The New York herald., 1864-10-26
swindling Operasiens OF Bounty Bre-
kers-1he Supervisory Bouaty Paying

COMMITTEES,
TO THE EDITOR OF TEE HERALD
Republics aSe said 10 be ungralefu Communities and
individuals know In reading your article in the
HERALD OF this morning, headed "Swindling recruits -
rascaes Of the politicians Of all parties could not
bat think how prone the world land the press too 10
to the commendabe acts OF the best
OF msc Iae pains taken TO Investigate to draw
careful distinctions between the COCA and the bad, the
innocent and the guilty. Indiscrimnate ab1a carrie
little weights Coupling the OF honest with
csmpsny of rogues generally results in failure to punish
those dssrYng it. While such course tends to shelter
vice. gives encouragement shoud any be required)
to honesty virtue but arraigus s alike under one
head and them with closed eyes, huris lhsshafs Of vtu-
peration, hit who they may.
That the bounty brokers and all engaged Id ,'wndhns
our soldiers deserve the most denunciaAon ana
the greatest punishment that be inflicted noAe oan
deny. What you say in regard to such Is eminen> ny
proper unless perchance, your language fails short In
that singing bitterness they richly dcscrve but,
when you assert nsnuate that the Supervisors Su
pervsors committee for pay bounties have formed
"ring" with these "dabbers In "bIood money" and
are sharing with them the onholy profits wrung from
the defenders OF our dag by fraud and theft,
must say that your charges or insnuatons are un-
warranted, and there arc facts, proofs or
grounds TO bear them out The Supervisors
bounty paying committee consists OF Orson Blunt Elijah
7. Purdy, VIM. M Tweed William r. Stewart and Comp
troler Brennan, With Mayor Opdyke while in Office. but
now Mayor Gunther In his place. These all old and
well known citizens, houored and respected and is there
Mr. Editor among them who would be likely form
"ring' with baggage smashers, emigrant runners
the more genteel rogues for the purpose Of swndng the
soldier? At the earnest desire OF most prominent
and best citizens, and Of the entire OF the city ap
I'm vi
ment OF bounty to men to MI quota a draft
ordered IN July 1868. and thus save our citizens from
conscripion, the enforcement or which had already
plunged US into state or anarchy and boodshed the
above men named as committee TO E,ake tho dsburse.
ments How well and faithfully it's work has been do1e
the public already know.
II has continued in active operation for nearly year
and ha and not only through 1t the frst quota was
hled but all subsequent from that day this and
SO far as it's acts concerned the entire satsfac
ton OF the War Department whose receipts the commit
tee hold; OF the Governor OF the State compli
mentary stter to the chairman OF the committee, Mr.
authorities in this department. and believe to all who
know anything or its business and the conduct
nnenn ing ~. f'ease 70 recoec. nat this COMMITTEES had
rargements with tho appointment of examining
surgeons, mastering n officers, and the like 1t bad
and could not have suggesting or such appoint
ments These came through the military authorities
here, sanctioned by the War Department, and if these
officers through whom all the recruits received
before the bounty was paid neglected did not under
stand their duty, or were performing in fraudulent
manner the Supervisors committee could neither check
their action refuse governed by decision
The committee paid the bounty and obliged to
belonged and to none others therefore, il those unat
for duty in the field were passed upon "gcod," and
the fault lies, as we'll as where it does not. "'s'o
so with the frauds and robbng Ot the volunteers.
This committee had power over SUCH only TO check
when discovered time report the same to Cen
era Dix Or Provost Marshal General Hays aud you
parties punished b. military were such as this
committee reported. Even the wrong doing OF the
UA frat Ah In he ArUf
thorities BY Mr. Blunt, the republican chairman Of this
This oerainy looks very little like aco.cert OF action
or 'ring" existing between the Supervisors' |
committee and the bounty brokers. have
seen much OF the business OF this committee, |
and know much OF It's dongs, and living put
finger upon ts actions that viii not bear the clear light
When tho committee first organized for business
wholly inexperienced 10 the peculiar Of IL,
to by the United states recruiting ofcer Complaints
Of fraud after while began to be made BY aodiers In
demanded, and parties guilty were prohibited from
prosecuting their business. Soon however, this
ts BY the comnsttee and arrangements made whereby
the bounty money vas paid directly into the hands
tary authorities, who were supposed 20 be his |
faithful guardians, and placed beyond the reach Of
whole atmosphere seemed tainted with corruption and
wrong doing. rhe harpiea snuned the "greenbacks" |
in the pockets Of the volunteer afar OF and
found 70 reach them They followed them to .neadusr
ters," on the way 10 the boat, 70 Rkers Island NC
'Stores" opened on the island, and commerce.
carried on therei much the principle OF heads win
tails you lose and, as general thing i the soldier
lucky But all this you will perceive is beyond and with
out the range Of the committee.
That committee has had certain duties to perform and
u has As universally conceded, performed them faith
fully and well. large amount Of money has been az
you say paid for TO ll several quotas and
they all been filled through this committee the
extent OF considerably hundred thousand with
out resorting to draft what community been SO
i
authorities done so much and done il 20 weIlg great
,de Of this comm,,se Sa. pcdsn, 70 IL
scarcely charitable to charge such upon tbas body,
evento nsnus:e that was 10 any way connected with
Some members OF this committee have devoted |
themselves 70 the business in hand with an
earnestness and unselshness, and with . business
like sagacity, from the time OF It's organization TO
the present day, without fee or reward, and with
zeal that should them from censure and put /
blush those mouthng patriots who nothing
good unless they have hnger in the matter who viii
same time them from being pushed into the l
ranks will advocate the highest bounties but stand
ready to rob tine soldier the moment he gets
such are some OF the patriots the committee have had
TO deal with during its more important duties.
IL strikes me- MIR. Editor, that the members Of this
committee deserve the thanks OF this whole
munty and the highest honors within its g: than
sure any quarter, TO have it's acts coupled
with those deserving Of censure.
Find the guilty, and strike home but, psay sir, et
others go free, strive to bring doubt whero the
record 10 pure
But the crowning act Of tho committee in filling |
our quota Of twenty three thousand te call Of
the President FOR half million OF men. Its very i'm
mensity staggered she entire community. II an mex
orable draft became necessary To- secure this large
number would sweep twenty three thousand OF
citizens from all cassesthe high and the low the rich
and the poor-into the ranks Of the army To
them by volunteering, through bounties the must
be increased for at all places more was being paid there
fore nine millions must be added TO already
enormous city debt. Whichever way We turned the |
serious difficulties stared us n the face and every
one was asking his neighbor what could be done. Had
President Lincoln at this moment Issued order reliev
ing city altogether from bs late call for thanks
RviDgs and would have ascended him from
every man, and child 10 she metropolis. |
The press would have held him up as tho |
savior o our city, called bin blessed.
Yet Mr.. Blunt and the Supervisors committee |
did ali this but how few the words OF commendatlon
from the press Daring the o Congress bill
was passed divectng that all sailors who had enlisted
into navy since 1891 and mad been credited any
where should be credited In the next quota Of the city
town where they enlisted