Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-02-06
The Charges Preferred against Victor
Smith,

0mltn.
The Oregonian Of Jan. 18th, copies an ar
ticle defending Victor Smith, and comments
upon it as follows:
"We are glad to notice this disposition to
do justice to man who has been the subject
of gross abuse; the malignant source from
which it came, is so likely to b. wrong, that
we never had much confidence in any Of the
charges against Mr.. Smith, for if be was q
corrupt. man, the Surveyor General would
not have opposed him. He fights only those
who are too honest and high minded to be-
come his confederates in fraud and iniquity
We are very sure that when investigations Of
his accounts aud actions are made. it will
never be said that he was more sinned
against than SHINING"
An effort is made in the above paragraph
to create the false impression that the Sur
veyor-General is alone responsible for the
charges preferred against Victor Smith. and
which caused his removal. For the purpose
Of satisfying the public that there was abund-
ant cause for his removal, we publish be-
low the charges submitted to the President
by DR.. Henry, and mhicA were endorsed by
eceyy Government cDfcial Of tile Territory
but two. We have carefully examined the
evidence referred to, and do not hesitate to
say that every charge preferred against Mr..
Smith is most fully sustained. If this shall
be questioned by any responsible friend of
the accused, we will publish it in full here
after:
(Copy)
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1868.
ask the President to remove Victor
Smith from the Office of Collector of Port
Angeles. Washington Territory. tor the rea-
sous following. based upon the proofs to
which reference is herein made:
1st-1'hat he Victor Smih) procured the
removal of the Custom House of the Puget
Sound District, in defiance Of the public in
ttrrsts, and for the purpose of speculating
off of the change of the Custom House to a
new town site, of which be was the principal
owner. AS to the propriety Of the removal,
refer to the petition Of the Puget Sound
mill.owners and ship-owners, annexed. marked
Al" also the statement of Capt. George
Chase, (relative of the Secretary Of the
Treasury with tho endorsement of James
Lamb and others, marked :" A."
AS to the design of Smith in making the
removal as personal and pecuniary spccu-
lation, I refer to the evidence Of his purchase
of tho Port Angeles town site. contained in
the exculpatory report made by Mr.. Brown.
Special Agent of the Treasury Department.
See also Report of the L. S. District Attor-
npy for Washington Territory, on file in the
Office of tho Treasury Department. See
also exhibit 3d." being copy Of Smiths
Custom House Book, items Of Oct. 18th
1861, Dec. ga 1861, Feb. 9TH 1862 two
items, all showing tho payment Of the sum of
$6o2 Al for property in Cherbourg. alias
Port Angeles
The statement of Lieut.. White, coupled
with the admissions of Brown and the en-
tries referred to, show that long bef0re the
removal of the Custom House from Port
Townsend, he had been engaged in purchas.
ing the property Of the town site at Port
Angeles, and that when he had secured this
10 himself, he Immediately started to WASH
ington City to procure the removal Of the
Custom House, as aforesaid, which he accom-
plished in the month of June following
Special Agent Brown attempts to excul-
pate Smith from this attempt to speculate, by
snying, that while it is true that he had pur-
chased 16O acres Of laud, it was done for
tho Government for hospital purpos.s. But
this is answered conclusively, when the dates
show the purchases made commenced in Dec.
1861, nnd ended in April with the purchase
from White, at least two or three months be-
fore tho act passed removing the Custom
House, and the explanation is therefore
clearly an after thought.
That his object was speculation. is further
proven by the fact, that--while the proof
shows his interest beyond questionable has
all along strenuously denicd that he had any
interest, whatever, in Port Angeles. This
denial was made to tho Representative elect
from Oregon. Mcbride. Mr.. Harding, U. S.
Senator, and Col. Wallace. Delegate from
Washington Territory, since Mr.. Smiths ar-
rival in Washington this winter.
2d-That he has acted corrnptly in the
discharge Of his official duties in this: That
he deposited the public money with one
Hastings, of Port Townsend. evidently to Sc.
cure a promissory note OF Smith to Hast.
ings. (See Merrymam's and Browns rrports.)
That hs also deposited money belonging to
Government. with the Hudson Bay Compa-
ny at Victoria, in British Columbia. to secure
debt for the purchase Of goods. (Sec Mer-
ryman's report, marked "C.") The attempt.
I'd explanation Of this latter transaction, on
the ground Of mistake of the clerk in max
ing the entry, as set forth in Mr.. Browns re.
port, is too shallow to b. worth moments
notice when the facts are all understood.
That Mr.. Smith. in turning over the Office
and funds to Merryman, should have forgot
ten that it was ii. ox~ deposit, instead Of one