Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-10-21

Oemocrauc management oi public affairs
Well, Mr.. Chairman, let us look into
the stewardship Of this man Boyd, the
~'unyieIding advocate Of the principles
OF Democracy'-,he successor OF his il.
lustrious predecessor Harris, who step.
ped out, NJ the committee show in this
report, with the small sum of only
4lO0 LIS SO Of the peoples mon
ey.
Woodbury. to Boyd. March IS. 1887:
"Sir, ! regret to be under the necessity
Of complaining OF your neglect to trans
NIT your return for the month Of March
last. and Of reminding yon that greater
strictness must be obser we'd in the per.
Torrance Of this duty."-Page ls6.
Boyd pays no attention to instructions,
and v. NJ. Garesche is sent out as an
envoy extraordinary to ",ighten up the
screws" of Democracy in Mississippi,
and 4 examine into the lard Office affairs.
On the 18th Of June, 1887, he writes to
Mr.. Woodbury., the Secretary OF the
Treasury. tina, Boyd is already, in a ser.
vice only Of some three monihs. a de-.
faulter to the amount ofFIFTY THOU.
SAND NINE HUNDREDAND SIX
TY-FIvE DOLLARS--carrying put
his unyielding .principles of Democra'
cyl" He was as stern . Democrat as
my colleague! read a few extracts. on
the principles Of a Democratic Admins.
s~ralion, from this letter (pags 1879 Of the
document:) .
"'The man boyd seems really peni.
tent, and | am inclined 90 think. in com.
mon with his friends, he 10 honest"
So, doubtless, would my Democratic
colleague think,
"He has been led away from his DUTY
by the example Of his predecessor. (Har-
iis.) and a certain looseness in the code
OF morality. which here does not move IN
90 limited . circle as il does with W al
home"
They do seem 10 have been plumber
ing the people, to use a Western expires
sion. with a "most perfect %looseness!'
"Ano,her receiver would probably fol.
low in the footsteps Of The two"
II must be remembered that .'follow-
ing in the footsteps" was in these days,
q favori,s plank in the Democratic plat
form!
.You will not. therefore. be surprised
I'll recommend his being retained in pre-.
ference 70 another appointment for be
has his hands full now, and will not be
disposed to speculate any more. He has.
moreover. pledged his word that. if re.
tanned he will strictly obey the law"
Mr.. Chairman, | never knew q con
victed horse, thief who would not prom
ice 10 obey the law in order to be par
doncd out of the peniien,iary. that ne
might have a chance TO steal another
Speaking of the predecessor, (Harris) this
Democratic agent writes:
''He too, passes for an honest man."
On the 24,h of July. 1897, Boyd writes
to the Secretary that he 10 a defaulter.
and that he will resign tp. 1871 and the
Secretary replies. Up. 1887
IL am happy to hear of the frank and
honorable course proposed in your let
Ter of the 24ih ultimo."
Thus i. would seem that, according
20 this rule OF Democratic leaders. he
who robs the public Treasury Of $780,
COR, .passes for an honest man'-ht
who robs it of $4,000 only. and offers
10 resign, is regarded as 'frank and hon
orahle," and makes the Secretary Of the
Treasury ..happy!!"
Mr.. Chairman. if my brief hour would
permit, | could GO on and show up SINH
lar cases. This large volume is filled
with their details. Would that every
voter ~ihroughou, the land could be furn-
isned with a copy. Ii would cause tens
of thousands of honest Democrats in
d~ignnn.ly to drive from power the lead
srs of the party which has tolerated these
ouirages upon their rights. and so flag
rantly abused their confidence. could
10 into the cases of your Swariwouts and
your Hawinres, your Tods and your
Prices. whose joint robberies amounted
10 more than two millions Of dollars'--
But. sir. | turn with loathing and disgusl
from this m%ournful picture of human de.
prsyity-this official record OF political
infamy. on the part Of Democratic lead
ere, some of whom are now attempting
70 rally the dismayed and broken forces
under the banner Of Franklin Pierce.
But. sir, this is not The only "Galphin-
izing'' with which l charge the managers
Of that party. My colleague always
harps upon the efficiency Of the Sub
Treasury. They promised. for this
seems that il would free the Govern
msnt from its dependence upon banks
and bankers 10 transact its fiscal affairs.
and that by ito penalties. its pe%niten,i-
aries. is bolts and its bars, it would pre-.
ven. further speculations upon the pCblic
Treasury. Yet, sir, the result is that
even under the Polk administration. the
6nancial operations of the Government
required the aid of banks and bankers.
The .errors Of all the penalties did not
prevent your Wetmores, your C~ollines.
and , our other sub-sreasurers. from prov.
ing defaulters 10 the amount Of near .
million Of dollars!