Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-19
Messrs. Torney, schmidt, & Co.


Messrs. Torney, Schmidt, & Co.
In our paper Of Monday last we narrated the
circumstances connected with the resuscitatio6
Of a definct German Abolition paper, in this
city, called Der National Demokrdt, by the
application Of treasury pap, through the agency
Of the Clerk Of the House Of Representa-
tivcs, and under an agreement made between
Mcssrs, Florence, Forney, and tho President,
on one side, and Mr.. Schmidt, the editor, on
the other.
The points Of the case were these, to wit:
LIST The defnnct paper was recieod by ina
terial aid = administered to it by Colonel For
nsy.
I'd. That this material aid was furnished
under contract made by Messrs. Forney,
Florence, and the President, and the editor of
the defunct paper.
Sd. That the condition on which the mate
rial aid was to be furnished icas that the re-
suscitated paper should oppose Know Nothing
ism, and proviso thereto was added, that the
editor might continue his anti-slavery senti-
ments.
4th That an advertisement, worth TO the
editor from seven to eight hundreddollars was
given by Mr. Forney to the resuscitated paper.
9TH That the advertisement was published
in an srtrd at the Union office, then owned, in
part, by Colonel Forney, and not in Der DEM
okrat
9Th. That Colonel Forney paid the editor of
:, Dor Demokrat the amount Of the advertise
ment (about $500, or more,) deducting $4s,
tho actual cost thereof to Der Demokrat, as
charged by the Union Office, for the extras.
7th. That the editor of Der Demokrdt was
to be employed by the parties to translate doc
uments into foreign languages, to be stereo-
typed for the next Presidential campaign.
9Th. That Der Demohrat only published two
or three numbers after receiving the money for
the advertisement
These were substantially the statements made
by us against the parties hereinbeforc named,
aud we said that we could prove them by a
credible and disinterestod witness.
Well, on last Wednesday afternoon, the
Etening Star published letter signed FIR.
Schmidt, to which that paper prcflxed the fol-
lowing remarks, TO wit:
I" a Rsfntation.--As an act Of justice to Mr.
Torney we make room for the following complete
rcfutation Of an improper charge"
Then follows the letter, to which we WIN
hereafter advert We have first word or two
OF comment to make upon the above remarks
OF the Star. in connection with the author Of
the complete refatation.'
A charge was made, involving four persons,
aud atributing to three Of them culpable
misapplcation of public money, in fulflment
Of an agreement with the fourth, that he (the
fourth person. should, in consideration of re-
cet-;ns this public money, thus improperly
given to him, abuse the Eaoto- Nothings.
Testimony Of n responsible and credible wit
ness was rendered, to prove the truth of the
charges, by the admission Of particeps Grim
isis. Let us put case, illustrative Of the pre-
sent, as to the principle Of admitting testimony.
A, B, and G, having the control OF money in
trust for the use Of the public, hand over to d
certain portion Of tho public funds, on oondi-
ton, that D shall become their tool, in carry
ing out their pripato purposes, by slandcring
honest men, ID knows that the money he re-
ceives is public money Is he not to all intents
and purposes equally guilty with A, b, and G,
il the misspplicstion Of the public fundss Is he
not particeps criminisl Does not ID stand
IN the same relation to A, b, and Q, in
such case, as receirsr Of stolen goods would
stand in, to the persons who stole thems The
old maxim is, "the partaker is as bad as the
thief and such Is the law.
Vow, there was no stealing in the present
case, it was, however, a breach Of trust, or the
corrupt misspplication Of public money to sub
serve private and partisan purposes The
point pAieh ice here make Is this, that Mr..
Schmidt, tie editor Of Der Demokrat is not a
competent nitness 10 clear HE associates from
Ms charge made, because he - equally guilty
Nth them, Qfphatersr c6snce they committed.
We therefore beg leave to say, that the at
tempted exculpation OF the other parties made
by Mr. Schmidts letter in the Star, is entitled
to no ueight and that therefore the complete
reputation" spoken Of by the Star, is simplya
complete failure TO meet the charges. The wit
ness by whom the statements can at any mo-
ment be proved, as Mr.. Schmidt well knows, Is
unimpeached and unimpeachable Mr. Schmidt's
F, statements to the witness, which we published
on Monday. arc admissible evidence, certainly
against himself and admissible also against his
confederstes, when once the fact Of the confed
erscy is shown, and this point is too clear to
admit Of doubt The charges therefore, stand
undnsperod.
But let us as matter Of curiosity, examine
Mr. Schmidt's letter TO the Star. lie says:
about July oath last, not being acquainted
with Mr. Forney, requested member to intro
duce me TO him, and In whose presence made my
application, and the Clerk OF the House told me
might insert the advertisement into the columns Of
the National Demokrst"