Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-22
SECRETS FROM A POLITICAL PRISON HOUSE.

Gen. Barlow, late U. 3. Marshal OF tue
Southern District Of New York, has made an
interesting contribution to the stock of useful
KNOWLEDGE. He has barred the secrets of the
political prison house, from which he but re-
Gently escaped His revelations consist OF let
tiers that passed between him and certain finger
ers Of the Republican election funds of Co.
Tn October of that year Marshal Barlow re-
oeived from Hamilton Harris, chairman of the
Republican money raising committee, note
requesting a contribution Of 81 900 from him
and his official subordinates for election cX-
nenscs, The Marshal had learned that two
per cent, was tho amount that these brgands
were leyying on salaries or incomes OF ottloo-
holders The income from his place being, ct
the outside, not over $4,000 year, be cipher.
ed out $3.50 as the sum due from him, and
sent chcck for it to MIR. James B. Taylor,
treasurer Of the committee. As 1t was e7lden.
from tho tone Of tho Harris circular that the
Marshal was expected to squeeze the rest OF
the money up to 81, 900 from his employees,
and as that small business did not suit the
tastes of q gallant soldier and kind hearted
N an, he explained to Mr.. Taylor: "As 10 my
deputies, they must each contribute such
amounts as they feel able to do. | cannot I'M
pose it upon them as duty, and cannot un
dcrtake to collect anything from them Here
was impudencs and INSTRUMENTATION, with a
vengeance. 1t took two days tor the hepuoll
can committee TO recover from the astonlsn-
ment and indi gnation into which they were
thrown, and then another OF the committee,
MIR. James w. Hustled, Secretary, takes up
the cudgel. He writes sharp note to the
Marshal and returns him his check, Express
ing the hope that you will reconsider the views
expressed in your communication. Woman
like. be puts the nub of what he has to say IN
P g., as follows: The assessments made
upon the government officials in the State are
rot made upon basis of two per Ct upon their
salaries, but upon the dScertolned income OF
their respective Offices" Gen. Barlow's reply
to this would have made any ones ears tinge
but the tough ones that ornament the heads
of your professional politicians. lie declared:
II do not consider that the holding of public
Office crestcs any obligation on my part to COD
tribute anything, and whatever L do give is not
given on any such ground" Again he declined
to force money out OF his subordnates, and
said: They fully earn every penny they re
ceive, and cannot recognize the right OF the
government or the party to call 90 them Tor
any SUN whatever. Speaking OIL the as
ccrtained value" OF his Office as distinguished
from its proper legitimate earnings, he caught
Mr.. Hustled on the hip. He said II do not
know from whom you ascerlained it, income;
but do know that whoever has received more
from it than $4,000 per annum has not rccelv-
cd it honestly. l should be sorry 10 believe
that dishonest gains OF public office we're So
recognized and accepted as matters OF course
that they are III lde the basis OF expected con
rrinntjona" This clincher ended the CORES
pondeaca, except that the secretary, 10 III OF
spcrchless wrath and amaz 9ment, returned the
letter to Gen. Barlow, and his modest check,
which be still held at the disposal OF the com
mittec. was never called tor The sequel Of
All thi, was the resignation of Marshal Barlow.
N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.