Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-03-17
peulofrat aud FmJ.
SATURDAY MORNING.. -. .MAecH II. iss
~. Louis W. Chicago.

SATURDAY MORNING. =. .MARCH II. 1850
--------------
~. Louis W. Chicago.
We notice that the papers in the
Western portion Of tho State are coun-
selling the people Of the Missouri slope
to consult their interest by ratronizing
the St. Louis market instead Of going
to Chicago to make their purchases OF
shipping their produce tbither. This IL
. matter Of no small importance to Chi
oapo and calls for renewed exertions on
the part Of her merchant and business
men to retain and court that trade
The people of St. Louis have their eyes
wide open to the main chance and are
earnestly laboring to build railroad up
the Missouri Valley, which they intend
shall cut Of the Chicago trade aud be
the direct means Of pouring into the laps
of their merchants the riches of the
great, fertile "Western Slope" II the
the capitalists Of Chicago are willing
to see st. Louis extend her arm into
that tract of country and take away the
trade which justly belongs to them, we
are much mistaken in the men, All they
have got to do il to extend their aid to
the speedy completion of the Mississip-
pi l. Missouri Railroad, which, when ex-
tended to the Missouri river, would for
ever put an end to the aspirations Of
St. Louis as far n that section of coun-
try is concerned. Will they do it! In
the distance Of the respective places
above mentioned from the Western
Slope of Iowa there is great difference
the difference being largely in favor
Of Chicago, but if the people of st.
Louis possess the greater amount Of en-
ergy and succeed in opening direct
communication by rail with the people
Of the Western Slope and At the same
time afford better market, it is clear to
zee that ST. Louis will bear off the palm
from the great Lake City. Let the mer-
chants of Chicago take this thing into
consideration and see whether or not
they can afford to remain idle with re-
gard to their interests in Chicago while
st. Louis is wide awake.
How a state was Swindlsd by Black
Republican OAlcials..-A Member of
Congress gets share Of the Sp0lls.
The report of the committee of the
Maine Legislature, who we're appointed
to investigate the charges made against
Rev. Benjamin d. Peck, the defaulting
State treasurer, has been published, to-
gether with his confession. He asserts
that he co-operated with men high in
station, and that his fraudulent transac-
tons commenced as soon as his fiduciary
relation to the State began.
The reverend gentleman explained to
the committee how he loaned the money
to his bondsmen and other parties. One
Of his bondsmen didn't pay up and the
other parties were behind hand, but he
made his account good At the end of the
first year by borrowing. The second
year his bondsmen and money borrow
ers, generally among the hungry of the
higher lao party, got deeper into the
Peck measure, and at the end of the |
second year he said he was minus
100000. Subsequent testimony in
creased this sum largely. The bonds
man who was delinquent the first year
worked upon his credulity and good
nature, and borrowed more, This oas
d. E. Sonses, present Republican men,
Der Of Congress from Maine, who Dor
rowed from time to time, in 1857 and
1858, until he owed and still owes
$4,000. From the testimony OF Somes,
1t appears that he and Peck consulted
together, for the purpose of getting
round the statute, and the committee
assert that Somes must have known that |
he was using the money Of the State.-l
Mr.. Somes is now hopelessly insolvent,
aud the sum is dead loss.
Neal Dow, another Republican lead
81, got 81 l 500 of the funds.
The entire deficiency Of Peck is
$l3O,Os2 "a. He owes the State $94,-
026 90; MIR. Palmer Of Portland, &c.
600; Norombega Bank, $4,000; Ira
ners' Bank, $1,000; Suffolk, 1856 "a;
IN Canada, $4,000; Mechanics Bank,
5000; Biddeford City Bank, $500;
Manufacturers' and Traders Bank, g.
600; Files and Emery, $1,000. Peck
explains this deficiency by the following |
disbursements: Canada operation. $50.
o73 70; loaned to d. +. Somes. 80
700; loaned to Neal Dow. 800.
Expenses" in 1857, 1880; do. in
1868, $6,085 d., in 1859, $le.eso
He says that $4,000 Of the expenses iu
1858 went for interest and exchaage
and that the expenses of 1859 were ~
follows: Contributions to benevolent,
political and other objects, $500; paid
on my house, $4,000; expenses Of liv-
ing, above salary, $500 repairs on
house and furniture, $4,000 interest, ex-
A. 49,