Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-02

We propose to look little into the details Of the
hove statement.
We fad that the opposition clerk hire cost over
hat Of the Democratic, the sum Of $751; "a.
The item Of miscellaneous slcns iesves diner
snce against the opposition Of $64o92 Il
In the mere folding Of members speeches sno
books, there stands against the opposition tae eror
nous sum of $57,26s So.
In binding there lie the trifing amount IN iAVOr OF
Democratic economy over that Of the opposition OF
sll4,slO "a.
In reporting and publishing proceedings So
1877 40
Democratic horses and carryalls cost S4,SS1 %
less than those Of their antagonists
cULLom during his term Of service charged the
government with 81 ,s1s.7S for saddle horses
horses and carrisges and earryalls, During the
Two wears for which this outrageous expenditure
was made Congress was in session net more than
tws,xa months and in that period CuLLOM spent
sl1e 6S additional for omnibus teksta' making N
all sII 9Ss, Ss for conveying members 81 congress
and their Clerk from one part Of the city Of wash
;Doton TO another. II an equal number Of their
constituents spent one tenth Of that amount Ine
country would become bankrupt in two years.
For Furniture for the Horse Of Representatives CuL
ION spent S2s e46 80 more than his predecessor We
win show how General CULLoM managed to increase
this item of expenditure so largely.
We find on page 500 of the report Of the committee
appointed to investigate the official conduct and
accounts Of WILLIAM CuLLoM, late clerk Of the
House of Representatives the following statement
made on oath by Capt. MEIes before said committee
In reply to the question from the committee with ref
erenee to the purchase of carpet for the new Hail.
Capt. MEIGs said:
s.Just before was to close the bargain, general
CULIoM called upon me and said that he considered
it his province to furnish the hall After some
yersation in which be told me that he had fund
appropriated by Congress at previous session, out
of which he could pay for this Competing, ssid that
had no desire to interfere with What he seemed to
consider portion Of his duty"
Again on page 500, Cspt. MEIGs says;
ale General CullOml said by rule of the House,
all matters pertaining to the furnishing Of the
House came within his province, as clerk OF the
House of Representatives, and that IL undertook
! ii, 1 would be interfering with his duties"
CULLoM knew that furnishing houses with two
millions of dollars to draw on, was profitable
business, and he made his purchases according to
his means. ls.
The Committee, majority Of whom we're Gen,
CULLoM's political friends, and aided in electing
him to his Ofi,e, report, [pags 81 as follows
"But more striking instance of the working Of
the system is found IN the furnishing, With carpets
and cushions, of the New Han. The Superin'en-
dent engaged upon the Capitol extension, supposing
that this fell within his province had selected car
pet in this city at the price of ST. per yard laid
down; but was informed by the Clerk thar he con-
sidered this as part Of his official duty, under the
resolution already referred to- In this view, hs
was undoubtedly correct, and the Superintendent
| very cheerfully and gladly acquiesced in it. He
wrote to the Clerk giving him some suggestions
about the matter and the Clerk addressed note tC
| the brakeman employed as general fuInisher, au-
| thorizing him Fo do such upholstery and othel
| work in the New Hall Of The House of Represents
lives and its Galleries as Captain Meigs might de
signste and direct Under This authority he pro-
ceeded and procured the identical carpet selected
by the Superintendent and presented to the Con-
MIFrEE ON ACCOUNTS q bill at two dollars per yard
and twenty five cents yard for laying it down, ma
king & profit Of nearly q thousand dollars on thu
single item"
Here CULLoM shows less than his usual adroitness
Capt. Meigs had contracted for the purchase ans
| laying down Of carpet at 81, rs yard. CULLOs
contends that it is his right and duty to buy thi
carpet Capt. MEIGs yields the point CULLoh
writes his uphosterer to furnish the Hall according
to MEIGs' directions, which he does, and charges
| the Government 81, for the same carpet tina
MElas had contracted for at 81, yard. Tat
only motive under Heaven which CULLoM could
have had for interfering With MEIGs in the purchase
of this carpet, was the profit Of one thousand dol
lars, taken from the U. S. Treasury. The uphol
sterer was ordered to follow MEIGs instructions, h
purchased and put down the carpet under his din &c
tions, and the only result of CULLoN's taking th'
matter Of the purchase out Of the hands of MEIG
was the difference of thousand dollars in the cos
to the government. The report which diseloses thi
transaction is not signed by the members CT thu
Committee 1t was delayed until near the close 0
the last session of Congress- when the House had nj
tire to act upon it. Il was prepared, we believe
by HORACE MAYNARD, the Chairman of the Com
mittee, personal and political friend of CULLOM
who acts throughout the examination more an ad
vocate attempting to cloak and conceal the guilt
3 client, than as fair and honest Judge striving t.
elicit the facts Accordingly, sitter detailing thu
circumstances above, proving to every unbiased
mind the base object which Influenced CULLoM il
this matter, the report continues:
1t is proper to add that the testimony shows tina
these profIs, considerable as they appear, we're en-
joyed by the tradesmen alone, nelIher the Clerl
nor any of mis- subOrdinates participating in them
This evident attempt to shield CULLoM from mer
tied indignation will juttly subject its author t.
eensure Mr.. MAYNARD is an ingenious lawyer
but he should not attempt to practice the tricks of
attorney when acting IN judicial capacity. He cal
not convince intelligent men that CULLOM would b
guilty of the folly of taking the matter out Of tn
hands Of MEIGs and placing it in the hands Of
tradesman under MEIos' directions, without sharin
the profits Of the increased price paid by the Gov
ernment which is The only particular in which sn,
alteration was made after CULLoM took charge Of tn
business.
This man [CULLOMl is e trusted and hOnors
member of his party, and he is endorsed and eulO
gized by Col. NETHERLAED, their nominee for Gov
ernOr.. Col NErHERLAND and his party think CUL
LON worthy to fill positions Of public trust and VI
cannot expect them to furnish any better.
We shall continue our examination Of the expen
ditures of this Opposition House in our next issue