Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-06-11
Treason in the Cabinet.

Treason in the Cabinet.
Some time ago Gen. Blair, one OF the
representatives from Missoori in the Fed |
sral Congress, brought charges of corrup-
tion against the Secretary of the Treasury
Salmon p. Chase, and asked for com.
mi.tee of investigation, which, we believe
was not granted.
The attack upon the Secretary, how.
ever was CALLING to himself and his friends,
and they resolved upon retaliation.
Mr. M'Cu:g, a colleague Of Gen. Blair,
accused the latter with having speculated
ia liquors, while in command in the army,
under cover of order for military supplies,
to the amount of $4,000. A committee,
at the request of Gen. Blair was appointed
to investigate the charge, and they repor.
ted on Saturday, Dad April, entirely ex
onerating the General. They say that the
original order, signed by Gen Blair and
eight other officers, was for tho sum Of
$50 or sl75 only, for liquor and segars;
but that the order was subsequently, al
tered by Michael Powers to call Tor S9,-
600 worth for Powers own specuating
purposes. The committee say:
| "As a specimen Of the alterations one
mag be referred to-that as to brandy
The original order was for five gallops,-
By inserting the figure before the figure
s, and adding the word each to it, i. be-
came an order, as nine persons had signed
it, for 225 gallons"
After the reading of the report Gen.
Blair, addressed the House, charging that
the accusations made against him were in
consequence of his hostility to Secretary
Chase's Trade Regulations" and his
plan for "letting the Southern States 60
He more than iutimated that the order.
had been altered or forged at the Treas
ury Department the evidence showing
that the forgery was made public by {
Treasury agent, who knew its character
He almost fatty charged the Secretary
with treason, alleging that he was in favoI
: of letting the Southern States 60 in peace
was opposed to reinforcing Fort Sumpte
and employing troops to put down the re-
belIion and that he still holds these views
being no,o engaged tn maturing plan Il
lei the Southern States go tn peace and Cf
tect a permanent dissolution Of the Unton
Farther than this he alleged that under
the Secretary's Trade Regulations,' con
treband goods pass constantly beyond oul
lines, and read letters to show that, re-
Gently five BARRELS Of percussion caps were
sent from Memphis to the enemy.
Still farther, be charged tho Secretary
with using his official power and influence
Tor Presidential purposes-squanderine
the proceeds of plantations abandoned by
the rebels to sustain Pomeroys Nationa
Executive Committee, which was working
: in his TChase's] interest for the Presiden
tial nomination and to carry on the wa
generally agist the Administration.
Still worse than this be ehargd distinct
; ", on the authority Of an eminent citizen
of New York, understood to be VIM H
Aspinwall, that the Secretary has givin hi
son.inlaw, Senator Sprague, permit 70
course to trade in contreband, under tn
Treasury 4" Regulatons,") by which h
will realize two million dollars and tha
Jay Cooke, the agent and relative Of tn
Secretary, had received S450, 900 for min
moths, services, part OF which he used il
buying up newspapers for his relative an'
patron.
When we reflect that these charges wer
, made upon the floor of Congress. by mem
Der possessing the full confidence of tn
Prssieent of the United States, and who
also a Major General in the army, receu
tly assigned to command by the President
, we cannot but conder them serious.
Would Major General Blair, hazard hi
, reputation by preferring such charge
against member Of the Cabinet withoV