Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-03-08
The Great Robbery of
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Inc 0r0db nOOOCAy VI
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The Specia! Committee of Congress on
the abstraction of the Indian bonds has
made report, and its statements are as
founding. To give our readers an idea OF
this wholesale robbery and the reasonable
proceedings on the part of the government
officials we publish the following inter-
esting letter from the Chica3o Tribune
WASHINGTON, Feb. l6 1861.
Since the publication of the report of
the Special Committee on the abstraction
of the Indian bonds, the question Is con-
tinually asked, What becomes Of the
money? Who got it ?" 1t is shown that
over sir millions have been stolen in this
gigantic national robbery. To make the
matter perfectly plain oyour readers, let
me state the case briefly:
1st, The Committee show that Russel,
Majors & Waddell were paid in cash, out
of the National Treasury, during the year
1S5S-9-60, the sum of nearly five millions
(s4, S42,96ffor their transportation ser.
vices They were paid as fast as they
earned their money. There was only due
the firm at the time of the discovery OF
the robbcry--Dcccmber 13, lS6O-the
small amount of $3.50.
u, The firm have always protesscd
that they enjoy a lucrative contract with
the Government. Every person posted
in relation to the matter have been
of the same opinion. During the Utah
invasion, Russell, Majors & Wardwcll
charged just what they pleased, and it is
notorious that they bagged cool million
of profit over and above all outlay or III
vcstment.
Sd, The records of the War Depart
ment show that Floyd issued, without
authority of law, for services never per-
formed, and excepted certificates against
the Government to the enormous amount
of S6,979,395 of which ss4o,o00 were
returned by Russell because they had ma
tured in his own pocket and could not
tn erefore be negotiated. Substract these
returned certificates and there remains
outstanding s6,l37,3o5 in the hanls of
unknown holders. The loss is to fall upon
them or the Government
9TH, The Indian Trust bonds which
we're stolen by Bailey and delivered to
Russell to prevent Floyd from being
greatly agonizcl and disturbed" a.
Floyd's intimate friend Drinkard stated
to Bailey, must be added to the foregoing
acccptances they amounted to ssl2, 900
ali of which have been sold by Russell
and the money disposed of in some way.
Now here is the vast sum OF SI,oO9,35
of bonds and certificates disposed OF by
Floyd and Russell. What have they
done with the money?
Floyd admitted in his evidence before
the Committee that " Every acceptance
which he "made ran against unearned
money, and was L" designed to give the
contractors credit" But what did the
contractors want with seven millions OF
dollars more than they earned? They
we're paid the gold for their transporta-
ton services as fast as it was earned.-
And in three years time the government
paid over to them five millions o. dollars,
which yielded a large margin OF clear
profit.
Gov. Floyd was one of the rinsleaders
of the treason conspiracy. Money was
needed to carry it over successfully and
vigorously. His confederate, Russell, was
pro-slavery border ruffan during the
Kansas troubles and is now sccessionist.
The conclusion is irresistible that this g'-
eantic swindle was devised and conducted
to aid the Disunion movement floyd,ln
his Richmond banquet speech, confessed
that he had been engaged in the treason
able plot for four years-from the day ne
was inductcd into the war department to
that time.
We have now before us motive tor
the robbery, an opportunity to steal, ana
place to invest the proceeds. Need We
search any further2 Has not an answer
been given to the question, what became
of the money? Russell, doubtless was
paid liberal per cent. for negotiating the
:. acceptances" and Indian bonds. lie
could do it without being suspected, as he
had large dealings with the banks and was
handling immense sums of money IN the
legitimate business of his firm, OF which
he was the financial agent.
The evidences of Floyds completely IN
the conspiracy to seize upon Washington
and proclaim provisional government
from the steps OF the Capitol, are now
palpable to the dullest apprehension AT
the time of his resignation this city had
been stripped of all means of defence
Not soldier was in Washington. Hard
ly rife or musket, or pound OF ammuni'
ton could be found.
The army had been scattered to the ut
most end Of the continent He had dis
persed them over the Western wilds con
cealed them in small detachments in tho
unexplored regions of the Pah-U ties, be-
yond the Rocky Mountains, and hid them
away in the sterile deserts Of New Mex'