Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-03-27
SPI1r,CH OF
SPEECH OF
HON. r.. p. BUCKLAND ID,
ON THE
Subject of the Canal Contracts.

ON THE
Subject of the Canal Contracts.
Delivered IN the Senate Feb. 26, 1851.
Mn. PRESIDENT: 1t has been truly re-
marked that the question before the Sen
lte is ono of very great Importance, and
,an assure you, sir, that it is with great diff
idencc, and | may say reluctance, that arise
or the purpose ofparticipating in the discus
sion.
l know how difficult it is TO discuss
question of this kind, where so many indi-
giduals are, moro or less, implicated in al
legged frauds, without being considered too
harsh and personal. Several Of the gentle
men interested have been for many years
my personal, as well as political friends; but
were my own brother concerned, it should
make no difference with my action as n mem
Der of this Senate. shall endcavor to dol
my duty, regardless of personal considera-
tions, 'and shall express my views plainly
and fcarlessly.
To my mind, the question resolves itself
into this; has the General Assembly, com
posed of Representatives of the people, and
in which is vested the Supreme power of
the State, the power to protect the State
against the illegal and fraudulent contracts
of her agents; or is il in that respect, q
mere machine, bound to appropriate money
to carry out such contracts however illegal,
or fraudulent say, sir, that we have not
only the power TO inquire and ascertain
whether such contracts were made according
to law, and whether they were honestly or
fraudulently made, but that it is our duty
to do so, before we appropriate ono dollar
to carry them out; and if, from the best
sources Of information at our command, we
are satisfied that they were fraudulcntly Oh
taincd, or not made in accordance with law,
we are in duty bound to withhold appropri-
ations, and to declare the contract null and
void.
The proceedings of the Board of Public
Works as reported by the Board, and the
testimony taken by the examining commit
tee, satisfy me, these contracts were let in
palpabe violation of the Statute, and were
obtained by a fraudulent combination among
the contractors themselves, at which, some
of the agents of the State connived. There.
fore, | contend that they never were bind
ing on the State, but utterly void from the
beginning.
1t has been charged that the committees
of Investigations were got up by the Repub-
licans, for mere party purposes, and not fol
the purpose of arriving at tho truth How
is it? When tho committees were raised
last winter, one Democrat was appointed on
each committee; but, by general consultation
among the Democratic members, none werc
permitted to serve. The reason is now be
ginning to make itself manifest. 1t wa
determined, by the Democrats, to give thu
investigation party cast, and to interpos'
every possible obstacle in the way of ex
posing these frauds to the people. But thu
Senator from Auglaize, the other day, il
giving the reason why the Democratic mem
bers of the Legislature refused to allow any
Democrat to serve on the committees, tc
see that everything was fairly done, as they
were urged to do by the Republicans, said
he was opposed to all such Investigations
because he never knew any good TO come
from them. The Senator might have add
ed another reason, more potent with some
gentlemen than the one given; that is be.
cause such investigations always expose the
frauds and corruplions of certain class Of
otiice-holders and politicians, who call them.
selves Democrats, and who lose no opportu
nifty of proclaining their love for the people
The votes of the people are necessary fol
them to carry out their schemes.
In 1889, an examination was made, by
order of Congress, into the defaulcations O
Democratic ofice-holders under the Gene
raj Government, which disclosed more cor
ruption, moro stealing from the treasury
and moro dcfaulters in number, than wa.
ever before discovered, in the same length
of time, in any Government in the knowr
world. 1t was shown concusively, by cor
respondence on file in the Treasury depart
mcnt, that men, were kept in office, montl
after month, and year after year, after thu
Secretary of the Treasury knew they were
defaulters. | will refer to one instance
which will servo to give pretty clear ides
of the dcpravity which pervaded the admin
istration of the General Government, n
that time. A prominent Democrat, by th,
name of Garche, was sent by the Secrctar,
of the Treasury, to examine into the olficia
accounts of one Gordon G. Boyd, Lane
Receiver in the State of Mississippi. HI
finds Mr.. Boyd defaulter, in tho sum o
$55, ,965 54. His predecessor was also +;
defaulter. | will read the advice this Dem.
ocrat gave to the Secretary of the Treasury
in regard to Mr.. Boyd:
~ am inclined to think, in common will
his friends, that he is honest and has beer
led away from his duty by the example o
his predecessor, and, and a certain loose
ness in the code of morality, which doe,
not move in solmited circle as it docs witt
us at home. Another Receiver would, prob
ably, follow in the footsteps of the two. You
will not, therefore, bo surprised if | recon-
mend his being retained, in preference to
another appointment; for he has his hand.
full now, and he will not be disposed tc
speculate any morep This advice seem;
to have been followed for time, for Mr.
BOYD was not removed until several month,
afterwards. Another Democrat was finally
appointed in his place, and, as Mr.. Garchc
predicted, followed in the footsteps of Mr.
Boyd, and his predecessor. He had no
been in Office but short time. before he
too, was found to be using the public money
for his private purposes; and no went out o
office defaultcr to largo amount There
wero undoubtedly, honest Democrats in the
Sfato Of Al;,e;,s;NU, t,f tho A lunsnictpnt;nt