Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-03-04
dbr41ee Nxxas
BURLINGTONs
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 1, 1859.
CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES.

Were Hercules living in our day, task
could be set HIM which would staggcr him
m ore than all his famous labors twice told
What was the triling job of cleaning the
Augean stables in comparison with what a
| demand on him to clean away the corrup.
| tions of the Democratic Administration would
be? The reports of the Select Congressional
Committee on Naval contracts and Expcndi.
lures have been made. That of the majority
Messrs. Bocock, Groesbeck and Ready, aims
at excusing from blame the Secretary of the
Navy, the President, and others implicated in
the abominable corruptions and abuses which
the investigation has brought to light; but
the blickness Of the transactions is too in
tense to be concealed by all the whitewash
which they have been aole to apply.
The facts set forth i'll the report of the mi
nority, Messrs. Sherman and Ritchie, will
astonish the country From the long list of
Infamous abuses, we at this time take one.
The inquiry of your Committee into the
contracts for machinery for the vessels of the
United States has been mainly confined to the
contracts made for the machinery of the YES
sells now building under the act of June,
A. d. 1858.
On the Goth of July, scaled proposals were
invited by the Secretary of the Navy for the
steam machinery, &C., for the seven sloops of
war authorized by that act The specifica-
ti?ns did not prescribe the form, plan or de-
tails of the machinery, but promised draw
ing of the section OF the vessel to any one
making application therefor. 1t required
the bidder to guarantee certain results, such
as power, speed, economy of fuel and the like,
but lett the design aud the arrangement of
tue machinery with the party whose PROPOSE
ton should be accepted. Under these speci-
neat tons proposals were made by most Of the
leading marine engine builders in the United
States, accompanied IN each case by plans
and drawings.
Before the Secretary had passed upon any
Of the bills received, the following letter was
sent by Col. W. G. PATTERSON, OF Philadel-
phia, to the President
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 10, 1855.
DEAR SIR venture to suggest to you the i'm
portance Of awarding the contracts for the machine
ry OF the soop, now building at the Navy-yard at
this time, and, if it can be done without preudce
is the only establishment in the First District
which employs large number of mechanics at
his time, $50 ; when in full work, $50.
The managing partners (Mr. NJ, Sr., being ab-
'ent in bad healthy are full of energy, straning
'very nervc to keep their force during this dcpres
'ion, and, in so far a. l know, the only old Whqs
y any influence in hot Dstrict rho are in (avo, of
he Reelection of Coi Florence.
Iknop Jrom former experience the value of that in.
yr'"e' and leei PERSUADED that Is the interest ofthe
Democratic Party TO increase 1t.
The First District will, | hone be carried in
my cvrnt nth that shop at ,o,rk, (uR handed tpo
rteks pri,r 10 the eiect,on the result wouid think
'e placed 6,yond all doubt.
With much rcspcct
The President. W. PATTERSON.
This letter was sent to the Secretary of the
Navy by the President with this indorse-
nent.
SEPT Is, 1865.
The nclo.ed from Col. Paterson, of Philadcl-
'hia, is submitted 10 the attention Of the Secretary
II the Navy. j. b.
Just look at that picture, and remember
hat this Mr.. j. B. (James Buchanan,) is
he gentleman who few weeks ago, wrote
most pathetcally IN the Dusquesne letter,
lbout the dangers to our free institutions,
rom the use of money iu elections OF
course MERRIcK & Sons got the contract.
although eminent builders of character made
proposals to do tho work for a much less sum
han they did. Perhap, the innocent reader
nay think this was solitary instance of
such favoriteism. Not at all For the seven
loops, the amonnt of the accepted bi
'eedcd that Of the lowest bids, made
~ parties of high ability, by no less than
sG2, 600.