Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-06-01


Tho Covode Investigating Committee.
No marvel the Democrats Of the House
fought off tho Speakership with despera-
ton, and that the President protested
against the Coyode Committee The ras-
calities Of the Administration were num-
berless, and they could only be longer sue
cessfully covered up by the usual democrat
ic arrangement Of committees. Hence ihe
protracted struggle for the appointing pow.
or in the House. Helpers book was the
stalking-horse used and nothing else, fear
Of exposure being the real cause Of agita-
ton. This fact time has demonstrated,
Every day the industrious Covode Com
mittee is bringing out some startling rascal
ity in high places, and the stencil Of corrup-
ton peryading the White House and the
Departments is insuiferaLle. Democratic
witnesses, such as Wendell, Schnable,
Walker, Fisher and others, fasten the brand
Of "ofiicial prostitution" upon the Admins
tration in bold characters. They give the
facts and the figures, the programmes and
documents These have been partially Civ
en- by telegraph as they have been dis
closed. The full report of the Committee
will amaze the country.
We will refer to a few of the recent dis.
closures in brief. Mr.. David Webster, Of
Philadelphia testified with great reluctance
that Attorney General Black proposed to
Mr.. Forney through him, to give Mr.. F. the
printing of the Post Office blanks, worth
$4,000, in case he would change his course
and dsupport the administration Mr.. Black
gave assurances that he was fully author
lied to make the agreement. Mr.. Forney
refused the bribc.
Another case. The law requires that
contracts should invariably be given to the
lowest bidder. w. 9. Barney of New
York testified before the Committee that
he made proposals to carry the mails be-
tween New York, New Orleans and San
Francisco, for 17s,2OO. David H. johnson
put in bogus bid of 10000, and, as the
lowest bidder, got the contract. He soon
notified the government that he was una
bic to perform the contract. Barney was
the next lowest and entitled to the contract.
1t was given to Vanderbilt for 100000,
being $4,000 over Barney's bid The Ad-
ministration needed Vanderbl's influence
in Congress, hence his reward. johnson
received 100000 for being the go-between
Such are the facts sworn to by Barney.
Elwood Fisher has been before the Co
vode Committee and made an exposure oI
"the prostitution of the diplomatic and pos
tai powers of the Government, to rob one
Company for the benefit of another, com
posed in part of the United States Sona
tors" Such is the language of the Demo
cratic witness who was one of the trustee,
of the Sloo Company, for running mai
steamers from New York and New Orlean.
to Aspinwall. 1t appears that Buchanan
broke the Sloo contract, and in violation o
law gave the job to a company of favorites
consisting in part of Senators Benjamin
and Slidell of Louisiana. The Treasury
suffers quarter of million per year il
consequence Long before the route wa
ready for use the mail contract was givel
to the company, and S25O,Ooo per annun
paid them, although postages amounted t
, only $4,000.
The latest piece of fraud and corruption
discovered by the Committee regards tn
late Connecticut election. 1t seems tina
9 1900 Irish voters were exported from Ne,
: York city into Connecticut, who voted a
L various towns and cities; and the evidenc
: goes to show that their expenses were dc
: frayed out of the Federal Treasury! ]
was by the help of such hordes of fraudu
lent voters that swelled the Democrat
aggregate beyond all precedent, and cam
near overwhelming the Republican ticket.
Is it not time for a change of Admin;
: tration G-Leader.