The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-07-29
E1-sECRETARY CHASE.
Mr.. Thurlow Weeds Opinion of Him.
CAUSE FOR REJOICING THAT HE IS OUT OF THE
CABINET.
{ From tie ADaag Eceaiag Journal

lief, is well understood at Washington. Mr..
! Chase, n the exercise Of the vast patronage of
his department. was despot. He preserved
hs power over the President by reiterated threats
to resign Mr.. Lincoln, under the erroneous
impression that he could not dispense with the
services Of his Secretary of the Treasury, Weld
ed and endured until human patience was ex-
hausted Mr. Chase tried resignation dodge
once too often. Mr. Iincon's error was in iiy-
| ing so long in torment. The final breach was
occasioned by the refusal of Mir. Lincoln to rat
! lfy an improper appointment. In declining
! TO accept Mr.. Cbases nominee, Mr. Lincoln
suggested Richard NJ Batchford, Dudley S.
| Gregory, or Thomas ffillhouse, as Assistant
Treasurer but Mr. Chase was inhexible-des-
| potic-Mr. Field resignation In view of
| the notorleusy unworthy men with whom AIf.
/ Chase had surrounded himself, Mr. Lincoln
was certainly justified in pausing. Mr. Chase
not long previously had made the same p0int
| in relation to 4 New York Custom House ap-
/ pointment, and the President yielded The or
| ganization of the New York Customs House Is
a living burning disgrace. Mr., Chase had evi-
dence OF infamous practices, but refused to act.
! When charges showing that the enemy was re-
eeving supplies through the Custom House were
/ 50 rife that the President, in December last,
I
piled curtly that he had ''no information affect
ing the integrity of the Collector He had,
however, abundance of information affecting
the integrity Of other officials but instead of re-
moving Them, his special agent spent months in
efforts TO strangle Investigations and cover up
raseaities. Mr.. Chase knew that there were
/ men in the Custom House whose only service
was 10 sign payroll He knew that others
/ were dishonest--thato one was detected in leaving
his department with goods concealed upon his
person. He has known for three years that
gross Custom House dishonesty exists at Oswego.
But he gave no E'sign." Mr.. Clark, whom he
piacedat the head of the money bureau at WASH
ington, had been exposed officially, for dishon-
! esty IN the extension of the Treasury building,
J ? WORK Ji-ST Cssslss ItEas. f'-- -.
I And yet he placed chat man IN position oi O.
overwhelming trust! He not only placed tai
boced man IL such position, but refused to re-
move him on tie report of bis own Solicitor OF
the Treasury, Mr. Jordan, who in April last,
in a letter TO HIr. Chase, said
TREAsURY DEPARTMENT, SoIIcTToR's 0FE1cE,
| April I9-Sir | have the honor herewith to
transmit :. report made to me by Colonel l.. Z,
Baker, together with a number of atidaTits,
affecting the conduct and character of 5. Nj.
Clark and G. A. Henderson.
IN aCEOIA&lGS Win Sll. iIiSlA nSllOh S@NAlAO-
lied these aifidavits 10 Mr. Clark, stating to him
that | did so by your direction, and in order
that he might have an opportunity to make
such explanation or reply "s he should deem
proper.
His reply TO me was, that as TO anything al
legged against him impeaching his conduct or
character as an officer OF this department, he
denied it utterly, and that as to any other mat
Ear 10 aaor,lad n ms l,a anv answer,
have further, in obedience of your order
called before me most of the persons whose aiii-
dayits are herewith transmitted, and made sucl
other inquiries as it has been in my power tt
make touching the matter stated in the aiida-
wits and the result Is, an entire conviction that
the most material of these statements are true
particularly those contained III the aifcavlts o.
Ella Jackson, Jennie Germou and Laura Duyal
What action, if any, ought 10 be taken II
view of these facts, Is, Of course, not question
for me to consider.
have the honor to be, with high respect,
(S;qned) EDWARD JORDAN,
Solicitor OF the Treasury.
Hon. S P Chase, Sec'y. of the Treasury.
There are other and grave reasons for rejolc
ing that Mr.. Chase Is out Of the Cabinet. Ht
aboltion:zed the Cabinet; and Ii our Govern
!, ment should be overthrown and our Union sew
ered he, as the chief OF class to which Sum
nor, Greeley, Philips, etc., etc, belong viii bi
responsible for the calamity-dlrectly reapunsl-
bIe-for they have perverted the war which
should have waged against rebellion into war
for abolition, lacking the wisdom TO perceive
/, that the whole North could be united against
rebellion While Upon their abolitionp programme
tine people are divided. In other words, ii wis
err men had ruled, rebellion would have divided
the South and united the North. AS it is the
South is intensely united, while the North is
nnbanpilv divided. But for Mr.. Chase and hi:
fotlogers the rebellion whould have had mar
r,,yar limits, embracing only the Gulf and sornt
of tbs -.:,-ssippi States But Tor a1e'r MIN
onca ~ at two Inion men iG.,om Border States woulc
have heen in the Cabinet. rosr saying, IN De
cenber. 1860, that Tennessee, North Cal9llla
Western Virginia and Northern Alabama, were
! full of Union men, was denounced and per
secuted by all the Ultra Aboltionists. Bu
,,n1sr every discouragement-ar rapine anf
mnrdeT--tiis u', has proved to be true Mr.. Chas
would not. however, allow these states 70 re
main in the Union, nor suffer them to return ..
, TO ID as States. For the truth OF ~ "ssei'to'
|, that Mr. Chase would not allow the Border
I States TO remain in tho Union, submit the iol
: lowing letter; rr,.
WASHINGTON, February9 g. Dear asr IL hank :
for your note and explanation OF that vote.
may be useful Thars is $ greater dispositior