Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-01-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY, Dec. 81, 1860.
Stop 11iefi Stop Theft

officials were in great distress, and the public
quickly guessed that some startling news was
about TO come out. 1t might be war in South
Carolina,-or at least reinforcement Of the
forts it might be a quarrel in the Cabinet
but it was neither. Monday brought the
revelation of a monstrous robbery in the De-
partmcnt of the Interior, by an officer Of it.
and with high priests of the Democratic or
der as accompices. A big robbery-Ss30 900
at first; then $3.50 900 so much officially
declared. Then, unoficially, the sum was
announced at a million, or million and three
quarters and rumor added petty larceny of
$50 600 in the Interior Department, and a
bigger defalcation of two millions in the
Treasury Department. Stop thief! shout all
the people, THE d take the hindmost"
pray the guilty But do not put too much
reliance on madam Rumor She may tell too
big a story she may not tell one big enough
for the truth. Wait As to what is known
to be true it is theft of $50 900 in bonds
in the Interior Department. The Govern
ment holds, in trust for sundry Indian tribes,
about three and half millions of dollars
this money was invested by the Government
in bonds Of various States, and the interest
thereon goes to the Indians. The bonds
were entrusted by the Secretary to clerk
for safe keepng--a South Carolinian named
Bailey. who hailed last from Alabama, and
who was known to be somewhat careless at
least in his associations--not quite clear Of
rum-holes and gambling saloons-yet highly,
yes very highly, commended to the confidence
Of the Secretary of the Interior none were
commended more strongly, for he was cousin
f. L. v, and son f. f. South Carolina
the son of an Attorney General of South
Carolina, and the nephew of the Secretary of
War-Floyd of Virginia. Bailey revealed
the robbery, was committed to Jail. and was
released on giving bonds in $4,000. Three
thousand dollar bonds for stealing $4,000 :
Odd, is it not: But it is said he is to turn
states evidence :" and doubtless he will-if
he does not choose to forfeit three thousand
dollars by running away to that new foreign
empire of South Carolina. Stop thief! But
may stay and endeavor to shield his uncle the
Secretary of War. He endeayors to do that
now, and AYERS that he committed the rob
berry solely for that purpose Thus; the Sec
retary of War had given and endorsed ac-
ceptances to a vast amount 10 Majors, Rus
sell q Waddell, of st. Louis, for transporta-
lion of army supplies these acceptances had
ueen used to raise money, and were like to
come back on Floyd protested. Russell
knows that Bailey has charge of the bonds,
and he goes to him at once and says, GIVE
me bonds to protect these acceptances, or
your uncle Floyd will be disgraced and ruin
ed forever I'll take care of the acceptances
first and then I'll take care of the bonds
1t will come round all right" This, learn,
is Baleys story. But it did not come round
all right, and the transaction stands as a bold,
big robbery. Russell has been arrested and
committed to Jail. A banking house here
and millionaire in New York are implicated,
and it is said that the President has required
the Secretary of War to resign. 1t is certain
that there is little confidence here in respect
to him, in the minds of very many, as is iRdl-
Gated by preittFy--ffree~ FsampFs OF wrong on his
nart "a the acceptauces. Indeed, Washing
CON Democrat said to me-"Onr party Is
thoroughly corrupt high and low, and it is
time we were broken up" All! high time
Are the people sorry for breaking them up
Suppose they could try it over again woulC
they elect honest Old Abe, or would the!
take man from the old line heroes in in
trigue and corruption? But to descend t
smaller things A few days ago was sum
moned, together with another member of thu
House, by an officer of one of the Depart
ments, "to consult on an important question
in the execution of a law Of Congress" |
surns out that George Fisher had made, il
1926, claim on Congress for property de
stroyed by the u. S. troops and Indians il
Florida in 1918. In lB4s an act was passe
to pay for property destroyed by the troops
not that destroyed by Indians This CAV
him Justly about $4,000, and he was paid
In 1854 the case was re-opened by Congress
to admit rejected proof, and the result wa
that the claim was increased about 500
but by the allowance of interest from 1926
(Which Congress had not allowed,) abou
$4,000 was allowed and paid to the attoi
ney of Fishers administrator. But this wa
not enough In 1853 the claimant came
gain, and Congress transferred the case I
the Secretary of War for further allowanC
of interest from 1918, and this act was pre-
cured by fraudulent and false representatio
to the Judiciary Committee that two Alto
ney Generals had concurred in opinion thu
the claimants were entitled to interest. II
case was fully examined by the Third Audi
or, who reported that interest was not du
and that the claimants had already got abol
$4,000 to which they werenot entitled.
spite Of this opinion, the Secretary of WI
allowed interest from 1878, and paid ov
enough to make $4,000 in all But eve
this was not enough +! The claimant can
again at the last session, and by some sort
legerdemain got authority for the secrotal