Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-04-29
A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH
LOCOFOCO BRIBERY g. COR
RUPTlON IN THE Gov
ERNMENT OF PENN
SYLVANIA,

lowing:
On former occasion we gave it as
our opinion, that The United States bank
owed iIs downfall and ruin 10 its al.
tempt TO ingraliate itself into The favor
Of the locofoco party. Millions Of lis
funds have undoubtedly been squaEdsr
ed for this purpose, and some Of it for
the most base and corrupt ends. The
proceedings Of our Legislature on this
subject are OF most painful and arm
ing character. That some members of
the Legislature and in all probability
the Governor himself, had fingered some
Of the monsters" go d, to stay the re.
sumption resolution of 8to, seems 10 30
established beyond doubt. A committee
had been appointed 10 investigate The
matter-George Handy was called to
testify his knowledge as to the disposal
of The $4,000 placed in his hands by
the BaDk-he refused on the ground
that his testimony might tend to his own
injury in some cults now pending against
him. TO remove this objection the Ie.
gsaIure passed resolution, directing
the Attorney General TO enter a nOlle
lprOSCqui in those cases
Handy being thus released from ap
preheason, appeared above the Iegisla
tive committee and was sworn to tell
tho truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth. In answer TO the ques
lions, as TO whether he knew Of any
corrupt means used by the banks or
their agents in eiftcting the passage Of
the suspension resolutions Of 1910, he
laid before the committee between sew.
eniy five and eighty letters written BY
Daniel Droadaeaj, ol Winnebago mem.
ory, and lately, Governor Porler's Com
missioner Of Loans. the President Of
The Philadelphia Moyamensing Bank,
and other gentlemen prominent in the
Locoloco party. The letters arc beau
lirul specimens Of episIoatory cores
pondence, and beat all hollow any Of
the celebrated GIentWorth papers. In
one Of them Mr.. Iundy is requested to
send on draft of 20 600 feet Of lumber,
(said by him to mean 10000 doIIars.)
In another the members Of the Leg isla
iure are designated as raitS, and the
terms 'rafts 10 r,z.' rats are Ealing
'lumber is scarce and others cOrrespon.
ding frequently occur. In another Mr..
Handy is informed that he must furn'
ish more lumber money! asa lot Of
rats (meunbers) can be had at reasonable
rates. tie is also informed that the great
man (the Governor) had been saen up
on the sub lect, aud that 10 the evening
the writer (Broadhead) would have an
other Indian talk with him, and that
also Mr.. Stevenson, Ia Senator from the
county, would have to have some mint
(money) 1t is also said, that the Gov.
ornOr OH waking up one morning TO his
ilcxpresssible dlsmNy found under his
pillow 30 600 dollars ell in u. s. bank
notes, and to this moment it hos never
been clearly demonstrated how they
ever got there. About fifty OF tho let
ters yet remain uneXamIned, and OF
course the story is not half told. When
it is finished II will exhibit rare spe
oimen OF official deprnvlty and gross
corruption, and beyond all doubt will
lead to the impeachment OF that moral,
honest. pAtriouc democrat, The Cover
nor Of Pennsylvania.
On the 5,h Of April, Governor Porter
sent Message to the Legislature on
this subjac!, from which we extract the
following:
Il have just learned that circumstun.
ces oxist in regard 10 the examination
of George Hardy, asa witness before
tho committee Of Investigation which
has induced noe to adopr step thai ought
to be communicated to tho Legislature
The resolution which recently pas
sed the Legislature, on the 29tb ult
entitled "A resolution directing nOilc
yroSfqai 10 be entered 10 certain crlmi
mai prosecutions against George Handy,
mig ht DO supposed to exempt him from
punishment, but that resolution is sub
ice, to the condition which the said Geo
Handy may, or may not have fully com
piled with II ho has he can plead and
show it, if not he 10 not entitled to pro
teclIon. At all evenls ! have deemed
IT my duty to direct criminal proceed
iags to be instituted against him and
those implicated with him, and accord
inply the Attorney General wilpursue
such course on the subject, as will speed
,ly bring tho offenders, il any, to justice
take occasion 10 recommend that the
original ettors and oil vouchers ln !hc
possession of any committee, or OF oi
,Ler Of tho Houses Of the Legislature
DO carefully preserved as an essential
part Of the evidence on the uial"
The whole is singular affair. !
appeared Grnngo al tho tune that The
Lacoloco mombers Of tho LegiSlatur,
,Sho 90 loudly brawlcd against ;he bank
should nllal once shut up their mouth
nrd vote for the suspension law in lS4C
f. lL, susririnua Wa hone far ia