The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-21
THE REEKIHo CORRUPTION o
JOHNDONInM.

THE REEKIHe CORRUPTION OF
JOANsoNIsM.
In Ahs vorsts dsRsc Of the Roman Enpir
Offices Of profit and trust wers sod TO The
highest bidder; and under As corrupt an Adj
ministrstion as ever disgraced Rome, the
" Bread and Butter y ystsn hss bsen pro-
elaimedin this country. The basisof the theory
was tina. this Government and all the Offices
and emolumens belonged to. Andrew John
son, and that every man who held Office was
eating the Bread and Butter y of Andrew
johnson. Ard hence, that every man who
dared to stand by his lifelong political opin-
ions, and his innermost moral convictions,
and show himself Q man of honesty and
honor, was, unfit 10 hold Office under Presis
dent johnson. Only such ss would sacrifice
their party and their principles, and wear the
johnson collar, for the sake Of the " Bread
md Buttsr, y dspsbdens thersos, ves alisibie
to Office, under the johnson Randall
programme. A premium was held forth for
the competition Of rascals q prise offered
and held up triumphantly, before the eyes Of
men, TO tempt them 70 dishonesty. The boon
of Office and q comfortable or pripcely income
was rresested TO the acceptance Of the Office
holders Of the country, on the one hand. as
the price Of their scquiescenee In the policy
Of President johnson, or prompt dismissal
from their position, as the penalty for homes
ty in declining the bride.
II - al Ia. Il -r1
of needy applicants were eager to prove rec
resnt to principle and TO party, and TO engage
in the nasty strife of laudation Of tbs great
dispenser of "Bresd and Bntter.
OF course il was TO be expected this training
in corruption would produce fruits, and they
would be of the seed sown and after their kind.
The fact that most of Jehnson's Mppointees,
had to wait and pass ths
ordeal Of confirmation by the Senate,
put them on their good behavior, re-
strained their natural procliyities, and thss
prevented the sudden outgruwth of rsmpan,
corruption we sAonld have otherwise witness
ed. But the case of Smythe, Of New York,
and some others that have already come to
the surface, will serve to show the real effects
Of the system.
Smythe, was . prominent merchant o.
New York, q special favorite of the John.
sonese bread butter club, and went into
the Office Of Collector in their interests, and
10 advance their fortunes A recent invest.
CATION of his affairs, exhibited q system O
unblushing corruption, speculation and rob
berry OF the Government, for the purpose O
raising money to pay enormous brides spl
bounties to the relatives and favorites of tn,
President His rascalities have been 90 bare
faced and indefensible, that even Fernaud.
Wood dared not defend him on the floor o
Congress, but admits that he should bs
promptly removed, and that the failure of the
President 10 remove Smythe, would JUSTLY
the impeachment of the President himself.
The matter came before the House Incl.
dentally the other day, and Mr.. HurIburd
made some remarks, of which the following
paragraph will give general idea,
"He declared that the Custom House in W all
street, was, under Mr. Smythes administration,
reeking with corruption, and that in reference TO
the bonded warehouse business . more aagitious,
improper, dsreputable and disgrAcefuI sransse
tion than that shown in the testimony had never
been made public. sHe also declared that the
evidence showed that while Mr.. ,Smythe took an
oath every month that he received nothing from
carriage &c, he actually did receive every. month
$3.50 from that source which money he handed to
his secretary, who kept il until the monthly oath
had been taken by the Collector, and then paid IL
over by checks or otherwise. He would never for
get the indignation be felt when witness testified
that Mr.. Smythe had said TO him, 4 am id
that undertaak IN h. D., ~.
daughters Mr.. smythe, to be surs, denied that
be had said so but the witness said 60 him Il do
not know what you thought, I do not know what
occasion you had TO say so, but do know that you
used these very words
Referring 10 the name Of Mrs. Perry as con-
nec,ed with the investigation, he said she was no
myth; her veritsble presence In the Executive
Chamber wn proved more than opoe, and the soft
words there spoken to her. II was in proof that
she was 20 have shared epe-third o. she profits Of
the general order business, and one ofthe witness
es bad told him, that after he left the atand that
Mrs. Perry bad . written agrsemsnt TO the effect
and that the President Of the United States had
rrsd thu agreement He chsrHcsesised Mr. Smytbe
rs vampire sucking out the life bfnod Of the
commerce Of New York, hanperiDg commerce,
and making IL subordinate 10 his ~ewn personai
nsgrsndirement and to political Objects
This Mrs. Perry, we learn, bears the same
relation to the Presidents son, that
Mrs. Cobb does to the President
himself And with that knowledge
our readers will be able to understand the
interests and the motives of the President,
as developed in the following extract from
che testimony given before the Investigating
committee by Edward r. Phelps:
Q. Did you have any negotiation in reference to
the general order business before or AFTER Mr.
@ - -
.. State with whom 1t was.7 A. Myself and
Thomas ]. Barr, of New York, decided apply
ing to tho President, through Mrs. Perry, Of
Cincinnati, for general order basiness from pier
50 to the Battery.
O. Did you meet her At the PrsssdsnRs house
A. did meet her there several times In the months
Of February and March We went there time
on an appointment made BY the President the
Presdenf requested as 10 call thur 1t ak o'clock
In the evening, whom he would 80 " alone; We
wsnt and had IN interview with him, and be
surpd as that Phelps and Barr should have the
ing proper testimonials He remarked that he
gave this to Barr and Phelps - much for the ben
eft of Ma Perry as for their benefit he wished
10 help 10; he said suppose that you viii
make IL ell right with Mrs Perry ard went on
to state the arrangements. and he said: Never
mind, you need not tell me eli that"
e Q. Was Il not then determined what portion she
was to have Of this businessf A. She told Mr.
johnson the arrangement, or intkrest she was 10
have, and Mr.. johnson then replied he was salts
6ed IL she was. 4, sfs..4
q. What was the proportion shs was to have
A. She was TO have one-third the net prosts.
Q. Did you produce the testimoniAk required
A. Yes.
q. Tell the committee about the substance Of
that interview. A. said 10 the President there
would be . great deal Of contention among the
New York politicians, who would try to get this,
as 1t was great thing; he patted ne on the shout
der and said; Never mind, young man, L will
stand By you.' He then remarked TO Mrs Perry,
This will be all rgh, !" We ieft the matter In her
hands she waste inform me whan We should again
call upon the President; she sent word for me to
come to Washington again shortly before Mr.
snythc was appointed, and We went and called ON
the Presideut Ht.l had an interview With him
myself and Mr.. -rry; AFTER We had n private
Interview with hire BE called out his private Sec-
retsry, Col. Brow, l think his name In and he
told me TO state L. shat l wanted to have
written down -'- . him what / wanted,
and be then vrot "a Ceilectorte give the gen
erh order busines' Worth river, from pier
NO, es to the Bait Inward X. Phelps and
Thomas J. Barr, OF 81 fprk; the President was
pressnt while the Secretary wrote this
letter, and was talk a lew tone 10 krs Per-
~, and when the lri .as written ne signed IL
think can proau'- 'esteSs, Icxme back with
the letter. and as e Mr.. smythe was nomi-
mated and eonnrm-d sented the letter TO him
he appeared to be y, iauch confused. and mt
his hand up 70 hts b. =. ssad thought for a momen,
and thar "a. Il