The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-01-27
Gbe Qnion T. gournal.
BiddefOrd, Me-, Friday Morning, Jan. 81, 1860.
Why no Reports

w nv w UON NAN NOAhAhANNNN VA WV NNh
de(alcation report? The written disclosure
of Peck has now been in their hands for q
whole week. We have heard various yer-
sions as 10 what these disclosures are, but
have refrained from publishing them, only
because we had supposed, ere this, the whole
confession would have been given to the pub
lie in an authoritative form. Tho reports
referred to allege that large amounts OF the
missing funds Of the State, were expended to
carry the elections in thethree closely con-
tested congressional districts Of the State IN
1853, some $4,000 of the amount having
gone into the hands of ID. f. Somes to secure
his return to Congress in the LIST District
That there is some foundation for these re-
ports we cannot doubt, and we again ask
why the committee (all but two Of whom
are Republicans) don't let the public know
all about il? The people want to see the
facts and they then will decide whether the
use to which their money has been applied
meets their approval. Rumor sets the whole
amount expended for the outrageous purposes
above suggested, at nearly forty thousand
dollars! We cannot believe the sum is 80
large, but we have no doubt that the dis
closed frauds and cOrruptions will absolutely
startle the people Of Maine.-EG'tern Argus.
In common fairness it would seem but just
TO allow the Committee 1.-TWO Of whom are
democrats, and who have the power to bring
the matter to the attention of thc1egislature
iftherc is any improper delay,) time for a
thorough sitting Of the matter. 1t would be
better the thing be done well than quickly.
We have heard rumors, and we are quite
certain that there is some foundation for
them, that some Of the Argus political
friends residing in Bangor who ale mixed up
with Mr.. Peck in his Canada speculations,
are needed at Augusta, have been called for,
but arc somewhat dilatory in appearing be-
fore the committee. Wehope the committee
will not hurry themselves simply 10 accom-
date the Argus or papers of that stamp
These papers can be prOftably employed Tor
the present, and crafty their desire to lay
bare deialcations of politicians, and tho cor.
ruptions Of administrations by exposing the
facts connected with their Official friend at
Washington, who several months ago was
obliged to leave good place on account OF
large deficiency in his cash account, and
in giving tho facts recently established by
Senator Brown of Mississippi in the recent
debate in the United States Senate by which
IL appeared that some forty thousand dollars
were paid as corruption fund to support
the Presidents organ, the Constitution, and
two Buchanan organs in Pennsylvania, out
of the profits Of the public printing. We
know nothing relative TO the time when the
committee will report, but we know some
thing of the difficulties attending the rapid
progress of legislative committees, and the
causes which occasion delay. The members
of the investigating committees are promi-
nent members on other committees, and OF
course, have duties on them which occupy
portion Of the time. The people will make
allowances for these things, and will be sat-
isfed il hcreport when made is full, explicit,
and states the matter 50 that all connected
Herewith are dealt justly by. No matter
who is compromised by the facts, what may
be their position or standing in society, or
tho character of their political predictions,
ue have no doubt the committee will lay
them bare. Let them, as no doubt they will,
probe them to the bottom
We have no disposition to anticipate their
report, except to say that there is degree OF
absupIity about some OF the current reports
to which the Argus refers. which is truly
laughablc.
The Argus speaks about the report OF
thirty or forty thousand dollars having been
expended in electiOneering, I" in carrying the
three closely cOntestedcongrcssiOnal elections
in 1883" Such a superstition is most alb
surd. We do not speak against the incom-
patiblenes Of tho Argus, but 1t is quite GER
tain that such an amount Of money expended
Is the Argr, intimates, would have made cad
havoc in the ranks Of its political friends,
and made its party vote many thousands
leaner than II was.
So far a. this Congressional Districts con-
ccmcd, the probability is that the amount,
which went into the hands Of d. Z. SOmes,
the representative in Congrsss FROM this Dis
tzict. II any, was wed To prop up falling
end unfortunate businsss in the ordinary