Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-13
Frauds upon tho Government.
From the Lynchbury Tirginion.l


Of frauds, as developed by the Investigating
Committee, in connection with the Coal
Agency at Philadelphia. 1t was proved
that the Office was given 10 practising phy-
stefan, without any reference whatever IL his
qualifications: and that the enormous COM
missions which were received. ont OF me
Treasury, were divided among three polltl-
clans, with the view Of reimbursing them
for the money which they had contributed
towards the election of Mr.. Buchanan. 1t
was also shown that the nominal Agent paid
no attention to the duties OF the office, but
entrusted the whole matter TO another man,
who charged half dollar per ton more tor
the coal than other dealers would have fur
nished it at-and who charged double as
much coal 10 the Government rs had ever
been furnished before in the same length OF
time. Whether all of the coal charged was
actually delivered or not must remain
question of doubt, Ia say the least OF 1t.
Suspicious rs these developments are,
they are mild and harmless i'll comparison
with those relating to the contracts for FUR
nishing the Government with ''Live-Oak. a
kind of wood much used in Navy Yards in
1t appears that in 1854, man by the
name Of Swift, living in New Bedford. Mas
sachusetts, entered into a arrihen agreement
with George Pitt, of Philadelphia, promi-
nent politician. and an intimate personal
friend Of Mr.. Buchanan, to this effect: Putt
was to use his influence III obtaining llye-oak
contracts for Swift, for which the latter was
to allow him ten per cent upon the receipts.
During the Presidential canvass OF lSJo,
Pitt introduced Swift to Mr. Buchanan and
recommended him in warm terms. Pitt, at
that time, was Treasurer of the Democra-
tic State Central Committee Of Pcnnsylva-
nia--and, in this capacity. received from
Swift sixteen thousand dollars, which was
contributed by Swift and his friends, ITO
be used in the pending election
Mr.. Buchanan, SO the evidence shows,
was informed before the election that MIR.
Swift was an old-linc Wing, who had come
over To his party, and was taking an act're
part in the ciertio"; and he was subsequent
ly n.toymed Of the amount contributed by
Swift"
Thus it appears that Swift contributed
sixteen thousand dollars to Mr. Buchanan b
election, and that Mr.. buchanan knem it,
There is no evidence that Mr.. buchanan
knew of the ten per cen: that Pitt was to
get on all contracts awarded 10 Swift.
Now let us see what was the result. MIR.
Buchanan was inaugurated President, March
18th, 1857. Before December Of that gear,
.SmiH hua receiced Hre-oak contracts dmoHnf-
ing IN raiue 10 tro h"ndred oHd M'rty-t~o
MouSand nine hundred and forty dollars
There were other competitors for the con-
tract, and 1T icrer rdirS than Swltts bid
but, under the pretencc Of Immediately
wanting the timber, (which was not the
CASE the Secretary of the Navy awarded the
contract to Swift Swift'S original contract
was to receive from the Government one dot
Tar and thirty cents per cubic foot. Another
firm offered to furnish a portion Of the tim
ber-one hundred thousand cubic feet-tor
SSl, 750-less han doilar a foot Their
bid was accepted at first. but the contract
was subsequently annullcd, and given to
Swift
The evidence before the Committee shows,
too, that Swift's timber was OF inferior quail
". The Report says: prior to June, lS3S,
Swift brought to some of the Navy Yards
large quantities Of livc-oak which was re-
jecieI: some of it because the size was be-
low that prescribed by the contract, and
some for its inferior quality This reJcc-
ted timber, instead of being removed from
the Navy Yards, as the law requires, was al
lowed to remain there, and was subsequent
" bough and paid far by the Government.
Now, upon this statement of facts, we ask
the verdict of the intelligent reader. 1t is
plain story throughout. How was 1t that
Swift could afford Ia contribute sixteen
thousand dollars to help to carry Pennsylva-
MIA for Buchanan, and TO pay Pitt ten per
cent. on the contract besides: Manifcstly.
by expecting TO receive, as he did receive.
an unfair contract from the Government,
and being paid for his timber infinitely
above its value There is no other explana-
ton of it.
We would like TO know what the differ
ence is, practically, between stealing from
the Government in this way, and the ieloni-
Gus breaking open the vaults OF the Sub
Treasury with crow-bar, and carrying Oft
the money at the dead Of night? If any
thing. the latter is more honest-for in the
first instance, the money, by the conteSs'on
Of the parties Themselves, was used in cor
rupting the integrity of the people, and faint
ing the purity Of the elective franchise.
Does anybody suppose that this IS an ex-
ceptional case? If 50, let him be unde-
ceived. There are hundreds of other frau
ducnt contracts made every year, very near
" akin to this one The only difference is.
that the others are not found out, rhile thus
one uas. And probably this one never
would have been found out, but for the
fact that Swift, who is rare one after
he got the contract. refused to pay Pitt his
ten per cent-and Pitt in the language Of
the burglars, "blowed" on him. Pitt even
went so far rs To consult Mr. Buchanan as to
the propriety of his suing Swift in Court
of law for his ten per cent. And, according
to Pitts own testimony, the President told
him he "sau no objecti1n Ia his doig so"
Thus endeth the second lesson. The 9TH
ers will follow in due time. Was Mr..
Toombs right, or was he wrong, when he
said "this is the mast corrupt Government
upon earth ?"
In our preceding numbers we have shown
that the patronage of the Navy Department,
in two glaring instances was bestowed upon
political favorites, without reference to JUS
tce or right, and wholly in disregard Of
every consideration Of economy. The Coal
\ gency al Philadelphia was given to poll,
tician who knew nothing about coal, and
neglected the office entirely. though drawing
AN enormous salary-and the contract for
furnishing the Navy with livc-oak was
awarded 10 a man who had contributed six