Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-08-17
WHOLESALE ROBBERY OF rMR GOV,
ERNMENT.
We copy the following from the Spring
field Mass Republican:

We copy the following from the Spring
field Mass Republican: 80
Several attempts have been made in Con-
grcss 10 secure full investigation of the i'm
mcnse frauds upon the Gosernmsa, CON-
mitted by Its agents in the South, during
and since the war, but for some reason Con-
gress 10 not disposed 10 overhaul this matter,
although the Government has lost by these
gigantic frauds and stealing from Ave hun
dred TO a thousand million dollars But
they cannot be wholly covered up. In Ala
bama Judge Busteed has succeeded In get
ting together grand jury disposed to make
a searching investigation Of the robberies in
that section, and indeed the people generally
will be inclined 10 aid In the enforcement Of
justice, rs they have been robbed In the ag-
gregate to larger extent than the Govern
ment. The grand jury for the United States
District Court for Southern Alabama made a
presentment on the subject, few weeks
since, that should attract general attention.
They state that there were 1900 bales Of
cottop belonging to tho Confederate Govern
ment In Alabama, at the close Of the war,
which the treasury agents of the United
States were ordered to collect for the benefit
of the Government that these agents at Mo-
bile, O. A. Dexter and Jamds n. Tomeny,
did collect and ship large part of this cot
ton, but scarcely $4,000 bales Of Il were
consigned 70 the Government and these
were charged with such extortionate expen-
ses that the treasury realized very little ffom
them. OF the balance part was fraudu-
lently released TO pretended owners, upon af-
idavits known 70 be false--the treasury
agents sharing largely In the proceeds an.
other part was sold, directly, by the agents,
who pocketed the entire proceeds. In ad.
dition to this stealing from the GQyernmcut
the agents siezed great deal of cotton that
was private property, and when Il was 90
proved, they would not restore it unless the
owners would sell itto.S. 4. Ogdon AGO, for
less than half price. The grand jury say
that the willful absence and concealment Of
Witnesses prevented the conviction of one of
these agents in previous trial, and that ev-
cry effort win be made TO procure q thor
ough investigation of the frauds. Tomeny
ia now under heavy bonds for trial.
The Chicago Republican processes 10 have
private information about the cotton frauds
in Alabama, and states positively that the
Treasury agents implicated are sustained by
their superiors in the Treasury Department.
that, In fact, the center Of this magnificent
operation is In the Treasury Department at
Washington; that In fact the "Co.," in the
firm of as. Z. Ogden r Co." consists mainly
Of silent partners In the Executive depart
ment Of the Government. These are start
ling statements. 1t Is not likely they would
be made If there was not some foundation
for them. The agents Of the swindlefs ct
may possibly get their deserts there through
the United States courts, unless they escaps
with their i'll gotten booty. But If the prin.
cipals are housed in the Treasury Depart
mont at Washington, they may hold their
plunder with impunity, unless Congress does
its duty in the case. 1t must not fail to do
IL. The facts are certain to come out and
the people will pas Judgment upon them.--
Those who permit or connive ct these crimes
cannot escape the responsibility.
These gigantic robberies and frauds by the
agents of the Government in the Southland
they are but specimens of many of the same
sort-show US what we may expect IL the
South is kept under territorial or military
rule. The Government will be robbed; the peo-
pie will be robbed and oppressed; industry
win be discouraged; there will be no induce
ments 10 loyalty. and things will continually
wax worse and worse. The thieves who
are 90 lucky as 10 get employment under the
General Government at the South, and make
their pile, will, Of course, go for perpetual
disuniou; and this class has had not little in
huence in promoting the ill-feeling .at the
Al a.