The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-11

sible, let them be called to the alternative Of o
reparation or bombardment First Of all,
however, let our Premier read the inaugural
and the Kosxta letter, and then take up Wikof.
More Railroad Declarations
It appears that the everissue Of Vermont
Central stock was only sample of railroad
management in New England 1t has just come
to light that Mr.. Tuckerman, the Treasurer Of
the Eastern Railroad, has been engaged in q
systematic course Of embezzlement for the last
ten years, and has, during that period, helped
himself to various sums belonging to the COM
paDy, and amounting, according to his own
confession, to upwards of 100000. We do not
hear that the announcement created much ex-
element A couple Of hundred thousand dol.
lars is not much after ALL when one has been ac-
customed to hear Of swindles of couple Of
millions Schuyler debauched the public taste.
A financial villain is nobody now. a-days unless
he has robbed enough to build city. Tuck
erman must have been poor peddling sort Of
rogue, filter for contempt than indignation.
Still. when each of US individually tries to
realize the sum of money called "two hundred
thousand dollars" it appears large. 1t would
be handsome fortune for four families, COM
potency for eight or ten. Itwould support four
thousand families of mechanics for year-that
is to cay, it would give bread, meat, clothing
and shelter to sixteen thousand persons for
twelve months. A sum not to be despsed
Again, how was 1t made up? Experience shows
that the average of Investments in railway
stocks is something like $4,000. When
small merchant or professional man or a
farmer has saved from two to three thou
sand dollars, he buys few shares of stock
or two or three bonds. Many do not wait
to amass so much, but invest their money when
they have only saved thousand or so. Bot
including large operators who take twenty
thousand at time, the average will be found
not to vary far from $4,000. In most cases
these investments are the whole or a principal
part of the accommodations Of years. Ia this
light, it may be said that Mr.. Tuckerman has
stript eighty families, accustomed to live CON-
fortably, Of their savings.
There can be no question but the man who
acts thus commits crime compared to which
the deeds of the pickpocket are venial, and
those of the housebreaker trifling. We send
man for years to the penitentiary for stealing
purse /; what should be done to him who steals
not q purse--but the whole substance of
eighty families, and consumes it? We commit
man to prison for life for the act Of moment
an act committed possibly under the spur of
passion or cruel want what ought we to do
to him who deliberately pursues career far
more Injurious to society throughout long
uninterrupted course Of years? We shut our
ears to the piteous cries of the convics, and
scott at the protestations of the malefactor who
has knocked his wife on the head or robbed his
neighbours desk but when Robert Schuyler
writes letter to the newspapers to complain
of the injustice Of accusing him Of robbing
$4,000 when he really took two millions, we
are quite shocked at the injustice that has been
done him. When he says he is sick Of body and
weak of mind, we sympathise with the poor
man, and hope the waters of Germany or the
lakes Of Italy will get him right again. just
so when Mr.. Tuckerman offers to return quar-
ter Of what he stole, and throws himself on the
mercy Of the community, we are all compass
sion already, and pity him aloud.
his is sheer nonsense and absurdity. Men
of the stamp Of Schuyler and Tucksrman de-
serve more severe punishment than highway
robbers; and the day will come when the ne
cessity Of protecting the commercial interests
Of the country will oblige US so to punish them.
For the long impunity crimes of this nature
have enjoyed have Slapped the foundation of
credit Tuckerman has confessed what other
men in the like position still conceal. There
are officers Of public companies and corporations
in this State who, If the truth were known,
would be found to be defaulters in far larger
sum than Tuckerman, and whose explosion
when it takes place will stand only second il
second to that of Schuyler. The work has been
going on long 1t has defied investigating COM
mittees, and researches by directors. For the
fraud has been done skilfully, and no one will
know of it till the rascal can rob no more, aud
with compunctious words and deprecatory tone
he begs pardon of the men he has despoilsd of
their savings This is not the case with one or with
two concerns 1t is, we are morally persuaded,
the case with more than majority Of the exist
ing railway companies True, it will be said,
that their affairs have been examined; 80 were
those Of the Eastern Railroad True, the fraud
must have been spread over long period Of
time to be considerable: Tuckerman pursued
bis career Of robbery ten years The public
may depend upon it that half our great roads,
end more than half those in the West are in
the same condition as the Eastern road of Ms
sachuset,s. These very lines will be read by
men with white cheeks, and quickening palse,
whose guilty hearts wilt quake at the very
mention OF fraud; for they know that they, too,
are public robbers and that the day must come
when all will know II.
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