Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1862-09-17

Sezesal years ago, unasr a DsuOeFasicl
administration, Law was passed making
10 unlawfal fer mrmhefs Of Congress OF
Cabinet efheszs 10 sagags AZ counsel in the
prosecution Of claims against the Gov
eminent. II also made 1t criminal Of
fsnaa Ter member Of Congress to be in
terssssd in any government contract. This
law was enacted By Democratic Con-
grsss to prevent dishonest members from
asfraadiag the GoYeypment By using their
inausnce in passing relief and other bills
apprepriasing aaouey, the ''hon's share"
Of which went into their own pockets, and
also 10 prevent oaeInsf oaReers from max
ing contracts ar allowances, estensibiy to
others, but in fact with themselves
This was good Law and saved the Gov
ernment many millions, but when the
present eorrupt and swindling Admins
tration came into power, the favoritss Of
the President and Of his Cabinet ofdcers
must BE- Fed out OF the public crib. In
fact, everybody fEem the President down
to the lowest appointes under his admin
issrasiou, got their arms elbow deep into
the public Treasury. Members Of the
Cabinet entered into specializing contracts
With their brothsrs-in-law. Secretaries
must have q per cent. on each contract
and members OF Congress must have a
bonus for usiRg thar iudaenee in tie pro-
cursmsns al fraudulent contracts, In
short, regular system Of EwindIing The
Government was inangurated and pr&c-
siced By those whoa the law forbid haE'
! ing anything 30 DO with she go#asamonI
eontracts.a This system of fraud and cor
rupsion vas partially brought to iighl
through the labozs Of the VAx WVcK CON
mittss of investigation, and many Con
gressmsn and several Cabinet officers wer
shown to be guilty of swindling the Gov
eminent and of violating the law abov
mentioned. Were they forosd 10 disgorg
their i'll gotten wealth ? Certainly not
"a military necessity required that the
should be let alone Mos Only so, bu
that they should have license to con
tinue their robberies for another year
How was this to be done The Adolf
ton Republican Congress, being wel
schoolsd, By their great head and teach
er, ''Honest Old Abe"(f) in the art G
suspendiag constitutional rights and pze
Visions, laws and civil rights, were nc
slow to discover q mode by which the
could license themselves and ali otht
Government robbers in carrying on a sys
ten of uaiimited plunder. They kner
that "Honsst Old Abe" ~ could suspen
the Consultation and all laws enacted b
a Democratic Congress, bat they wei
afraid that be would not take the reapou
sibihty in regard to laws passed by a
Abolition Congress. In June last, whe
the exposure of the astounding fraus
Committed By Congressman, Cabinet Of
6cers and others, were exposed By ID
VAN WEcx, Congress in order 10 hooC
; wink the people, passed an ''Acs to PR
vent and punish fraud on the part Of Of
6eers iasrussed with making of eontraOt
for the Government" This satisfied u
people, who were foolish enough to SUI
pose thai fraud and speculation was
be punished under the Administration
"Honsst Old Abe" ~. Bat sush shiz
was never intended. Congress had z
idea Of putting = stop 70 fraud and swi.
ding 30 abruptly. Hsncs 70 secure
themselves itsls more time TO plund
the national treasury, they passed ID
following ast which "Hoasst Old Abs''
approved: ...a.
i CaAF. CCIIL--An Act 10 suspend temp
rarily the operation Of an act ensitl
IAN act to pEexsal and ruaish Fraa
on part Of Officers intrusssd with m
: king Of Contracts for the Government
10 approved June two, eighteen huudr
and sixsy-swo.
r. Be Il enacted BY the Senate and Hoa
: Of Representatives. Of The United Sta
- Of AHseEica III Coagrsss assembled, tn
o sne operation Of she act entitled San a
q 70 prevent and punish frauds on the ps
Ia of efscars intrussed with making Of co
tracts for the Goycrnment," approx
&c June two, sightaen hundred and sixt
;. swo, be and the same is hereby suspend
n until the fEss Manday Of January, Gig
4 teen hundred and sixty three.
Il AFr&ovED, July 18th, 1862.