Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-15
Federal Corruption and PrOaisaeJ'

men aud true mem The public generally are invited %
attend
Federal Corruption and PrOaigAeJ'
The Observation-Disclosures ADM nIstrnti ton
The Past and the Future.
We are indebted 20 the Nashville Pl.rio, for the fol
loving compilation Of evidence in proof Of the corrug
ton asd pr0agacy which characterize the present Bueh
anan,Breesnrdge Administration We invoke the can
did aad earnest attention Of the voters Of all parties to
these starting and hga;ing exposures. Let them read,
and reflect and then vote for John Bel and Edward
Eserett--
A our contemporary observes the frs: question fer
the honest voter TO decide in the pending Presidential
election is whether he viii cast lis suhase for con
tiou,nce Of the Union and the psrpetuy Of our gov
erpmeut rs it nov exists and the next H. if be is for the
Vaion whether he win east bis susages in favor Of lis
c5rru9. and prof gate administration, or for an honest
aud economical maaa seueus Of public affairs. Weassnue
TIA. the desire Of an patriots IS TO per7euate the u
ION on the basis Of The Constitution and the proper and
promo. enlofesueu, Of ibs Laws We have her,toiore
s5owa that No. Breckenridge is, at least TO certain e'-
tent ia the hands Of those who have coapred together
TO break up hs Union aal rsgo'uti7uizo che govern
n,at Bu. 90 there are any Who suppose that be vii
be able 20 vias,sal st il eaec, ask tacs al-eu-
10 ths manner l vch t1st government may be adui.-
;,.srsd IN tie ey,a; Of h, election Toe chief school
i which NJ I-s,s1-ii-e las received L.l political cd
,,.i,n was pr,siel oyeF 6rs. by Mr. H'FSa and then
Nv M Buchanan. Daring hs Presidency OF the Torn ca
hs-ryed az an uuGcs-g'aial.s ia Congress ard ai'er
taking rl-a.- -- Ca STATE, ulaasi'p, Dat 1a-'s
remarkable ur9ercs, u democracy, he promoted to
-an aIuas, p-oi, sorstp wish Jhe latter Tie was made
tb. Srt g.,er Of Che crown 90 tie Buchanan Dynasty;
aud hss 5een part and plrc@ Of hi' administration,
from chat dav TO this and such be mus bear ai, due
proportion o. the possibility. Not only so he is Sci,
u9 as the heir ap1aren, 90 zoe succession, and Is held Up
ss tb Younger political brother worthy 20 receive the
eAre s..ae accumulated jlras the past four years
That part OF u in which bs people most directly ir
teresed Is ;he corruption the proasAcy, the iai.hles
nes aud the extravaganza ahch have characterized its
Inception ard progress And to his invite their
attention. We begin With
ruE urcH,NAN-BEEcgrNEiGE ELErrioN.
Thi. event vas usbered in in manner in perfect keep
leo With the subsequent administration. We suhioin GER
tain fc,s connected vi chat election, iutatory
step 20 the Investigation we propose make, which ap-
near in the o a records o. the country, aud cannot be
a;nsad Ofc0urse there Is good deal yet behind the
curtain which viii probably never the light, but the
re,er as well a. ourselves form his oEn oouelus-
ions upou that subject In January Of last year, the cor
,o.ps in the Federal Administration having become
manifest, committee appointed by the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES in Congress 20 Investigate the abuses in
the NAVY Department Among many other things, the
majority Of that committee reported that W. C. "
S.jfshad from 1851 been erg'gsd furnishing lyc-oas
~ az DEPARTMENT and sidedi the same hy prou
ipspt Democ ATTIC partzan named Geo. Pitt ora money
consideration The report then proceeds
op,ndng the Presidential elections Of 1856 Pit intro
3r..d S.if 10 Mr. Buchanan. and sought 20 lace him
Ia tbe VERY best position De possibly could With the Pres
;Jent Pitt at the same ume, was Treasurer OF the Dem
oer.tc State Central Committee OF PENNSYLVANIA, ana, as
s,cb received from swift the sum $1,000, Of which
s.ft contributed $4,000 and received the balance from
III immediate friends be used in the pending election
NJ Buchanan vas informed before the election that Nc
Sift vas an Old Line Wing who over TO bis party
and was taking active part in the election, and he W
subsequently informed Of the amount contributed by
SSif Pitt testides that
"In introducing Mr. Ssift, told Mr.. T0uccy that hC
,r,s a gentleman WhOm / should be very glad 10 hay,
him aid I'm any way be could, legrmltcly, Of course
,b,t he as nv very tueld, who had contributed
- I,rgely tosards the election Of 1886. aud that hs
hal A number Of old oli-ne Wing friends in Aas'achu
500 rbo we're equsg hberll-some Of them az least
and thought that such gentlemen should be Parouiz2d
Of course
vith Swift-April ls54-as conditional contract, and
Composing that agreement still Ia force under the
rresent administration it under the former one
] took great pains 20 mike him acquainted with
everyone Of my political ifieads
sin subsequently got contracts under the Buchanan
Rrekiprdge Administration during toe years 1857 8 tC
,bs amount of 1899 60 NJ Pitt then clerk Of the
Circuit Court Of the UaEed States ia Philadelphia He
again testified before the Covode Committee during the
las. Congress having expended as treasurer Of tae
State Central Committee upEards Of $4,000 in Penn
svlvania. to carry the election for Buchanan. OF that
amount 81 500 vas raised in thecty OF New York and
paid over 70 him by Augustus SsheL Mr.. Sohell was
Afterwards appointed Collector Of Custom at the port Of
Nsw York
Cornelius Wendell also testified before the last named
committee, as follows:
Question Did you not for political purposes within
the last three four years much hrgeI amount Of
money than you used previous oscasons-some hun
dred thousand doilarss
Answer Nv impression H. that it was about one hun
dred and tventyeigb or one hundred and thirty thou
sand dollars
. o nov much Of that money was used to elect Mr..
Bnchanan?
"a think expended 10 contributions, printing, and
N divers dld suu3rg ways. some $4,000 or $1,000
Y After Mr.. Buchanan elected was be nos hmil-
IA with the enormous expenditure that you had incur
red 10 securing his elee.iens
A. He knew that bad been very active and had eK-
pended considerable money.
Y. Did he not know the amouotg
IA 20 not now REMINDER whether The amount was
ever meniiO1ed between as ] could not say.
q Do you think he duly appreciated your services in
expending that amount OF money
A. Well sir, Iuever thought he did.
Y Did be aiteIly rather fall of as regards bis
friendly feelings towards YOU
A. have thought for some eighteen months that he
did?
2 Was hn influence not used in your favor, to keep
the government patronage in your hands 20 reiu
burse you for this large Of money that you had
expended
A AZ first il coming to me, and Il continued on
mil December after biz Inauguration, when portion Of
US taken from me.