The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-01-26
The ALLEGED Al;aSiSa FRAUDS.

A Mr.. MMLTIN, living in Washington
City appears to know all the facts con
nected with the Alaska frauds, and is
anxious to be Summoned before the
Committee OH Public Expenditures. The
". Y. Herald, Of the 18th inst, has the
following choice article, from Washing
ton, in relation to the matter:
"Accordiag to Martins statement,
which Is at least worthy OF sleirg sifted,
while the Alaska treaty was heiag nego
tiatad, Seward expressed to Baron StoCckl
doubts as to the chances of getting the
matter through Congress and advised the
latter to 90 something to oil the wheels
Of legislative machinery. In arranging
the price to be paid for the Territory the
means were provided whercwith to fur
nish the oil. Thad Stevens was the man
selected to put the matter through, and
it is alleged the imperial agent visited the
Great Commoner, and in his blandest
manner laid the matter open, assuring
him that half million of dolla,s would
be regarded as mere bagatelle if his in
tluence could be secured The good old
, man refused any recompense, but put
his shoulder to the wheel with will. A
distinguished Eastern member was found
to take charge of the matter, and bill
, was prepared. At this stage of the
game, another Eastern member, who has
a reputation for smelling good things,
scented the game. He had small claim
on the Russian Government, that he was
prosecuting for an Eastern firm who fur
nishcd the Russian bear with fire arms
amounting to $S00,000. He at once saw
the first Eastern member and let him
know that he was fully posted, Num-
bers one and two put their heads together
and settled that number two should in
/ troduce a resolution to make the deduc-
ton from the Alaska purchase money in
favor of his clients but should subside
when number one raised certain point
Of order. Well, the appropriation was
finally made, and the following are rep
resented as some of the items of expen-
diture:
"To an ex-public printer, $4,000.
"To near relative of the Great Com
moner, $4,000
"To an ex-Commissioner of Pensions,
$4,000.
''To the Washington correspondent of
New York radical morning paper, So
600.
''To Washington correspondent, who
is on the list as belonging to the Herald,
but who is known to be attached to a
Cincinnati paper, $4,000.
s'To conservative morning paper in
Baltimore, $4,000.
"To the Washington special cores
pondent of the same paper, $4,000.
ITO a Chicdgo Democratic morning
paper, $4,000.
ITO representative of the Jones
family, $4,000.
ITO an Eastern Senator who had influ-
ence with prominent journal, $4,000.
And the Eastern Senator before allu
ded to as No. l, S250,000.
"To Eastern member No. 9, S150, 900.
The diplomatic chief fell heir to $780,,
600, and the great king of the New York
lobby, who had the general management
of the job, received the modest little sum
of 100000. Martin pretends that there
is evidence ready for the committee to
show that an acquaintance who CHANGED
to call on Baron StoecN soon after the
appropriation was made saw lying on the
Minister'S desk draft for $4,000, GOO,
which the BareR kSnded Aim tc look at,
The gentleman asked what it was for, and
was told that it was the payment for
Alaska. But this said he, lis only for
S5,000,000. thought the United States
were to pay S7,2G0,000.' The Baron
answered: No, sir; that is all we asked
for the Territory. You Yankees got all
the rest There is also proof that Mr.
Seward received from Boston, about the
4th of October, letter of which the
following is q copy:
"MY DEAR SIR--It appears that some
one connected with the Russian Legation
has been telling tales out of school and
| am threatened with blackmailing. l
thought at first to submit to the exigency
if it was Tot drawn too strong, as in
these matters the least talk the better
I thought, however, to apprisc you of
the fact. What do You adviser
"This letter bore the signature Of an
Eastern member of Congress. 1t was
enclosed by the diplomatic chief in an
envelope and addressed to Mr.. Bodisco,
Of the Russian Legation, together with
a note, asking, What does this mean ?
This is brief summary of what Martin
expresses himself willing to communi-
cate,