New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-03
PUBLIC PLUMBER.

The Herald says, with reference to the recent
De Groot swindle of 900 from the Federal
Treasury through the favor of Secretary of War
Floyd:
"A iris ma, be very true There Ia corruption enough at
brgop 10 Justify credence and the Wetts Point case
and The Fort Smelling case fresh In memory But AFTER all
this decision Of the Deoot may be great saving 70 ne
country; for If had Republican Administration ana ne
pubcsn Secretary Of War in place OF MI Floyd there DO
5 br, that they would have made the award just four times
30 that Treasury has been the gamer by the amer
ence Judge Of Black Republican honesty ~ 'he
doinss OF that party In the Albany Legsistue IN
Illinois Maine and elsewhere readily believe that ney
wond not have been satisfied with the pay sum OF $4,000
n they had been power Washington Had Thurow Weed
been there the business doubt he would have ar
ranged on liberal and munihcent SCALE But the Dem
ocratc party Is cheap party and mean witha It Is content
with moderate pcng has not the msghcence and enlarged
ideas the Republican party In dealing with the public money
90 that after s the country may have made clear saving Of
few hundred thousand dollars or so BY this matter"
Let us look moment at the facts:
l. In the " Albany Legislature, the Democrats
implicated in corrupt and venal legislation, are
proportionaby four to one Of the Republicans, as
the columns of The Herald will prove.
2. In Wisconsin, the Democrats were involved
in the La Crosse cOrruptions far more generally
than the Republicans. The master-spirts of those
memorable days were Gov. Barstow, Byron XII
bourn, &C., all prominent and active Douglas
Democrats.
3. In Illinois, the only person implicated in the
robbery of the public is ex.GOy. Joel A. Matteson,
leading Douglas Democrat, who has been screen
ed from exposure and punishment by the late
Douglas Legislature and is understood to be bleed
ing freely TO elect another such for like purpose.
a. In Maine, the late Treasurer, Elder Peck,
was inyeieled into Canada lumber speculation,
and culpably lost nearly 100000 of the States
money; but the Republican Governor and Legisla-
ture have followed up his bOndsmen so sharply
that they have already recovered or secured all but
s., coo of the money.
5. The late Democratic Postmaster of this City,
Isaac V. Fowler, who was for years the master
spirit Of New-York Democracy has run away
confessng that he has stolen Sl55,OOO, while the
real amount of his deficit is not one penny short OF
$3.50, OOO The late Democratic Postmaster at
New-Oreans has likewise SwartwOuted, con-
fessed defaulter for S55, OOO while the real amount
taken is doubtless double that One of the West
ern Postmasters has just been prosecuted as de-
faulter for $4,000. The clean swindle in the
Willetts Point purchase was not less than
800, OOO Ditto in the New Bedford fort-site pur-
chase. Fort Smelling could have been sold in par
GELS for $500, 900 more than the Government re-
ceived for it, though the collapse of 1857 followed
so soon that the speculation turned out badly.
The clean profit of a single Flour contract for
Utah was $4,000, and a consignment of thirty
thousand bushels of Corn was sent up from Mis-
could have been bought on the spot for 500, OCO.
These are but few items among hundreds. If
such are the doings of ga cheap party, and mean
" withal," what may expect if their ideas shall
be elevated by another four years lease of power!