East Saginaw courier., 1864-08-03
From the Brooklyn Daily Union
Ex-Seoretary Chase.


Ex-Seoretary Chase.
What does Mr.. Weed mean? The
only despotism of which there has
been any complaint to this period of
war has been that of Mr.. Weeds ad-
mired friend the Secretary of State,
which, for our part we have never
found fault with, but which Secretary
Chase constantly opposed. Again,
does Mr.. Weed mean to charge that
Chase "did not desire restoration of
the Union?" He says 80 as plainly
as he can without distinctly framing
an accusation. If he does, he is guilty
of a very contemplate, very palpable,
and very deliberate lie. We have in
another column taken occasion to
characterize lie by insinuation. If
we have said anything TO make such
lie appear despicable, we should like
to treble its significance, and present
it as our estimate Of this assertion of
Mr.. Weeds.
The "despotism" from which 1 felt,
in common with emancipated thous-
ands, sense of relief, is we'll under
stood at Washington. Mr.. Chase, in
the exercise of the vast patronage of
his Department, was q Despot. He
preserved his power over the Presi-
dent by reiterated threats to resign
Mr.. Lincoln, under the erroneous i'm
preston that he could not dispense
with the services Of his Secre-
tary of the Treasury, yielded and
endured until human patience was
exhausted. Mr.. Chase tried the
resignation dodge once too often
Mr.. Lincoln's error was in living so
long in torment.
The final breech was occasioned by
the refusal of Mr.. Lincoln to ratify an
improper appointment. In declining
to accept Mr.. Chase's nominee, Mr.
Lincoln suggested Richard M. Blatch-
ford, Dudley s. Gregory, or Thomas
Hilhouse, as Assistant Treasurer--but
Mr.. Chase was nfexible-Despotic-
Mr.. Field or resignation
In view Of the notoriously unwor.
thy men with whom Mr.. Chase had
surrounded himself, Mr.. Lincoln was
certainly justified in pausing. Mr.
Chase, not long previously, had made
the same point in relation to a New
York Custom House appointment
and the President yielded. The or,
ganization of the New York Custom
House is living, burning Disgrace
Mr.. Chase has EVIDENCE of infamous
practices, but refused to act. Wher
charges showing that the enemy were
receiving supplies through the Custom
House were SO rife that the Presiden
in December last, called the Secreta.
ry's attention to them, Q replied curtly
that he had "no information affecting
the integrity Of the Collector" HI
had, however, abundance of informa
ton affecting the integrity of othel
officials, but instead Of removing then
his Special Agent spent months in eff
forts to strangle Investigations ant
cover up rascalities. Mr.. Chase knew
that there were men in tho Custom
House whose only service was to sigr
a Pay Roll. He knew that other,
were dishonest-that one was detect
ed leaving his Department with goods
concealed upon his person. He ha'
known for three years that gross
Custom House dishonesty exists a
Oswego. But he gave "no sign"
Mr.. Clark, whom no placed at th,
the head of tho Money Bureau
reau at Washington, had boen ex
posed officially for dishonesty in tn,
Extension of the Treasury Building, ,
work progressing under the eye o
Mr.. Chase! And yet he placed tha
man in position of overwhelming
pecuniary trust lie not only PLACED
a rADooED man in such position, bu
refused to remove him on tho repor
Of his own Solicitor of the Treasury
Mr.. Jordan, who, in April last, in {
letter to Mr.. Chase, said:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SoLcrroR's 0rrIcE,
April 18th, 1864.
Sir: have the honor herewith Il
transmit report made to me by Col
L. G. Baker, together with number
of affidavits, affecting the conduct anC
character Of 8. nj. Clark and q. A
Henderson.
In accordance with your instruc
tons, / exhibited these -affidavits Il
Mr.. Clark, stating to him that / die
so by your direction, and in order tha
he might have an opportunity to max,
such explanation or reply as he SHOULD
deem proper.
| His reply to me was that as TO any
thing alleged against him impeachin,
his conduct or character as an officer
Of this Department, he denied it utter
| ly, and that as to any other matter, h
scorned to make any answer.
/ have further in obedience to you
orders, called before me most Of thu
persons whose affidavits are herewith
transmitted, and made such other in
quiries as it has been in my power Il
make touching the matters stated il
the affidavit, and the result is, an EN-
TIRE CONVICTION that the most materia
] of those statements are TRUE; PARTIc
uLARLY THOSE CONTAINED IN THE AFFIDA
vrTs OF ELLA JACKSON, JENNIE GERMo,
AND LAURA DuvAL.
What action, if any ought to be to
ken, in view Of these facts, is, o
course, not question for me to con
slider.