The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-22
The Floyd Ra.cul,,ie,.

Ahc rloyd Hascullttes.
The Report ofthe Congressional COMMITTEES
upon the theft Of the Indian bonds from the In
terror Department shows the most atrocious
system Of villiany practiced by the chef officers
Of the administration. Il Is very voluminous,
and exposes the most gross and glaring frauds
and corrupt schemes ofpeculation ever prscticed
under any Government. II involved Messe..
Floyd. the late Secretary Of War ;Drinkard,
the chief clerk ofthe War Department.; Messr'
Russell and Bailey, Mr.. Lea, Of sattcr. Lea 4
Co.'S banking-housc B'arly Of Philadelphia
and several others. II seems evident that ovel
three millions Of dollars Of FIoyd's acceptance
are outstanding millions having been Is
sued AFTER Senator Benjamin had professionally
advised Ducan, Sherman & Co., that they
were not binding on the Government. and eau.
toned Floyd OF the danger Of his proceedings
Floyd, II will be remembered based his resig'
nation upon point Of honor, Is proved to b
not only liar but thief. systematically steal
ing from the public, and when his rilliany VA
exposed. actually cancelling the only securitie'
held from Russell which might be used to maxi
up the loss Of several millions Of dollars, TIT
Committee was unanimous In Its report, and ]
condemns him and his associates In the mos
pointed terms and looks to their speedy punish
ment rs criminals. The Committee, comment
ng on Floyd's letter to Congress on the discov'
cry Of the theft OF the Indian Bonds, says
"Somc mention should be made Of the com
muuication Of the late Secretary Of War, Oh,
Hon. J. b. Floyd, addressed to the House, and
by the House referred to your COMMITTEES. IL
his letter occurs this passage within thu
four years have presided over this depart
ment, not dollar, believe has been lost to tn:
government by embeIIelement or theft, and
within that time 5 20, 900, 900 have been dis
bursed. No system of administration, no lin,
Of policy could, think, reach better results
No system OF accountability could be more per-
feet II by the best results are understood
to be the depletion Of the public treasury and
the debasement Of public virtue, the approva
of the vicious and the opprotrium Of the good
II by the most perfect system ofaccountability
is meant method Of transacting business tina
promises rewards to negligence, and afford
the most valuable facilities aud incentives 4
fraud, then, indeed, may the late Secretary hav
reason TO speak with confident sel!-praises .
his system OF administration and line Of pol
cy.-Whether or not his assertion that there ha
been no embezllement or theft in his de
partment Is true, Is q question that will soor
be decided In the courts. The recklessness o
his official conduct, his inattention, and hi
ignorance Of the details Of his affairs, have beef
already shown, ard will stand out In still great
er distinctness on examination Of the cOntradic
tons and obscurities Of his testimony"
Amer stating the testimony ex-senator Benja
min, who says that Q year ago he told Floy'
Of the danger and wrong Of his conduct In &C
cepting Russell's drafts for services not render
ed and that Floyd promised not to do so again
the Committee says
cit has been sworn that, contrary to the as
sertion Of Gov. Floyd, no practice OF issuin
acceptances had ever prevailed In the War De
partment previous to its Introduction by him
self; he issued these acceptances indiscriminate
ly, and with no reference to instalments or th
arrival or departure Of trains, and wit
out regard to money which was due or whic
was expected To come due. One would nat
urally expect to find that Gov. Floyd, having
been admonished by one whose position an
legal learning gave authority to his advice
having confessed the illegality VI his proceed
ings, and expressed "a determination TO max
no further acceptances- would have proceed
ell thereafter with great caution and circum
spection, even II he did not entirely dscon
tinue his previous policy. II appears, how
ever, that supposing the note to Mr. BenJamll
before referred to, to have been written ycal
ago, there have been issued by Gov. Floyd
since that time acccptances to the amount o
So, 1863 900. viz in April $40 900; in May
$3.50, 900; June $3.50, 900; July, s9i 900; An
gust, S23G. 900; September. Si25, 900; October
S270, 900. To lthe amount must be added Ith
S7sS, OOO, of unconditiona acceptances, Of which
there is no registry and the grand total Is q
above stated! Having had his error and IL
probable consequences distinctly pointed out
hyang expressed his intention TO refrain In
future from the commission Of similar acts
he still persists In his former course, and nc
tually issued nm acceptance for Sl55,OOO ut a
date so late as 18th ofDecember, 1860, Wheth
er this manifest contempt OF counsel, disobe
dence Of law and violation Of solemn prOmis
can be reconcilcd with purity ofpriyate motive
land faithfulness to public trust, is for the Hous
to determine. 1t Is the opinion Of your com
mittec that they cannot"
This great yillsiny. the most astounding eve
committed and involving the most prominen
members ofthe Democratic party, has elicitet
not word of denunciation or disapprova
from any Democratic Convention, assembled
to consider the affairs Of the party, and Ia
spite oft, the followers and supporters Of such
men are boldly asking the pnblic to restore
them to its confidence and allow them to cd.
minister the government still longer.