Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-03-20
oorruption q ReEeaue oaeers

The report upon whislzey frauds made
yesterday by the Congressional Re
trenchment Committee, makes some
very serious charges against the Presi-
dent. 1t accuses him distinctly OF re-
tanning in office, in spite Of the prOtes-
tations of the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue, corrupt officers, who cOnnived at
the enormous frauds by which the peo-
pies treasury has been cheated out of
not less than one hundred aud fifty
millions of dollars. The report says:
g. revenue inspector in New York
called upon a collector and stated to
him he could furnish an opportunity
where each could make FIVE thousand
dollars a month. The collector assured
him be would be glad of the oppOrtuni-
ty if legitimate. The proposition, as
Submitted, contemplated taking whis-
key out Of bond for. exploration, sub
stituting water for shipment, and put
ting the whiskey on the market With
evidence OF the guilty proposition, the
collector repOrted the case to the de-
partment, and the dishonest inspector
was retained, not with the appreciation
of either Mr.. Rollins or the Secretary
of the Treasury
Again, it makes this charge:
''Plundering by officials has been en-
couraged. Some friends of the Presi-
tors and assessors, in the fall of 1866, re-
questiag from each a contribution of
$5, 600, when it was known that the an
nual salary of each, if honest, did not
much exceed that sum. Was not that
an intimation that an attempt on their
part to obtain more than a legal salary
would not be severely criticised at head
.quarters7 In one district the collector
m aCie the distflIers pay tribute, and the
S., 900 was realized. Who has any
doubt that was a paying investment ~
Again the committee reports that the
President
chad appointed a cotton agent, a gen.
tlemeu formerly from Tennessee, who
seized some cotton, for which the own
ers sued the government and obtained
a portion ; the government cOmpromls-
ed by paying an amount agreed upon
there was no pretence for any infor1er's
share; yet johnson cunningly suggests,
intimates and calls the attention of the
Secretary and others to the settlement
of this mans claims, when he knew
there could be no honest claim-rather
than offend the Executive, his friend
was allowed to take S68,O00 from the
Treasury
Again, the report says:
''1he Whiskey ring is stronger than
political combinations, controlling the
selection of inspectors in some instan-
ces it has dictated the appointment of
cousuls, to have a willing tool at foreign
ports. In New York city, to-day, con-
sular certificates can be obtained as
easily as tax receipts"
Now these are serious charges. If
they are true, if they can be made good,
if it is a fact that the President has kept
in office corrupt men after their corrup-
ton had been exposed to him by bis
own subordinates, the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Commissioner of Rev
enuR, then here is ground for his i'm
peachment and removal from Office far
better, far more serious than the mere
technicality upon which the present
Impeachment hangs.
If Mr.. Johnson has done what this re-
port says he has, he is responsible for
the enormous whiskeY and other reven-
ne frauds, and deserves punishment.
At any rate he, and his two chief sub
Ordinates in the revenue department,
the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Commissioner of Revenue, are respOn-
sihIe to the people for the glaring nom
enforcement of the law; and if it is
true, as this report asserts, that Mr..
McCulIOch and Mr.. Rollins have been
overruled in their acts by the President,
and have been obliged by him to con-
sent to the appointment or to the reten-
ton in Office of men known to them to
be inefficient or corrupt, then they must
share the Presidents condemnation un-
less they expose his misconduct.
This report on revenue frauds is the
most damaging blow Mr.. Johnson has
received 5 and if he cares for his charac-
ter as public officer or as a citizen lac
will do we'll to try and make manifest
to the public his innocence of the very
serious crimes imputed to him.--N. 7.
Post.