The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-24
THE WHITTEMORE INFAMY.

Carpct-Bag Morals-The Sale OF Cadet
ships by Congresslnen-Interes stin 9
and Conclusive Testimony.
The New York correspondent Of the Spring
field (Mass. Republican writes under date O.
the 10th Instant:
In answer to summons from the speaker
your correspondent arrived In Washington
early Monday morning, the occasion OF my
trip, rs yon have already learned, being to tcs
tify as to my knowledge Of the sale OF cadet
ships to the public academies by members ol
been published and as the facts were not learn
ed from me, consider myself absolved from
all secrecy In the matter, and Will therefore
tell you few little things concerning the rep
rcsentatives of the people.
1t came 10 my knowledge In September Oh
October last that member of Congress from
South Carolina had offered to sell an appoint
menL to the naval academy. Investigating inc
matter learned the following facts: Mr.. Z.
H. Kegler, two years ago, was well-to-do
banker In Charleston, S. c. He had son
whom he desired to send to Annapolis, and to
this end he set himself to work. Visiting
Washington. he applied to Mr.. Is. +. white
more, a member from South Carolina, and was
informed that his {Whittcmore's) appointments
had been made. Failing to accomplish his
purposc, Mr.. Kegler left Washington for Bos-
ton, his old home. Curious coincidence: While
In Boston he met o person he had previously
known, and, during their mutual expressions
of ioy al meeting Mr.. S.-we will call him S.
congratulated Kegler on having 80 fine a son
(the son was with Kegler,) and wondered he
didn't send him to one Of the public acade-
mics. Keger, of course, Immediately ex-
plained that that was his darling project,
dra,u from, hia DNnkpt commits
sion to the naval school, made out and signed
by Whittemore, with the name for the cadet In
blank Mr. 8. would be only too happy to
nut Freddys name in the blank space, but
then you know, a small consideration, say two
thousand dollars, would be required. To this
proposition Mr.. Kegler did not accede. He
repudiated the idea, but would be glad to have
he received. Arriving in Washington with
SIS letter, Mr.. Keglcr failed to find White
more but he lnclosed the letter, with one he
wrote, to the honorable members local post
office, and some time afterWard received the
following in reply:
DARLINGTON, S. c., May II, 1859.
P. Il. KEdLER, Esq.-1n reply to your commnni.
cation, have 10 say that so many have applied
for the position you name that have set the
value OF the appointment, outside OF my district,
at $500.
tSgned) Yours, &C., B.F. WHITTEMoRE.
The original Of this Mr.. kegcr has taken to
Washington, and will present, with other
damaging testimony, to the committee, proba-
bly before this is In type. Among the letters
which he will probably produce none will
seem more strange than the one which lie re-
ceived few days ago from Mr.. s., threaten
ing him with ali sorts of influences fhe went
backr on the member from South Carolina;
There is no question as to the authenticity oil
Mr.. WhIttemorc's letter! The writing and sly
nature are verified by three or four communi-
cations which Mr. w. addressed from time to
time to Mr.. X, each bearing separate post
marks, with his frank on the envelopes.
What do you think of this for gay and fes-
tive Massachusetts man, minister Of the gos-
pel. and friend and admircr OF Butler ? Both
understand Whittemore's names commence
Will the letters B. F. Whiftemore went
South during the war, engaged In the pious
nerIormances of Freedmen's Bureau Official,
and has sufficiently worked himself into the
rood graces of the negroes as to be sent to
Congress by them. learned while In Wash
ington that largo number of the Southern
members are charged with the same offence,
and that General LOgan's committee Intends to
fathom the whole thing, and TO see that the
guilty members are expelled from Congress-