The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-10
Alleged Corruption OF the General Govcra-


We print in this impression letter from Mr..
Toucey, the Secretary Of the Navy, in relation
to the manner in which the public business is
transacted in our dock yards. and to whom be-
longs the responsibility Of fraud, if fraud thcee
be- This letter contains calm, clear statement
Of the whole matter, and should be carefully
read by all who have received vague impress
tions from the loose statements Of the opposition
and dshy Democratic newspapers
Tho evidence taken before the Congressional
Committee in this navy yard affair showed thai
there was some corruption, or at least careless
administration, but failed to connect the govera-
nent with it. The cry of corruption in naval mat
ters is no new one. 1t has been raised ever since
The organization Of the British navy; time and
tine again the House of Commons has voted
censure upon the Admiralty, aud once in W.
Fam His time resolved that such maladminis-
trhtion amounted TO treason. Very recently
Parliament has been engaged in discussing the
naval reform question, which is simply how to
get moneys worth for money spent.
In this country, as we oil know, corruption
extends through nearly every department of the
federal, State and city government. But it is no
new thing; it commenced as long ago as John
Quincy Adams administration, and he is now
considered, and justly so, as one of the puress
and best Of the old school of statesmen, who
the exception that holds now a-days.
Coming down to the immediate predecessors
Of the present Executive, we shall find haud-
some record for those who are now 80 swift in
denouncing the President because some naval
officers have been cheated by some sharp traders
out Of few barrels Of pork or tons Of coal.
Let the opposition look at the Galphin frauds
which Mr.. Fillmore and his Cabinet swallowed
without wink. Look at all the other corrupt
jobbery Of that expensive administration. Then
we come to Pierce, who had full treasury
more money than Mr.. Guthrie knew what to do
with. But the kitchen cabinet-Forney, Pryor,
Heiss & Co.-were not troubled in that way.
They sworc by the Marcy precept, and, as victors,
seized as much of the spoils as they could carry
of. 1t was the era Of shameless extravaganza
and open corruption. The Presidents favorites
were up to their armpits in the public money
during the whole Of his administration.
When Mr.. Buchanan took office be found the
devises of two loose administrations weighing
down the treasury. Long immunity had made
the rats bold, and they now demanded as
right what they had before begged as favor or
stolen upon the sly. But Mr. Buchanan is an old
lire statesman, one of the school of Clay,
Webster, Calhoun and Jackson, and is, withaI,
q strict business man, which some of them were
not Mr.. Buchanan commenced setting his
house in order, and cleared the kitchen of such
stuff as Forncy, Pryor Il Co first. Put out in
the cold, what should these dogs, who had so
long curled themselves up in the warmest corner
of the kitchen Preside, do but turn about and
howl corruption against the memorable hand
that had cut off their supplies. That is the true
state Of the case, and every one familiar with the
workings of the executive part of the govern
ment knows it. A system OF swindiog has been
growing up for many years, and cannot be ar
rested without patient investigation and perse-
vering eDdeavors. II is this which Mr.. Buchanan
has been doing, and is doing now. Mr.. Toucey's
letter shows that this administration has COM
mepced system of naval reform, and corrected
some abuses which crept into the department in
Mr. FillmoIe's time. 1t is such q souvenir as that
which Mr.. Buchanan has to answer for. His own
record will, for purity, honesty and integrity,
hallenge comparison with that of the earlv
Presidents.