The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07

VI O<snaCuusOAe OOyOuU LuO Ccu0Idi uuOc
by order of Gen. Paine. The property OF
these families was confscated by Paine,s
officials, as it was said, for the benefit OF
the Government Two old widow ladies,
their hair slvered by more than sixty
winters, for no just cause, were torn from
| their comfortable homes and sent to Can
ada under guard of file of negro soldiers.
The people were swindled in the most
outrageous manner. Gen. Paine's rule was
absolute. A Trade Agent was appointed,
not by the Secretary of the Treasury, but
by the self-created monarch, who issued
his edicts from Headquarters District of
Western Kentucky. He levied tax of
ten dollars on each hogshead of tobacco
and each bale of cotton exported, and as
sessed an ad valorum tax of 25 per cent
on all cotton or tobacco received. j. (.
Woodruff was appointed Trade Agent, as
signed to this especial duty. The large
tobacco warehouse of Thomas Dale was
taken possession of, and all cotton and to-
bacco subject to contiscation or tax was
stored in it. Only particular favorites and
pets of the General were allowed to carry
on business, thus monopolizing the trade,
Paine sharing in the profits. Col. W. 81.
Barry, of the colored troops, for months
kept company with a notorious prospitute,
appearing in public with her on all occa-
sions. He forced one of the bankers of
Paducah to pay this woman $3.50 in gold,
giving no excuse for the strange proceed
ing. Capt. Phelps Paine, son of the Cen
eral, and A. A. G. on his staff, sent a
guard to take from the house Of Mr.. Scott
Ford sufficient furniture to furnish bis
private room in elegant style.
After thorough investigation, the COM
mission were satisfied that Hon. Lucien
Anderson, member of Congress, r. II.
Hall, Provost Marshal LIST Congressional
District of Kentucky, John T. Bollinger,
and Maj. Henry Bartling, sth o. 8. COL
ored heavy artillery, were guilty of cor
ruption, and sharers with Gen. Paine in
his swindling transactions.
At three different places in the district,
Anderson and Bollinger addressed the
people, and told them that if they did not
vote for Lincoln they would be granted no
privileges, would not be allowed to trade,
their property would be taken, and they
would be reduced to beggary and starv-
ing condition. Every possible effort was
made to exasperate the people, in order to
have pretext to seize their property.
Col. McChesney ruled Maytield with an
iron hand. He nearly destroyed the beau
tiful town by cutting down the shade trees
and erecting fortification around the
court house on the public square. On this
work all citizens were required to labor,
neither sickness nor age exempting man
from duty. If a person did not choose to
labor, he was assessed fine Of from $500
to $500. The fortifcation was useless
piece Of work, as many of the bills sur
rounding the town commanded the square.
The commission think that it was simply
done to exasperate the people, and serve
as pretext to assess heavy fines on them.
A box was found at Mayfield filed with
various articles taken from the citizens,
and addressed to Col. McOhesney 8 friends
in Illinois. It is estimated that the citi-
zens were assessed by McOhesney to the
amount of $50, 900, but $4,000 of which
went to the Government. This latter
amount was seized by Gen. Fry while in
transit North. The Postmaster of May
field, worthy young man, who proved
his loyalty in the early part Of the strug-
gle, and has remained firm to the Union,
because he said he could not approve of
the policy pursued by the Administration
in regard to the negro, was stripped Of his
Office by Col. AcChesney, and forced to
labor on the Notifications for three weeks.
Maj. Peck of the 1920 Illinois, commanding
for short time at Smithland, was one Of
Panes subordinates, and faithfully execut-
ed the orders of his chief. He executed
several citizens of Livingston county with
out show of trial. According to bis
own statement the people were assessed
to the amount of $4,000, but 1000 Of
which resulted to the Government. At
Paduca Gen. Paine established trade re-
gulations, requiring payment for all goods
bought and sold, and charging ten cents
for issuing permit for goods valued as
low as forty cents. No account was kept
of this money, and there is not a paper to
show that one cent of it was ever turned
over to the Government. A relief fund
was established for the purpose, as stated
by the General, of being devoted to the
support of wives of soldiers in the district.
All the citizens were required to contri-
butte, and yet not a single Kentucky SOL
dier's wife was ever benefited by the fund.
Captain Paine, for his own individual
wants, drew from the treasury at one time
$1,000. There are three grand swindling
schemes in full operation throughout the
district-the relief fund, the assessment
to indemnify loyal people for losses suffer
ed at the hands of guerillas and the tax
levied on tobacco and cotton.
From various sources, it is estimated
that Gen. Paine swindled the people and
the Government out Of not less than
$4,000. In the expedition after Adam
johnson, property was wantonly destroyed
and the people robbed and prosecuted in
the most cruel manner. No effort was
made to capture the guerilla gang, as,
when within five miles of the camp, Paine
with his troops wheeled about and started
down the river for Paducah. 1t was SIM
ply foray for plumber. Throughout the
district the General made three different
speeches, in which he said that he was
clothed with plenary powers-he reported
to nobody but the President for instruc-
lions, and to him alone was responsible
/