Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-15

Gen. Culiom told me, Id the conversation in De-
cember, that ne had made some arrangements with
members about the books aud that he should not be
able to give me an order fer the number Of books
which was l4l, as l understand
By the Chairman:
Question. Did he tell you what those arrange |
ments were?
Answer do not know that can repeat his very /
words throughout. From the practices which com
mon report had assigned TO this book business, |
inferred from Gen. Cullom's conversation that I
number Of members Of Congress had preferred 10 |
take money instead Of the books.
By Mr.. Curry.
Question. What is yonr best recollection Of what |
he stated?
Answer. Gen. Cullom said he had been obliged |
to yield 20 some of the members 10 use his own
words-O yield TO the rqpaeity Of Of the members
t0ho sranted Roney and therefore could not expect aa
order for the whole amount
Here it will be seen tLst Gen. CULLoN's own
friend, Mr.. sEAroS thought he had been guilty
Of official misconduct in Specializing the
books purchased by the Government for the use
of the people No one who has any correct idea Of
moral duty fail to condemn such gross frauds
upon the Government as these. First, Know
Nothing Opposition House votes $4,000 of the
peoples money to buy books Ostensibly for their
constituents We find them, however, selling
these books at reduced prices to their Opposition
Clerk, who sells them again at Government prices
to other members. Thus appropriation made
pretendedly for the circulation of useful infOrms-
tim, is divided out between the members Of the
Opposition Congress and their CLERK. In this way,
under Opposition rule, the House of Representatives
would appropriate large every session for the
purchase of books for distribution, and their Clerk
could simply divide the sum between himself and
his friends who voted for the appropriation,
1t is certain from the evidence that Gen. CULLoM
did not deliver to members the lumber Of books or
dered in the resolution Of July 7, 1886. In great
number Of cases he gave the members money in
stead of books, thus defeating the object CT the
law, d0frsuding the people, whose money had been
spent for these documents, and realizing, no doubt
for himself some Of the prOats which he expected
to derive FROM the passage of the Book Resolution
We leave the reader to judge whether he did not
also participate in the bonus which his agent, Mr.
TYLER, extorted from GALES sEAroS.
We again quote from Mr.. STATIONS eTidence
By Mr.. Curry:
Question. Is your recollection distinct as to the
use Of the word 'rapaciy?"
Answer ! an confident ne used that word. As
free and friendly conversation, did not go into
it at all until the Chairman required me TO state
what passed in the conversation in all respects.
By Mr. Cullom:
Question, Do you consider that 1t would be a vie
olslion of my official duty if at any time did take
books good as yours from members and furnish
them to others!
Answer Under the letter of the law the Clerk
was not required in express terms 10 purchase the
books Of the publishers; but they could only be got
elsewhere 5y purchasing those that the government had
already bought and placed in dpositories throughout The
country for public o5ct-that is to say for the use of
snbers and access JOT their oonsttuents-for fhst is
the and object which the Whos plan of stri
button resLs-L thought violation Of the proper duty
of the Clerk to purchase these books elsewhere than of
the publishers, he Vouid not thereby thar
distribution IN the country, but you'd TestTst and
dues their circulation, besides tazng the treasury for
6osks already bought and paid for By the gOperHmeat
because # the books to successive Con-
crosses yoE might make one set alone do that
1 thought it the duty Of the Clerk to purchase ad-
ditional and new books, to purchase the same
books and again would defeat the intention
of the distribution. That is my view of the case
By Mr.. Curry:
Question: Did Mr.. Cullom ever tell you that he
had given Mr.. Tyler contract to furnish these
books?
Answer. l do not recollect that he used the
word contract" understood that Mr.. Tyler was
his employed agent.
Question. Did you understand that from what
Mr. Cullom said to you?
Answer. Mr.. CulIOm put me into the hands of
Mr. Tyler, as the person. employed by him to carry
out the resolution of July 7, 1856; remember tn at
l asked Tyler how long he had been employed by
the Clerk on this business he said that Cen Gull
lom had put the business in his hands as early as
the day after the resolution passed.
Question. My object was to get, as well as you
can reeOlIeet the language used by Gen. Cullon in
speaking to you of Mr.. Tyler, when he said that he
had placed the matter in his handsi
Answer. The chefrsason assigned by the Clerk,
if remember correctly, was, that Tyler had had
the matter in hand under his order he did not know
how msDy copies he would want to execute the re-
solution, and he would send Tyler to me, who would
act for him, and tell me how many copies he want
cd; and whatever he ordered or agreed to General
CullOm would sanction and give the order for.
Question Had there been any intImstiOn made
TO you from any quarter until it was mada by Mr..
Tyler.
Answer. Except what Mr.. CuIlom said to Mr.
Decide, that there preiminaries to be settled
There was very general impression that this book
business was money -making bu- mess upon the
part of the Clerk. We had been informed that some
body had offered the Clerk large amount Of money
some S30000-for the privilege Of filling this re-
solution.
This HUGH TYLER, who, Mr.. SEAToN says, acted
CULLoM's agent in this infamous affair, had been
convicted of the grOsseit corruption while acting
as agent for the payment Of annuities TO the
Indian tribes, having withheld from them S41O 900,
to which they we're entitled. See Senate Doc, No.
81, 1st session, SD Congress-
We leave this evidence and these facts to the
sideratiOn of our readers. They may judge from
these developments to what extent the councils of
the nation will be improved and purified by another
Opposition victery.
The Banner adopts, "from q cotemporary," an
enumeration of instances in which, is charged,
| Mr.. BUCHANAN "has shown disregard and
tempt for the people" Here is the list;