The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03
ASTOUNDING OFFICIAL CORRUP-
TION-THE PRESIDENT.

Official corruption in its various forms is al
most inseparable from human governments,
and instances of peculation, of fraud, and of
official brokerage, are by no means new in the
history of our country but never until now has
a President of the United States been detected
in giving his countenance to such transactions
| IDishonoring it is to our national character,
we feel it due to the truth of history and to an
outraged public morality to call attention to
the facts brought to light by the minority re-
port of the committee on naval contracts.
/ The committee directed their Investigations
to four distinct items of expenditure, viz:
| |. To the purchase of fuel for the navy
2. The purchase of live-oak timber.
3. The management Of the navy yards, and
especially that Of Brooklyn.
4. Contracts for steam machinery.
We begin by reciting the leading facts under
the first head. By the act Of September 18th,
1850, it was provided that
ain the article of fuel for the navy or naval
stations and yards, the Secretary of the Navy
shall have power to discriminate and purchase,
in such manner as he may deem proper that
kind of fuel which is best adapted to the pur-
pose for which it is to be used"
| In May, 1858, numerous applications were
made to the Secretary of the Navy, for the Office
of coal agent which was at that time held by
Benjamin Tyson. The mode of purchasing
coal, the selection of the agent, if needed, and
his compensation, we're entirely at the discre-
ton of the Secretary. The report continues:
"The coal business had largely increased so
that the amount annually purchased was, in
1858, about 5000 tons, being larger amount
than IN previous years, and the per centage
| yielded a larger salary. In May, 1853, some of
the applicants met at Washington, and at a
conference with each other and their friends.
(among whom was the Hon. J. Clancy Jones,)
it was agreed that DR.. Charles III. Hunter of
Reading, Pennsylvania, should be appointed
coal agent; and that the emol,tments the office
should be equally dirided bet,ceen himself John
+. Smith, and j. Laurence Getz, aoar1n personal
and political friends Of the President, ioho had
contributed largely TO has election Hunter
and Smith were both applicants for the Office
of coal agent; Getz was member of the Penn
sylvania Legislature, and then and now the
editor of the Reading Gazette. Each of the
parties above named was examined by your
committee and also C. Nicholas Beach, whose
| connection with the transaction will hereafter
appear.
| "Mr. Smith testified that he was in Wash
ington in May last, and was present whom the
arrangement for the appointment of Hunter
was made. That some of the applicants and
their friends had conversation to arran ge things
amicably, if they could. Finally it was agreed
that, if the Secretary would appoint either of
them, he should appoint DIR. Hunter, Mr. Getz,
and Mr. Smith. That the arrangement was
communicated to the Hon. j. CLANCY Jones,
then a member of this House, and that the
| President also understood that the epaolameats
Of the office acre to go TO the three. As this was
deemed important by the committee the witness
was examined and re-examined by different
members of the committee as to the knowledge
of the President; he repeated that the President
kneD that the three acre TO diride the emol,t-
ments of the office, and that the parties were
satisfied with the decision but he knew moth
ing about the arrangement, whether one-half
was to go to one party, and the other half to the
| other two, or not.
Mr.. Getz testihes, that he was at Washing.
ton at the time, and was informed of the ar.
rangement for the appointment of DR.. Hunter,
and that he (Getz) was to have onethird of the
profits. He agreed to it. with a mental reser-
vation.' He conversed with the President about
the appointment of DR.. Hunter, and the Presi-
dent said to him: MIR. Jones urged me to ap-
1 POAire you1 Seo you oAC no dppucanL; i nave
made up my mind to appoint DR.. Hunter
MIR. Beach &c. NichOls) testified, that he is
a nephew, by marriage, of the Secretary of the
| Navy that he was on intimate relations with
him; that he was in Washington when the ar
rangement of the appointment of DIR. Hunter
was made; that he was himself an applicant for
the office; that he conversed with Mr. Jones
about it; that he knew that the emoluments of
the Office were to be divided up among thes e
parties; and that it was matter of general rur
NOR in Washington, before and at the time
the appointment; that he talked with the Sec
rotary about the appointment of DIR. Hunter
and that the Secretary informed him that. az
the application was a Pennsylvania one, he
would defer to the wish of the President.
1t is to be remarked that, by law. the Pre-
'dent has nothing to do with the purchase of
coai. The only power in the matter is conferred
oy law upon the Secretary; yet it appears FROM
the testimony and the Secretary's admission to
dent
In pursuance Of the arrangement, Dr.,