New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-26
NOPE EYECrTITE CLEMENCY.

III seems, III we lilly tlC'iiJ bhV i'pVi'" '""'
reach us, that the public is about to be treated
to another and most notable exhibition OF the
tender heartedness that Mr. President john
son has for the noble army of rOgues Another
example is to DO given OF the tolerance
he feels for criminals who have offended
against the statutes of the United States,
and are undergoing the punishment awarded
them by the courts. Having shown mercy to
mail-robbers, counterfeiters, and embezzllng
officials of various kinds, he is about to eX-
tend the benefits of his pardOning prerOgatiye
TO the most noted felOn that New York has
contributed during the war to the Sing Sing
calendar In word, Mr.. Solomon k0hnstamm
is about to be enlarged!
This distinguished parsonage, having sue
cceded in coIrupting successive discussing of
ficers, I'm tempting scores of ignorant persons
To their moral ruin, in driving at least two
officers Of the Regular Army to suicide, In de-
fraudng the United States out of something
like quarter of million, in procuring no
end of forgeries and false affidavits, and
in making the Disbursing Office public scan
dial and a reproach, was finally caught, tried,
and sentenced to serve ten years i'll Sing Sing.
The penalty was for ten years only, although
the Grand Jury of the United States Court
had found ~ good and sufficient bills OF III
dictment against him, each bill representing
either forgery to which he had been party,
or n fasifed voucher which he had collected.
Before this result could be reached, the Gov
eminent had to pass through long and hard
fight with the best talent mt the NewYork Bar
that the criminal could hire with money; and
so unreasonable were the delays obtained by
him, that resolution of inquiry had finally to
be introduced into the United States Senate
to ascertain why he was not brought to trial.
The evidence produced before the Court showed
such q series of offenSes on KohnStamm'S part
and such state of corruption in the DlsburS-
ing Office, that IN passing sentence Judge Mel
son was forced tn say to the prisoner " The
magnitude of these frauds upon the Govern
"ment is appalling. A person witnessing your
trial and hearing the evidence in the case, would
almost come to the conclusion that the Dis
"bursng Office of the Government in this city
az was established for the payment of false and
" fraudulent, rather than genuine and honest,
claims upon il. Your offense has none of the
mitigating circumstances attending q crime
committed in haste, or on sudden impulse,
" or i'm thoughtlessness, but it is the result of
" deliberate Judgment in choosing between n
life of tmnsgression and crime, and
" that of virtue, responsibility, and honor.
a. Your position in society and
wealth were used to tempt and corrupt the
"more humble, ignorant, and dependent within
" the circle of your influence. If there
" was any ingredient of truth in these claims,
" the amount was grossly eXaggerted-ln
"many of them the papers in support OF the
claim, and the claim itself, were an entire
" fabrication. Many of the persons whose
names were used in getting these papers
were imposed upon, many names were forged,
"many false oaths taken-indeed your offcnse
Involved in its preparation, in almost every
instance that has come before us, the crimes
+" of forgery, and perjury of Others of the wages
" of which you were the recipient"
1t was conreded by all who knew the facts
in the case that Kohnstamm had been surpassed
by few other criminals on our records in the
magnitude, bascness, and bOldness of his Of
lenses; and this opinion was concurred IN by the
public generally. And yet he had hardly been
safely lodged in Sing Sing Prison before in
fuences were set to work to procure his release.
Money was lavishly expended to this end, and
President Lincoln and his successor were III
turn bcsought for pardon. The tears of wo-
man backed up the opportunities of paid
counsel and agents, and in one way or an
other three members of the Cabinet were in
duced TO sign the petition. The opposition of
Mr.. Stanton prevented the consummation of
the plot, and has kept this criminal in prison
until the present time. But it is alleged
that tho money at his disposal has
finally prevailed over all opposition, and
that the terms of pardon have been
agreed upon in defiance of the requirements
of justice and public morals. 1t is even stated
that within tho next fortnight the felon is to be
restored to his liberty and the enjoyment of
his fortune on some paltry plea of threatened
insanity, and the excuse that his sensitive
nature has boon as much punished by two
years Imprisonment "a common scoundrels