The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-21


had the folly to take bonus of $2,250 in his
own name. The committee report that the
Superintendent was in the habit of receiving
paper inferior to the SAMPLER recognition,
of course, of per centage to his accomphce.
By an arrangement with Seaman, Wendell, the
Public Printer, was employed as the special
agent for all the paper contractors being
the very person who should complain of an in
ferior article. In this way the editor of the
organ realized the snug sum of $4,000.
Seaman was in the habit of borrowing money
as we'll from the paper contractors as the en-
gravers aud photographers. From one firm he
received $l2, 282.3l, and from an individual
member of the firm $4,000. No security was
taken for these loans, and they were not repaid.
With another party Seaman made a contract
for all the paper the house could supply, in con-
sideration of which arrangement the Superin-
tendent received an annual stipend of 81 ,000
$50 much for the vilainous practices of Wen
dell and Seaman. These angelic individuals
were bound together by the most criminal con-
nection. Seaman was the officer of Govern
ment, whose duty it was, if necessary, to reject
the paper furnished; while Wendell, as the
Public Printer, used the paper, knew its quail
ty, and was the only person to complain of its
inferiority. They confederated to levy tribute
from the contractors, and to defraud the Govern
ment by every conceivable expedient. Notwith-
standing the cleverness of these two consum-
mate rascals, and their studious endeavor to
cover up their tracks, the committee convict
them of receiving brides and bounties-the
former to the amount of $39, 000 and the latter
to the amount of $4,000. Of course, these
figures do not represent the full extent of Sea-
man and Wendell's operations. In the main,
their practices were such as to elude detection !;
! and tvha how MT no IOh bpy
were careful to assume an almost impenetrable
disguise. Still, enough is ascertained to show
that both Seaman and Wendell have plundered
the treasury upon system, and have incurred
exposure to the penalty of Imprisonment in the
penitentiary. The committee conclude their
report with an assignment of Seaman to the
tender mercies of the District Attorney; but
| they recommend no prosecution against Wen
dell. In fact, throughout his report, the chair
man betrays painful reluctance to criminate
the editor of the organ Why so? Is it be-
cause Of an anxious concern for the interests of
the party? Or be there truth in the rumor
that the Hon. Mr. Taylor, of New York, is
somehow in Wendell's power?
| "These are astounding developments but
they are of piece with the prevalent practices
i'll the Federal capital From the byways and
highways of the Government, the rottenness of
corruption sends forth an insuferable stencil.
Why are the people so patient? Why slum-
bers the Indignation of the Democracy? See
they nothing discreditable in the fact that the
organ of the Administration is under the
ostensible control of detected swindler? Have
they no word of surprise when they discover
that the President retains Cornelius Wendell
as his confidential organ after the public
and official exposure of Cornelius Wendell s
corrupt practices as fnnctionary of Govern
ment? Cornelius Wendell is still Public Print
er-not in name, but in fact; is there no popu-
lar protest against the connivance of Congress
in his employment since the discovery of his
| frauds and populations Others may be in
different to such an ignomny but, for our
selves, we intend to lash the malefactor till the
party is purged of his infectious presence, and
the treasury is protected against his piratical
operations"