The Placer herald., 1862-03-29
THE PLACER HERALD
AUBURN, MARCH 20, 1862.
Fraud and Swindling in the Administra-
ton of Government.


Republican school, against the Buchanan admin
.tration was the manner in which the pubic
funds were applied. 1t was considered grlev-
ance of such magnitude, as TO warrant espccll
notice in their presidential 1--WE will not cali IL
NATIONALLY nominating convention. Accordingly
we find in the platform adopted at Chicago in
1860, the following resolution:
So That the people justly view with alarm
the reckless eXtravagance which pervaues every
department of the Federal Governments that
return to r. gid economy and accountability is in
dispensable 10 arrest the systematic plundcr of
the public treasury by favored partisans; while
the recent startling developments of fraud and
corruption at the Federal Metropolis. show that
an entire change Of administration is Imperative
ly demanded
1t will be seen that, in the judgment of the
party now in power, "rigid economy and accoun-
tability'was indispensable in the conduct of pub
lie affairs. also that the 'fraud and corruption at
the Federal Metz opolis' showed that, ian entire
change of the administration" was imperativey
demanded. These charges against the admins
traton of the day, were proclaimed everywhere
by the speakers and press of that party. No eff
fort was left untred to blacken the character of
every man the most distantly connected with pub
lie affairs, from the Pres dent of the United
States, down TO the appointec of Post Office at
the cross roads, To believe them one would sup
pose Republicans were purer than the angels in
Heaven, and much more correct accountants han
the clerks in the Bank Of England They were
pledged in the most solemn manner, that party
can promise. either in conventions as individu-
ais to an honest, economical use Of the public
funds.
People have long since become convinced that
the charges then so lavishly made against public
officers were for the most part groundess. maici-
ous f,brcations. gotten up solely for the purpose
of prejudicng the judgment of the public. 1t is
not possible in any country 10 transact the affairs
of that vast machine called government with and
through its thousands Of agents, with the same
rigid economy as an individual would conduct
his private affairs.
1t will be readily conceded that the adminstra-
tion Of Mr.. Buchanan, so far as the public moneys
were concerned discharged its duties as honestly
MS previous Enthusiastically we apprehcnd
is the settled judgment at this day of the Ameri-
can people party strife having passed away and
left the mind unbiased by passion. But how
about this purity party? 1t has had the reins of
government for twelve months. and during Pc
riod appealing most strongly to the patriotism
and fidelity of public men. Have they shown
that horror for "rcckless extravaganza" for
'fraud and corrupton." and that admiration for
rigid economy and accountability that so pos
sesseI them ut Chicago. and Oh the stump, during
the year 1860?
The fact is notorious, that frauds astounding
and stupenduous, unparalleled in extent and au
dncty. have been committed by the agents OF The
government and connived at. if not shared in. by
members of the cabinet. The proof of this does
not come from the enemies of the administration
but from republicans themselves. Ont of their
own mouths, these mighty reiormers stand con
victed.
The Navy Department, with all its experienced
and sklltul seaman under pay. must needs en-
plOy an ..agentH to purchase vessels for the SER
vice. 1t employed George d. Morgan, brother
in law of the Secretary of the Navy. Secretary
Wells in the space of four and one halt months.
in 1861, paid TO Morgan S95 ,000.! as Morgan per
centage for making such purchases during that
time. This was what the government represent
ed by his brotherinlaw paid him. but he was
also paid by the vendors OF these vessels, he acted
at one and the same time agent for the govern
ment. and the owners of the ships AMI the more
he paid for urssei the more per ctntage ne got
from both partes-a fact well known to Mr.. Sec
retary Wells. Double this $4,000 Qor it all
have Mr.. Secretary Wells idea, of "a return to
rigid economy and accountability" He paid one
Starbuck Sl4500 for two vessels which Starbuck
whilst agent of the government. paid only $4,000
for. Another agent chartered vessel at ten
thousand dollars month, and agreed to pay $50
900 for her in case she was lost which vessel was
not worth $4,000.
The contractors under Secretary Cameron, nrc
known to every one to have perpetruted the most
supendous frauds and bare-faced frauds that
have ever come to the light of day.
His son, II boy of some twenty years old is re-
ported to have amassed on immense fortune out
of contracts obtained from the department over
which his father presided. The very name OF the
Secretary OF War became stencil in the nostrils
of men, because of the swindlcs he countenanced
through his Pennsylvania friends. In the cloth
ing department, it ia announced that through the
cOllusion of its officers, over $20OOOO was paid
for clothing, which has been condemned rs worth
less
According to Mr.. Dawes (Republican NJ. c.,
Cameron's department has made numerous con
trpcts with private Individuals them pr
vutely. and with ex-members Of Congress, who
knew nothing practically. Of the subject of the
contract, for the manufacture OF arms. One OF
these is contract to supply one million and
ninety thousand muskets ut twenty-eight dollars
apiece, when the same quality of musket is man
uf.ctured ut Springfield, for thirteen and half
dollars apiece. The contractor has six months TO
deliver them in. Ex-Judges and eX-GOvernOrs
barter and bribe to obtain these chances at the
public crib.
This exhibits Mr. Cumeron's horror of ''lraud
and corruption" and yet Mr.. Lincoln sends this
man to Russia, complimenting him as he retires
from the War Department with his full confidence
in his patriotism and integrity. The foregoing
facts are drawn principally from the report OF an
investigating committee, composed of Republican
Congressman, and the Philadelphia Enquirer IRE
pubiican.) in commenting on this report says,
Upon ali matters connected with the purchase
of supplies for the army and navy treated of in
this report, there is visible and reeking through
every line. The shocking fact that the officers and