Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-02-23
The Buchanan Corruption Fund.

The Buchanan Corruption Fund.
Several weeks ago we noticed that char
ges had been made against Geo w Bow
man, which the Democrat of this place il
It's usual set phrases denied and made ou
that we were liable to Indictment. Since
then Senate committee has been taking
testimony on the subject, the plth of which
letter writer gives as follows:
The developments made before the Printing
Investigation Committee at Washington show
that some seven or eight parties were interest
ed IN the public printing namely, Steadman
Banks, Mclean, Walker Rice Seyerns. and
Bowman Wendell stated that he had paid
out during the past three years over Sl00OOC
for party support to newspapers and ia aid OF
election expenses, in Pennsylvania principal
", but extending oSer New Jersey, New York,
Maryland, Ohio, &c. Considerable had been
PAID by ottcial authority, and some Of his
Uwn free will. He also stated. that BIZ the
action of the Senate in electing Bowman who
had given the work to Blair and Riyes he had
been left penniless, with the largest establish
ment in the Union lying idle Bowman
conduct toward Wendell was shown I'D in a
very bad light. Bowman. itappears, has gic.
en- part Of tie p0rk to JeCeit, editor of the
Fillmore organ at Bufalo!
Wendell testified that out Of the Post Office
blank printing he paid, in 1857 the sum of
S6OOO to the Pennsylvania newspaper of
Philadelphia, and to the Evening Argus of
Philadelphia the sum of $1,000. He informed
the committee that he went into doubtful dem.
Ocratc districts in Pennsylvania, and spent
money freely for the benefit of the supporters
OF the policy of the administration. Mr..
hie", OF the PennSyivanlan, was also before
the committee, and did not discredit the tes:i.
mony Of Wendell. The latter also testified
that or the Goth of March last he contracted
with gen. Bowman to transfer the Union
newspaper to him, and pay him (Bowman)
the sum of $4,000 per annum towards its
support; said payment to continue so long as
he Wendel) contiued in the performance Of
the executive printing and binding, as then
established; and that, in the event of Bow
mans election as Senate printer, Wendell was
to perform the work at rates to be agreed uu-
on-the Attorney General and Senator A. O.
L. Nicholson to be umpires. Wendell further
declares that In pursuance Of this agreement
he paid Bowman $1,000 on the llth of April
following, and has since that time given orders
to Bowman tor money due him (Wendeln for
printing Post Office blanks for the balance
Alter Bowman was elected printer he repudi-
ated all these fair agreements, Wendell saws,
forgot the many thousand dollars he had re,
celved for the physical nutriment of the Con
stltutlon newspaper, and entered into a con
tract with John e. Rives to execute q norton
of the work, while other portions CONSISTING
of Post Office blanks, he has ayran0ed fo har9
executed By Je,cet, tie publisher of that Eno,n
Aothtng organ, tie Buffalo Commercial i'd
rertiser.
Add to the disclosures the assertion thai
Wendell has to support also the Pennsvlvoni.
an and the Evening Argus, coupIe Of anna
rently not over prosperous PhiIadelnhia news
papers; that he alleges be has to sustain other
newspaper starvelings, and herd of beggarly
hangers-on-as Steadman Banks. Mclean,
walker Rice, Severns, &c-and a pretty
good insight is given into the corruntion Of
this gigantic swndling job of the public
printing.
In addition to the above startling dis
closures Of plumber and corruption the
Philadelphia North American gives the
following from its correspondent:
An extraordinary but not unexpected de.
VeIopment was made before the printing in.
vestigati6n Of the Senate on Saturday. Mr..
AegaFge Of Philadelphia testified, amonc
other things, that he had received between
tour and five thousand dollars from Mr.. Wen.
dell, IN 1896, to be applied to the purpose of
Organizing a third party in that city, to one.
rate upon the gubernatorial and presidential
elections, which the democracy considered
absolutely essential rs a means of carrying
the State. This general fact was well under.
stood at the time, but it was not known then,
as now, that the public money was thus
shametully appropriated TO partisan object
The funds so used were derived from the
profits of the public printing, and other iobs
so that 1t may be said they were virtually tn
ken from the treasury, and corruptly distrib
uted to affect the elections While honest
men in Philadelphia and the eastern part OF
the State supposed they were sustaining 8
principle in supporting q third organization
1t turns out they were only the dupes Of vile
tricksters, who had been purchased to set that
ball in motion, under the inspiration of man
ayers at this capital and with money provided
by assessments levied upon Office holders and
contractors. The whole scheme was contrived
here, and while tens Of thousands of dollars
were subsequently contributed by New York
To aid these infamous operations. the inceptior
Of that fraud and villainy may be traced di
rectly to the plunderers who had and still
have their headquarters at Washington. and
directly under the patronage of democratic
Administration.