO carry on the election. Swartwout under
stood it--every body understands il now. He
knew the Administration dare not ru!use his
bond worthless as il was--but on the contrary
that they would accept it as sort Of COM
PROMISE AMONG RooUEs to prevent their
criminal neglect Of duty from reaching the
ears of,he people.
Swartwout was superseded in March 1885,
BY the appointment OF Jesse Hoyt. another
"babling politician" who heads the PRoFLI-
GATE COHORTS of the Administration. and
leads them on 10 the charge. in all the cleo
lions.
Swartwout retired from Office defauter
10 the amount OF 81 ,225, ZOE, 90.
Price was appointed by
Mr.. Van Buren,, and re-
manned in Office until he
took leg bail. He is a de-
fau,er Tor 70. 1874, 0o |
The defalcations OF recei-
vers Of public money for
the sale OF lands from the
commencement OF General
Jackson's administration to
the ! lth Of January 1889,
as from the report Of the
Secretary of the Treasury
TO the House of Represent
a.iyes. amount to Ss55.67S %. |
Amounting in the whole to S2i23,50S 03. |
Two MILLION ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY
THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED & EIGHT
DOLLARS OF THE PEOPLES MONEY, WHICH
THE PRESENT DYNASTY HAS SUFFERED ITS
POLITICAL FRIENDS TO PLUMBER FROM THE
TREAsuRy UNDER THE DETEsTABLE sPoILs
PRINCIPLE.
This system ofplunder was concealed BY
the Administration until il could be conceal. |
ed no longer. II was brought to ligh, by the |
investigating commiltee of the House oil
Representatives in the winter OF $780,
There is no reason to doubt that there are
other defalcaions among the receivers and
disbursers Of public money 10 considerable
amounts. which are not made public and
which will be concealed by the Administra.
ton as long as possible.
That these numerous defalcations amonnt- !
ing to between Two AND THREE MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS are the legitimate fruits OF 1.-THE
principles apon which the appointments have
been made under the present Dynasty. and