Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-06-22
Executive Corruption.

D0iOW We puuiiau VI lhO ACPoAl
of the Congressional committee, which has
been engaged fer months in searching out
and exposing the stupendous wrongs of the
democratic administration. 1t remains to
be seen whether there are intelligence and
virtue enough in the people to hurl from
power, party which has done its utmost to
snbvert and trample down popular rights, by
the most unhlushing and enormous corrup-
tons which have ever disgraced the worst
| governments of the old world. We call par
ticular attention to the article, suggesting
that those republicans who design to keep
posted, will do well to preserve it for future
| reference.
The CoYode committee reported.
Mr.. Train made a report from the Covode
committee, signed by Messrs- Covode, DIN
and Train. 1t sets out by speaking OF the
embarrassments which attended their labors,
and stating that the President saw tit to send
in a solemn protest, in the way of a procla
nation to the world, that the whole power of
the Executive instead Of being exercised to
forward an invests cation into administrative
affairs, would be exercised to protect those
| who might choose to disobcy the summons
| of the Speaker of the House, or who having
obcyed the summons might refuse to testify
before the committee, who quote presidents
to show that they have been at liberty to in,
| vestigate the conduct Of the President or
any other officer Of the Government. In re
gard to the Lecompton constitution, they say
the country will pause with establishment
over the shameless record. They examined,
1st-The emphatic and indubitable pledges
Of the President, as well before as after his
election, and the pledges of all his Cabinet,
to the doctrine of leaving the people Of Kan
sas perfectly free to adopt their own institu-
tons and their own laws.
2nd-The deliberate violation Of these
pledges, and the attempt to convert Kansas
into slave State, by means of forgerles,
fraud and force.
3d-The removal and attempt to disgrace
the sworn agents of the Administration, who
refused to violate their pledges.
4th-the open employment of money in
the passage of the Lecompton and English
bills through Congress.
5th-Thc admission of parties engaged in
electioneerng this scheme, that they received
enormous sums for this purpose.
6th-The offer to purchase newspaper edi-
tors with extravagant sums of money.
standing who would not support the English
and Lecompton bills.
The witnesses on these points were Gov.
Walker, Wendell, Bean and F. W. Walker,
and fortunately for the cause of truth, the ev
| idence of these witnesses does not, the COM
mittee say, depend upon their own admis-
sions.
1t is proven by the book of records of the
Bank of the Metropolis, which contains the
names of those who conduct their business
there, and by the unconscious contradiction
of the witnesses.
The testimony of Forney is not to be over
| looked in this connection, while it shows
general willingness on the part of the Presi
dent to subsidlze the public press. 1t proves
also that there was strong determination to
buy all who could be bought, and to crush
out the honest men who could not be bribed
or reduced to an utilization with the Admins
ira ton in its Lecompton policy. Forney was
offered printing of the Post Office blanks,
worth at least $4,000 on the condition that
he should, by an editorial, no longer than a
mans hand, support the Administration in
its Kansas policy.
The Committee refer to the fact that "a
Democratic members of the House opposed
the Kansas policy; this number dwindled
down to u and enough were found to carry
the bill through the House. The Committee
say it had always been supposed the war in
Washington was gotten up for the purpose
of fastening slavery on Kansas.
| The next point examined involved the
abuses in the Philadelphia Custom House,
and other public Offices, in regard to which
the Committee say there were improper COM
binations among federal officers with the
view to control the sentiments and prejudices
of the people in their primary political move
ment5.
The improper and corrupt use of the pub
| lie money in the employment of persons in
| the public service, in violation of the laws
and Government regulations, and the frauds
on the part of officers of the Government to
defeat the statute of the U. S., enacted for
| the purpose of protecting the public Treas
ury from unjust claims and improvident and
unnecessary expenditures.
| The witnesses are John Bryant, Francis
and Samuel B. Rice, Francis Mccormick,
John +. Schell Andrew Brumaker George
| Downey, Patrick Caferty, John Dunn, and
others.
The committe say Collector Baker is sub,
ject to the highest censure.
Under want Of time TO procure investiga-
ton into the management of the Post Offices,
they examined the subject of the executive
binding, saying Mr.. Pettibones was wrong
in the matter and the patronage received IL
the hands of the Presidents friend aud most
efficient Wendell.
The committee say the evidence proves be-
yond doubt that the prices paid for the ex-
ecutive printing and binding were utterly
disproportionate to work done.
The committee also allude to the employ
ment of men to carry elections. In view of
all these facts and circumstances attending
this Investigation from its reception 10 the
present time, there sesms marked propriety
in closing this report with a quotation from a
| speech from Mr.. Buchanan in condemnation
| of corruption.
Mr.. Train moved that so, 900 copies of the
report be printed. Referred to the printing
committee.
Mr.. Wilson was privileged to make mi
nority report on Monday morning, he not hav'
! ing had time to prepare it, as the testimony
was not closed till Thursday.
The GREAT DIscUss1oN.-Mr. Douglas
| discontinue by Mr.. Lincoln is so apparent
| in the published volume of the discussions
| between these gentlemen in 1858, that the
Democrats have resorted to new dodge,
saying that while Mr.. Lincoln's speeches
have been altered and improved, Mr.. Doug
| las have been weakened and garbled. The
charge is hagrantly untrue. The speeches
of each the gentlemen are given as they were
delivered and if the Little Giant seems to
| have naen worsted in N OF mon, L. o,oo,n