American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-03-10
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0eTtAklnS- ~ Is y sctNico Ot StSAb hNluc
to the country, andits faithful execution
connot fail to have wholesome eject up
on government officials dishonesty inclined.
Such duty Mr.. SnERMAN has performs
ed IN regard to some of the corrupt doings
of The Navy Department; and although
three OF the committee have shown de
ci6ed inclination to whilewash the chief
offenders, he has succeeded in drawing out
an array of facts fully substanLiatipg the
Original cbslges. and securing the popu'
lar condemnation Of Secretary TeucEf. as
an officialno longer entitled TO confidence,
Ii remains 10 be seen whether the Admin
istration will continue to fellowship so un'
worthy a Cabinet officer and retain him IN
the exalted position be has thus dishonSred-
Ii SO, it will be conclusive evidence. IN
Confederation Of the strong indications ell
icted by this investigation. that the Pres
ident himself is party 10 the Seoretary's
crimes.
Let us note, first Of all, the conclusions
in regard to this subject, in which Oa the
committee agree. These unanimous opin-
ions, without recurring in detail to the
facts on which they are tasee. will be
accepted by all candid men as true, at
least 60 far as they GO. Both sides had
full opportunity to be heard. The commit
Tee was made up OF two Democrats. two
Republicans. and one Southern hmeri-
can wlo has strong inclination 10 tue
administration side. And these five men,
epresentiDg each Of the parties in Con-
gEess las they existed at the time OF their
election) substantially 'gree on the follow
ing points;
| /. That GLAZING ABUSES exist in regard
10 the management Of affairs at the Brook
lyu Navy Yard, and that these are 30
flagraut in their character as to require
Congressional action for their reform.
2. That the Secretary Of the Navy has
entrusted his usl contracts TO wholly in
compete Mt persons, end that here also is a
grave abuse demanding reform.
These concessions, from persons who
are strongly interested 10 smooth over the
conduct Of the Secretary Of the Navy. are
conclusive in themselves against him.
But when the particulars. as found by this
investigation, NE detailed at length in the
Minority Report. without any attempt to
discredit them or explain them away, on
the part Of the rest Of the committee, we
are able to get at the exact N, aning OF tie
crnsures and are'entitled TO regard the detail
fthese ACQUISITIONS as fully assented to by
the committee. In regard TO the Coal A
gency,it is proved that certain percentage
was divided among the leading Democrat
ic politicians in J. CLANCY JONES district,
(the oLj, Ct Of which we can readily infer J
aud that the business itself was improperly
and unfairly managed into the hands OF a
Philadelphia finn, Of which Mr. TcUcEY's
nephew was member. AS a matter OF
course. the 'incOmpetency. nepciism and
corruption Of the case are such AS the Sec
rt tary il directly responsible for, whatever
his attempts to shrink accountability.
As the Navy Yard abuses. which the
entire commit 0 rgre,d to exist in a
'glairing" degree We have also some
most. disgracefnl facts, as TO which the
whhewasheIs 30 not even clAimthat Sec
retary or the Executive was ignorant.
1t is proved that Mr.. Toueey himself
entered into compact with the New Yo'k
members Of Congress. 10 have the patron
age o the Brooklyn Navy diuidsd eaqualy
among said ntn,bers. The various offices
were apportioned out. and new ones crea-
ted as the exigeBcies Of this compact
required. Between May and November
LIST. eiev0n hundred uDrkmsn were added
: TO those already employed there of course
} ma'nly for no earthly reason lut to FUR
nish Democratic votes at weak point. and
to secure the reelection of Mr.. SIcKLEs,
} which was greatly in danger The me
thing was done in greater or less degree,
at Pbilad. lpbis. it will be remembered, 10
aid in tleclng Mr.. FLoeENoE Circum-
stances were proved showing conrlusivey
the political object Of this immense Increase
in the number Of workmeu, who were
otherwise not needed.
The celebrated live oak contract by
which SWIFT. who gave $4,000 to aid the
election Of Mr.. BUCHANAN, got highly
advantageous contract, in spite OF other
more favorAble bids. and in violation oflawi
, is mildly slurred over by the majority, bu'
its thorough corruption is exposed in the
testimony reported by tie minority. The
same is true Of the fraudulent and Illegal a
ward Of contract to Mtrric & Sons, after
sNassurancs had been given to tie Presi
dent that this should secure the election oil
/, Mr.. FLoRENcR. A like fraudulent con
tract was eutrrsd into, with tho Reading
Forage Company, for the benefit Of }
CLANCY JONES, who received five per cen
/ on the same
These ravori;isms, and such as these, II
, gross violation Of law, have been carriet
on to such an extent as to destroy all public
| confidence in the official integrity OF Mr.
3 ToucEY. and in such way as to lead Il
, the b liefthnt they were at least partially
Q known 10 the President himself. Ii no
D an accomplice before the fact, he is sucl
D after these disclosures. if Mr. ToUcEY is lon
ger continued in the Cabinet
4 In view OF all the testimony, instead
, the above general and indeed. severe cen
n sures, iu which we have said the Who'll
Committee unite, we think the folowin
$ points have been fully established, as insl'
!. ted on by the minority, and should b
!. adopted by Congress as the sense OF thu
G body:
o 1. Secretary ToUoEY abused his powe
7. in selecting Coal Agent, and in Purcha'
ing fuel for the Government.
a Th. l;va oak cootracl with SWIFT W1