, 1860-04-25

AID TO STOOL PIGEON PARTIES.


+AQoptcO.
We have received very voluninous report
Of the testimony taken before this Committee,
a large portion Of which is of little general in-
terest. We can only give, this morning, d few
Of the most pointed extracts
Cornelius Wendell was examined, aud testi-
dcd ut considerable length to the fact TINT he
was directed By the President, personally, to
par very large sums ont of his receipts for the
public printing to sustain Democratic newspa~
pe1s in Washington and Philadelphia. We
give the following passage from his testimony:
TESTIMONY or coRSEIIUs WENDELL.
Tr1spAT, Jan. 81. LEGO.
Questionable. Wendell, who was chosen
printer to the Senate at the last Congress? An
swer-William A. Harris:
Q.-And who for the House Of Represents
tires? A.-James b. Steedmau.
Q.-Who executed the printing! Al dld'
Q-who executed the printing forthe E1ecu-
tiye Department? Al did, SIT.
O,-Will you state how you came to execute
the printing: Ably IN agreement With
Messrs. uarFis and Steedman, and portion o.
the Executive, which was under the control OF
the Executive Department.
Q.-1lr " endell, do you know Of Any moneys
having been paid for the use OF the newspaper
here called the Constit"tion, or for the Pbladel-
phia Argus OF The e{ennsyfranidn. out Of the earn
in.s Of the public printing: A.-1es Sir; my im-
preston is that there was an agreement in writ
ing with the PtansyIcanidH; am not positive,
but think there was; there was none for the
Philadelphia Argus; | was the owner Of tho
Gonstitution myself until March last
Q.-I1as there been any money paid for the
arc it? Ayes, Sir.
Q.-Do you know u any other moneys paid
By the naity whe sxscnted the public printing
newspapers that lave been mentioned? Al
have paid =. good deal Of money for party pur-
poses myself.
Q.-Were you required to do SO, or called
upon to do so! Al cannot say that l WIS:
any further than rs partisan !; I suppose. as
had an unbounded amount Of money, and being
willing to spend it for the party: vas asked to
do so ; but never imperativeIy directed.
Q.-Whom were you called upon byY A.
Their name o1siegion.
occurred Ut or about the time Of this transfer in
relation to the public printing, and the pay
1nents made By you out Of its proceeds? A.
About the close of the last Congress WINS very
desirous to make some change In the condition
Of the paper and the performance of the public
printing, aud | made proposition to give the
paper to the Administration, To place it at the
disposal Of the Administration, offering to con-
tribute from the profits Of the work $4,000 per
annum to support i'll mean from the profits Of
tue work at Tue disposal Of the President. I
! made the propositioA TO tic Prtsident direct.
After some considerable negotiations, the trans
! fer was made. This paper WIS written to ex-
press our views and sentiments, and Mr. Bow
man took possession-the amount being in.
creased from 10000 to $4,000 per annum, Us
is expressed in that stipulation.
AGENCY OF THE PRESIDENT
Q.-Xon made this rroposition, Of $4,000, to
thk President: A.-ies, sir.
versations and consultationss Al made the
first proposition in writing through Judge Mich.
olson, who had been partner OF mine, or1 Of
lis. lie was formerly, gentlemen will remem-
ber, Printer to the Senate. had been his bus
| mess man during the wcole Of his connection
| viii the printing. / had purchased his half
Of the Union and through hin Iopen@d n<.'otia..
tions ,c1th the resideat tohicA aofrsronsunt1attd
/ bp Jxdge Blaek on ltha!f Of Roteman. had
little, il my, conversation with Bowman. do
| not remember any until we went to sign these
papers.
Q.-You said the proposition was in writing?
A.--les, sir.
Q.-To whom was it addressed. Al think
to tie President
PARTIES INTERESTED IN TIE rCnLlc PRINTING.
Q.-Besides Mr.. Steedmau, who were inter-
| ested in the public printing? AL know no
| oue officially but him; but heard that there
were some three or four.
Q--Will you state who they were? A.-Mr-
| 4. d. Banks was the principal one. Mr. Nc
| Lem, Of the Cincinnati Enquirer, told me he
| was; and have paid him some money think.
| Judge Walker Of New Orleans, told me that he
/ was interested. Another gentlemau, Of the
name Of Martin, told me that he was to have a
| small amount for services.
Q.-What were those services? A.-Ekction-
kerin1, suppose.
Q-What sums hare you paid to the parties
elected. US II consideration for executing it
. yourself, and receiving tue prices fixed By law
| Al think $4,000 odd to MIR. Steedman; I
think $as, 900 10 Mr. Ha11is 10000 was to
| give him; but tue aggregate from the time he
came in the Union newspaper up to March was
t more.
| Q.-What other Sums Of money other than
have ron pnid: Al paid 10 Mr. Rice, Of thc
| Rtnnsytranian, under an arrangement with
him, I'll, 1851, besides the two sums you mare
mentioned.
Q.-Any other sums, Mr.. Wendell? A.-To
Mr. Sevcrns, Of the philadelphia Argus, rising
$1,000. The total charge is $7,150, but por-
ton Of that was not directly for the drgus.
Those may be considered by direction of the
| Executive.
Q:-Wcre those papers all supporting the
Administration: A.-fes, sir; | think they
| did.
Odd you consider it necessary for you to
par these sums as condition On which the
| printing WAS to be conveyed in -FOUR hands. i.
| Most certainly did; l hare contributed to
] the expenses Of the party other sums, but none
| that considered to have reference 10 my OBJ
tainiug or retaining the work.
NIL. WENDELL OBJECTS TO nE1SG LEFT OFT IN THE
COLD.
I Q.-You sued Bowman: Al have; dare
no idea Of 1ting rob6<d Of my paper, and tatn
| dsa"g set out I" Tie Fofd BY -ur. BacAanan, -Hr.
| Bo,cnan or anybody else.
! Q.-Mr. Wendell, how much a year do you
/ suppose Eou have contributed? Al Mink
during tie past four years hare contributed,
| directly Or indirectly, 100000.
| Q--What do you mean By indirectly; sup
pose part Of that sum went to The support. of
the Union: A.-Yes, sir. l mean that that
amount has been paid out Of the profits Of my
| Office. If a clever fellow was running for Con-
| gress, and wanted $500, and l had it, I could
not hep giving it; but the exact amount I could
oMBut without this public printing vou
would not have been able to do ite A.-No,
sir.
| Q.-You stated that you had been in the hab-
it Of contributing to elections, and yon have
mentioned some Districts; have you contributed
IN any other? A.-res, sir; ! have one item.
New York; hare also contributed in New
Jersey.
Q-Were sou 80 kind towards Maryland ?
A-0ccasionally have.
| Q.-Who called upon you? OIL think Mr.,
Thomas, who is pretty active in elections; he
sent or over = here message TINT money was = ant
| ed; but theEe were small amounts think the
highest ever gave WAS couple Of hundred
| dollars at one ting.
Q.-1ou spoke Of sums spent in New York ;
what other Districts did you contribute to
- ..l;s went up the rlEer, and, among others.