Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-08-22
4 SOP 4POF HISTORY.

The Democratic party has been kind
ly relieved by the people OF the cares
and responsibilities of public affairs
for some years past, but every now
and then some incident of its meta
rious history is brought into renewed
notice, so that the unctuous rascahty
for which it was distinguished in the
days of its power and pride, arc not
likely to be forgotten.
The Treasury Department will soon is
sue q notice that the Secretary will remove
the cayeat or protest against the payment
of the interest on the North Carolina and
Tennessee State Bonds distracted about
eight years ago from the Interior Depart
mcnt. with the Missouri State Bonds held
in trust for certain Indian Tribes, on the
holders of said bonds producing proper
proofs under oath that they obtained them
bona fic from responsible persons.
The amount IF the Missouri bonds was
100000, OF North Carolina $4,000, and
Tennessee. $4,000.
The history of this theft, which is
politely designated abstraction
was quite familiar few years ago,
but for the rising generation who
have only known the Democratic
party as an ally of rebellion, viii
briefly state the main incidents of
this emincntly Democratic raid on
the treasury.
Prior to the advent of the Admin
istration of Mr.. Buchanan. the last
of the Democratic Presidents, the
Government had invested in State
bonds q large amount of none
which it held in trust for various
Indian tribes, the Interest whereof,
under treaty provisions was to be
applied to the benefit of the Indians.
Mr.. Buchanan appointed rs Secrc-
tary of the Interior, Jacob Thomp-
son, of MISSISSIPPI, the same who
afterwards made Canada his head
quarters, and from thence dispatched
raiding parties. spies and. ihcen-
diaries into the United States. during
the prevalence of the rebellion.
One of Thompson's clerks, named
GODDARD Bailey, q high toned chival-
rio. gentleman of Alabama, entered
into some speculation with Russell.
Majors and Waddell. sound Demo
Gratis, who had fat contract with
the Government to do its freighting
across the plains; and as the necessi-
ties of the associates required Bailey
stole from the safe in which they
were deposited, quantities of the
Indian trust bonds, upon which they
raised money by sale or hypotheca-
ton. This process continued until
the sum total of the abstraction"
amounted to SS72,000 By the time
the discovery was made of the free
and easy manner in which these secu-
rites had been handled, Russell,
Majors and Waddell were as badly in
solvent as was Mississippi when she
repudiated her debts. Bailey was
worth nothing at the outset, having
come to Washington, as the Con
gressional Investigating Committee
stated in their report, "a bankrupt
in fortune, and u political advcnturer
seeking Office" SO there was nothing
for the Government to do but to
make up the loss to the Indians, I'M
less it could trace the stolen bonds
and recover them from the holders,
A portion of them were traced and
suits were instituted and injunctious
obtained to prevent the payment of
Interest upon the bonds, other
wise than to the United States At
ter the rebellion took place the suits
remained in allegiance, and SO did tue
interest, as the stolen bonds were is
sued by the States in rebellion, or so
distracted AMI impoverished by being
the theater of war rs to be unable to
pay interest to anybody.
Now, however, the question has
assumed importance, as these States
have resumed payment on theil
!, bonds, and the Secretary ofthe Treas
ury having satisfied himself that the
bonds are held by innocent purch:
sers, withdraws OPPOSITION to their II
ceipt of the interest due from tn,
! States issuing them. The committee
reported at that time, FEBRUARY, 1861
that they found nothing duplicating
, Thompson personally in tie theft
J but from his subsequent history W.