The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-03-03
Bribery and Corruption.


The recent Investigations into the transact
tions Of the Navy Department under the Ad-
ministration Of Buchanan have developed a
system OF systematic corruption and bribery
in high places whice cannot but prove dis.
graceful to our Republican Government. 1t
was proved thatin the matter Of the appoint
ment of the agent for the purchase of coal,
the President interfered with the Secretary
OF the Navy and procured the appointment of
DR.. Hunter, of Reading, Pennsylvania, with
the agreement on his part that he would d.
vide the proceeds of the Office equally with
Getz, the editor of the Reading Gasstte, and
one ]. H. Smith. This arrangement was
made under the supervision CT Buchanan and
for the purpose of making the patronage pay
as far as possible. Gets testi6es to these
facts, and states- that he subsequently de-
clined to claim his third, and the emoluments
at the rate OF fifteen thousand dollars per
annum were shared equally between Hunter
and Smith.
Hunter was the nominal agent, and paid
Tyler, Stone 4 Go. 1.-THE company being rel
alive OF the Secretary of the Navy So. IS per
tun, when the ordinary price was $3.50. DIR.
Hunter never paid any attention to the mat
ter, but simply certified the certificates Of the
amount, quality, &C., OF coal made out by
the contractors without the slightest knowl-
edge of the subject. and without ever having
spent an hour in the discharge Of the duties
OF his agency.
Another case was that Of an old.line Wing
OF Massachusetts,. He spent time and money
to secure MIR. Buchanan's election, and was
recommended to him as possessed Of great
influence over the leading men Of Massachu-
sets. This Mr.. Swift, through these merits
and influences, obtained contracts for the de-
livery OF timber to the amount of over two
hundred thousand dollars. And subsequent
ly, by system of chicanery, rascality and
favoritism, resulting in the exclusion of CON-
petitors through Official connivance, Mr..
Swift procured other contracts to the amount
of $4,000. at his own prices, and on his
own terms. Through his transactio ns--all
OF which were promoted by the President and
Secretary OF the Navy-the treasury Of the
United States was unfairly swindled out Of q
large amount of money.
Similar abuses and equally glaring official
corruption exists in other matters. For in.
stance, in the contracts for machinery fol-
building ship, bids we're solicited by adyer
tisement, and the Novelty Works Of New
York city put in the lowest and best bid. II
the meantime, however, Col. Patterson, Q,
Philadelphis, wrote the following lotter tt
the President, and be sent it to the Secretar,
of the Navy, calling his attention to and en-.
dorsing it:
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. l3, 1858.
DEAR Sir: venture to suggest to you tn,
Importance or awarding the contracts for tn
machinery Of the sloop, now building ut tn
Navy Yard at this time, and, il it can b.
done without prejudice to the public service
to Merrick h Sons. Theirs is the onlv es
Establishment in the First District which EN-
pioys large number Of mechanics-at thi
time, 800; when in full work, $50.
The managing partners (Mr. NJ, sr., bein,
absent in bad healthy are full OF energy
strainlng every nerve to keep their force du
ring this depression, and, in 70 far as know
the only old Wings Of any influence in tina
District who are in favor Of the recollection
OF Col. Florence.
know, from former experience. the yalu
Of that influence, and feel persuaded that
IL the interest OF the Democratic party to in
oreaseit.
The First District will, hope, be carrie
in any event, but with that shop ut work, full
handed, two weeks prior TO the election. til
result would, think, be placed beyond a
DOUBT. With much respect,
w. G. PATTERSON.
The PRESIDENT.
Under this kind of pressure, Merrick
Sons got the contract, in violation of Law
which required the contract to be given
the lowest bidder, but in obedience to th
flower law" Of Democratic expedency.
Merrick 4 Son had polled several hundre
votes for the Democracy, and by aid Of til
contract thew would be able to carry the ne,
Congressional election.
ca The Davenport Nous, the leading 3,
chanan organ Of our State, advocates ii
nomination Of Gen. Dodge ms the Democra
ic candidate for Governor.
The Dubuque Herald admits that the poll
OF selecting candidate who has been out
the country for several years was successf
ia the case OF Buchanan, bat thinks tn
such game would not win after the EXP
rience the people have had in the premise
The Herald 10 in favor of faithful old W
horse who has been through the early
we'll as tie recent battles Of the party, an
without directly naming his man, clearly i
dicates N. L. Fisher.
~ Senator Grimes received summo
to be present at q special session OF the So