The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-09-22
Read and Reflect.

and contempt Of every honest man, VINO 4
had not over his visual organs the nebulous =
film Of party prejudice, and w'now redeem q
our promise by showing up the corruption
in the Navy Department. We hope that
the reader will not forget the Patterson let z
ter and the endorsement Of it by the Pres
ident, for our present article is but con-
tinuous erpose of the Infamous transactions
by Yancey's President james buchanan.
We stated that n committee had been
appointcd on the 18th of January, 1S59,by
the House of Representatives toinvestigate
certain charges brought against officers in
the Navy Department, and we stated what
those charges were, the leading features OF
which were that moneys appropriated for
Navy Yards had been expended for parti-
san purposes and not for purposes provided
by law. We also stated the evidence be
fore that committee, was under the soleln-
nitv of oath, reduced to writing, and there
fore the matter of that evidence could not
be mistaken.
This Committee in the course of its IN
vestgation examined into certain contracts
made by the Secretary of the Navy, with
one Swift. Now let US see what Influences
Mr.. Swift had to sustain him, in his appli-
cation for the appointment before the Sec
rotary. The following facts before the
COMMITTEE tell their own tale.
4 whalcr of New Bedford by the name
, of Swift, had prior to 1854 been acontract-
, or for the supply of live-oak and other tim
Der for the Government.
q In1Sjl he entered into written agree
+ ment with one George Pitt Philadelphia,
an acfirc an intimate friend of Mr.. Bucha'l-
y an, by which Pitt agreed to aid Swift all
n he could in obtaining live-oak contracts
5 with the Navy Department, for which
Il Swift was 10 pay Pitt the nice little bonm4
- of ten per cent on the gross amount OF thu
n contracts made. The aid was, that Pit
re from his intimacy with the President
'r should place Swift upon familiar relation
n with the Department.
He introduced Mr.. Swift to Mr.. Dobbin
70 during Picrces Administration and to othe
IN gentleman, ard used all his influence in he
or half of Swift Mind you this was III lS5
" at the time of the contract between thetw'
nd Pending the Presidential election of 1885,
~ PIT; introduced Swift TO Mr.. buchanan
n. and sought to Place him in tie very be
cd position Le probably could, for the pro
, meets were vcrv fair that Mr.. Buchana
-, would be the next President. Pitt ut TN
lao fine was Trc;s,rcr ftho Democratic sta
-, Central Committee, and ~ 5uch, receive
g from Swift $4,000, Of which Swift co
or ,ihu,cd $4,000, and received the balan
~, from HI. friend to b, u,cl il thc rc'rli'
ted .,ct.on.
49,, Mr.. buchanan WIZ Informed lcfrc ;
election that Swift was an Old Line W h
,r, and vas taking nm active part in the cit
III, ton. and he WAS subsequently informed
the amount that Swift had contribut
,vc Bur let Pitt speak for himself a"drro'
ern for mrmcnt.
.oro "In INTRODUCING Mr.. Swift, | todd
,,,o Toucev that h. Nas GcntIrn1n, whom
b.;r should be very glad to have linn aid in
.;,.. WAY that be- could, that he was my y
warm friend, rita had co@tr'b@'Cd y
larr.,Iv to the election of $50, and that
the had very larGr number Of Old lire W
NJ friends in Massachusetts who were cqui
,bis Eberal-somc of hem at least, an
thought such gentlemen should be pa
was ni-cd IF coNrse."
t of Pitt further tcstifcs that he REGARDED
and contract of April 1854 with Swift as
chS' binding and continuing, and supposing
we're agreement was still IN force under the
ring cnt Administration as il was under the
was mer one, had taken pains TO make
lore acquainted with one of my partic
.no friends" Honest Mr.. Pltt-thou Jew
Ken Secretary Mr.. Touccy J!
Now to the record Swift obtained
l., tracts in 1857 to the amount of S232'
-, and in in 1858 Of Sl66,700. The b
G.. of ten per cent Of Which Pitt the
mate and active friend" Of Mr.. Buch
- u. was the nice little sum otS39,9l4 :!
:. Swift becomes ungratcful, and on the
of October, 1857 rcludiated his write
o mt percent agreement With Pitt, where
- Pitt consults with his intimate fritnc
Il. President, and here is the result q
,osoIf conference by Pitt himscH.
Id 81 did not want TO involve theFpi
four Administration in any difficulty, and
fore asked the President whether
Ill bo o,,,, obiaetiouG i'm Iuv pr0ScC