Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-28
From the Montpelier Waterman.
THE FORT SMELLING swINDLE.


THE FORT SMELLING swINDLE.
The evidence reported by the committee
of investigation is elaborate and embraces
rich revelations, one of which Is SO rich and
30 directly interesting to Vermonters that
copy it. The majority of tho Committee
comment with considerable force upon the
subjoined piece of testimony In the case
taking it as on illustration Of the too
general truth that party services are regard
ed as q sufficient consideration, not merely
for fat Offices, but for favors and "bargains"
at the expense of the government and the
people. | will give the evidence itself,
and let the reader Judge. The distinguished
gentleman interested will admit that to be
fair, though | suspect that he will insist also,
as good defence, that he only wanted fer
"bargain." BE that as it may, the confession
as to Vermont is too good to keep. l quote
from Report No. 35l, page AIS:
"Letter Of Paul DiN'ngham.
WATERBURY,, VT, May |, 1857.
Sir AS stranger to you, permit me to
introduce myself to you as Mr.. Dillingham;,
of Vermont. lived here from infancy, am
of good standing at the bar in this State
and always have been, and am yet, sound
reliable Democrat and thought never asked
an Office Of the General Government, and
don I mean to now, yet am none the worse
for that. 1possess some pecunary ability,
and have several relations and acquaintance
in Minnesota Territory, where | want to re-
move myself, so as to get out of a State where
genuine democracy is poorly thought of by
the great colored party who rule, and always
will here
/ notice that, by the legislation of the
past winter, the Secretary of War is author
lied to sell such lands and forts belonging to
the United States as are not longer needed
by them and it has occurred to me that,
under the authority, you will sell Fort Smell
ing, near which | would like to locate in
that Territory. When | say Fort Smelling,
I mean the land owned by the government in
| connection with the Fort.
If this property is to be sold, | very much
desire to purchase the whole or n part of it ;
and may not ask that if it is to be sold, you
will have the goodness to apprisc me of the
fact ; also of the mode can adopt to make
a definite offer? IF it is for sale should
esteem it favor-perhaps it is my right
but that do not discuss now-to be so in
formed, that may have chance for a bar
gain, and think should come to Washing
ton to confer personally with you.
Let me add another word as to myself.
was member of the 2Sth and Goth Congress
| Il thnk) from Vermont, and was very vel
acquainted with several members from Nir
ginia, among whom were George w. Hop
kins and Governor Mcdowell. Mr.. Cobb
the present Secretary of the Treasury, ant
Mr.. Thompson, Secretary of the Interior
will remember me well; so, | believe, thu
Postmaster General so ofany and all thu
| United States officers at Vermont, and be
lieve, on being referred to, will, any or all
vouch for me as man standing well whcr
eyer known.
Do you want to know why am anxious t.
get n good foot-hold in the West? ] Civ
the reason in few words ] have four fin
boys, the oldest Of which is now twent
years, and the youngest eight years, and
this is not enough will speak again.
Very respectfully your obd't serv't,
PAUL DILLINGHAM;.
ITO the Secretary of War"
Mr.. Dillingham; s grammar is some bette
than that of that distinguished Indianial
j. B. Foley. We can't account 70
the fact of no answer being given t
such a moving epistlc, unless it was because h
could not clearly remember when he was il
Congress. 1t is pity for the writer that h
did not tell the Secretary that while in Con
gress he was so ready to shun the vote whene,
crany question was taken in which the feeling
and interests of his constituents were cor
cerned, that he was very generally known b
the name of "PAuL DopcE,' while his vot,
in favor of the annexation of Texas and 9th,
pro-slavcry movements were proof enough
his subservicncy to the wishes Of his broth'
democrats Of the South We think that stat
ment would have brought the Secretary
his milk.