The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-02-13
THE GREAT BOND swMD1E.

is now being investigated by committee
appointed for that purpose by the Legisla-
ture. In the sale of the State bonds au-
thorized by the last Legislature, the State
has been robbed of nearly forty thousand
dollars. Parties placed high in power by
the confidence of the people in their integ
rity, now stand before the world the betray-
crs of that confidence, with the brand of
swindler and thief upon their foreheads.-
Latest advices from Topeka tend to show
that persons holding high positions in the
Executive branch Of our State Government,
are about to be impeached and removed
from those Offices which they have so dis
graced. Ifjustice is done them. they Will
be hung as high as Haman. The following
in regard to the matter, we take from the
Topeka Record:
Since the recent discovery Of the defalca
tion in the sale of the State bonds, spccula-
ton has, of course, been rife as to were the
probable perpetrators cf the outrage, and
public indignation has reached pitch that
would permit no obstacle 10 stand in the
way of the summary and condign punish
ment of the malcfactors, the moment il.
shall be definitely asccrtained who they are.
1t is, iLdced, humiliating that Kansas, after
having been SO lately the recipient Of the
charities of the East-after having, as is
were, begged from door to door for subsist
ence and cxtrication from the sore misfor-
tune which had stricken her people, should
so soon fall prey to the crafts Of dcma-
gogues and swindlers, and the money paid
on her bonds, which are simply the hard
earned taxes Of the people paid in advance,
and the money for them more benefaction
than otherwise, from the Federal Govern
ment, should 60 to replenish the pockets Of
scroundrels who get their living by defraud-
ing the Government on public contracts,
and by the exercise of sharpness like this
upon the public. No punishment can be
too severe, no degradation too great, 70
death too ignoblc, for the miscreants who
thus fatten upon the public calamity of
war, and take advantage of the peoples
need, and the Governments generosity.
While, however, the public feel just
and bitter indignation against the perpetra-
tors of this wholesale robbery Of the State.
they arc disposed to suspend judgement as
to who arc the guilty parties until tue inves-
LEGATIONS now being prosecuted in the mat
ter, shall have been concluded, and the
guilt undeniably fastened where it belongs.
Then let the heaviest vengeance fall with
hand that shall crush the betrayors of the
peoples confidence, and vindicate the honor
of the people of Kansas, by demonstrating
that public thieves can have no part or lot
with them.
The following, taken from the Leayen-
worth Times, in regard to this wholesale
swindling of the people, is more personal
aud to the point: o..
The House is seemingly disposed to ven
tilate the question throughout to let the
light in, illuminating the very bottom of
the pit of popular contempt and political
disgrace, which Bob Stevens and his leaders
or followers, have dug for themselves.
Some say that this individual has acted
only as stool pigeon, or cappcr," for
others more Immediately interested, and
have used him to pull their chesnuts cut of
the fire bnt if anybody imagincs this Of
the Hon. Il. S. Stevens, he will be disap-
pointed to an "alarmin' extent" Bob
the motto, looking to d" the
greatest good for the greatest possible num-
bcr," provided, however, that number is
No. l and people hereabouts do not think
so cbaritably of him as to fancy he would
pick feathers from golden goose, to render
soft the nests Of associates, leaving his own
comparatively bare. Not exactly. Rob-
ert has got his share, and if it is not the
lions, it is owing to the particular shrewd-
ness of his partners in the late transaction,
By which the State has been defrauded to
m amount ranging from ten to thirty Mous-
md dollars! Quite nice sum to be the
fruits Of a single piece Of sharp financiering,
even though it has to be shared by pro-
cess of division which will probably not be
short, between three or four Of the State
engineers.
The query is, had che Governor any
knowledge of this fraud at the time Stevens,
Robinson l. Co., returned from the East,
whittier they had been on journey of by
Is C. Robinson to count one
IN the division of the spoils wrung from the
States necessities !? Il must be confessed
hat appearances are indicative Of as much.
[n his recent message, although the princi.
pals and the agents in the sale of bonds, had
to Topeka, he makes no mention
If the success or failure of their endeavors I;
ne does not even allude to the matter and
when the House passed a resolution calling
IN him for Information in regard thereto,
ho nsnosfinx xrae .e4l,a. rAirAal than c0n.I