The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-04-05
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A most remarkable passage occurs in the
Presidents late message to the House Of
Representatives. Wo copy it for the pur-
pose OF contrasting il with the testimony OF
his late very intimate friend. 1t must be
known that the House appointed commit
tee of FIVE to "investigate whether the Pres
ident or any officer Of the Government had,
by money patronage or other improper means,
sought to influence the passage of any law
60. The President was highly indignant at
this imputation Of corruption, and his mes
sage is filled with virtuous protestations OF
innocence. He even goes so far as to appeal
to his God in proof of his innocence. Here
is the passage:
feel personally conscious that there is no
public act of my life which viii not bear the
strictest scrutiny. defy all investigation.
Nothing but the basest perjury can sully my
good name. do not fear even this, because
cherish an humble confidence that the graz
cious being who has hitherto defended and
protected me against the shafts of falsehood
and malice, will not desert me now when
have become old and gray-headed. / can
declare before God and my country that no
human being, with an exception scarcely
worthy of notice, has at any period of my
life dared to approach me with corrupt and
dshonorable proposition.
Until recent developments il had never en-.
tered into my Imagination that any person,
even in q storm Of exasperated political ex
element, would charge me in most remote
degree with having made such proposition
to any human being. | may now, however,
exelaim in the language OF complaint, en-
ployed BY my first and greatest predecessor,
that | have been abused in such exaggerated
and indecent terms as could scarcely be APP
piled to negro, to notorious defaulter, or
even to common pickpocket.
By way of contrast, we present some of
the testimony given by Mr.. Wendell before
the House Committee on Public expenditures.
Mr.. Wendell was Printer, 10 fact, to the last
Congress, and he testified that the amount
paid for printing Post Office blanks was
about $4,000 year. The profit on this
was about $4,000. Prior to 1856 this
printing was done by contract, but under Mr..
Buchanan it has been dispensed by him and
the Postmaster General. The President gave
it to Mr.. Rice, for whom Mr.. Wendell did
the printing, receiving 43 cents on q dollar
When the work was given to Mr.. Rioe, il
was the understanding that the Peansylua
nian-a needy Democratic paper published
in Philadelphia-was to be supported out Of
the profits. We subjoin few questions to
and answers by Mr.. Wendell. The comm IT,
tee asked him between whom the understand
ing existed in regard to the Psnnsylua nian
A. Between the President and the Post
master General.
@. By MIR. Hinjman. How did you know
| that2
A. From conversations | held with them
| | insisted upon having more OF the profits 0
the printing to support The Union, as it wa
one of those rather Improbable pecuniar
organs, and MIR. Rice was very clamorous Il
have share for The Penusy lvanian, and "
finally settled on forty-three cents on tn
| dollar; | then made q contract with Mr.
Croweli, who did the work for me for forty
five cents or fifty cents on the dollar; he di
it portion of the time for forty-fve cent
and portion of the time for fifty cents;
had also the Executive binding, which Rio
thought ought to satisfy me, but the profit
on that were not so great, and the expense
of The Union heing very Largo 4 insisted TIA
| should have ell the paotits of the Post O fic
blank printing; ! could not keep it, how
ever.
q. by the Chairman. You stated tha
$40 900 were to be allowed out Of the profit
of the executive printing toward supportin
the organ under Gen. Bowman?
A. When parted with it 10 March last,
J found that, paying Rice and Severns, coul
, not sustain The Union from the profits Of th
executive work, and therefore proposed I
give it to any party that might be designa
ted by the President.
} @. Who did you make this proposition to
, a. To the President; and to pay $40, 90
, per annum was my first proposition; pendin
that proposition, Mr.. Baker, the Collector
Phiiateiphia, came down to procure aid fc
The Pennsylvanian and finally had to a,
eede to giving $40, 900 per annum, sic, 0O
per annum Of which Mr.. Baker obtained II
The Pennsylvania; have been informe
| 1
q Pennsy lvanian, but my obligation 10 with Nj
Bowman for $40, 900; that obligation exis
ed, still exists, and there has been no actio
. had in relation to il, owing to Mr.. Bowman
b refusal to carry out his part OF the engag
a ment, which was, that should do the Sena
printing in case he was elected Printer to I'll
: Senate; paid MIR. Bowman SIS 900 in a,
= vance when he took The Union, and the ba
n ance secured to him by giving him orde
J. on the Post Office work, which be could n
draw, having no orders on il.
@. Was it understood, when you transfe
i red The Union to Mr.. Bowman, that $40, o.
10 should be diverted out of the proceeds
q the Post Office printing by you to its supper
!, A. Yes, Sir, that was the understanding
@. Between whom2
A. The paper was drawn up by Jud
Black it was between Mr.. Bowman and m
q: self, we being put forward as the active IN.
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