The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-01-20
CORRUPTION OF A RADICAL SENATOR.

A short time ago the Washington correspon
t dent of the Cincinnati Gazette published som.
unwelcome truths about that puritan, psalm
, singing Senator from Iowa, Harlan, who wal
: Secretary of the Interior under Lincoln's ad
} ministration. The letter charged that Senator
! Harlan was guilty, while Secretary of the In
} terror, of an improper use of Government la
borers and material of various kinds for house
hold purposes, such as using one of the super.
numery messengers in the department as a
private coachman for his family and paying
him out of Government funds as q messenger
also of furnishing coal at his private residence
out of tho Government coal cellars without
paying for it, and other little "nipping" opera
tons of similar character The second
charge or count in the correspondents indict-
ment against Mr.. Harlan was of improper
dealings with the Pacific Railroad, in the ma
ture of receiving q bride from the officers of
that company. The third count or charge was
irregularities and illegalities in the sale of the
Cherokee lands to the Connecticut Emigration
Company, in which transaction the lands were
sold in a body for mere song, and Mr.. Har-
lan's pocket pretty well lined for his part in
the dlsgraceful and swindling transaction. The
fourth was an improper sale of the Delaware
Reserve to the Missouri River Railroad Com
pany, which was of similar nature as that of
the sale of the Cherokee lands, and out Of
which latter transaction Mr. Senator Harlan
emerged with handsome dividend as his por-
ton of the proceeds derived from the nefarous
and dish"nes. proceeding. In reply to this
attack, Mr. Harlan INDUCED III long commu-
ncaiiOn 10 the Washington Chronicle which
included numerous affidasits, occupying several
columns OF that paper in the attempt not only
10 answer the charges made against him but 10
explain the motives of the person who preferred
them. Mr. Harlan states in his explanation
that the reasons which actuated the individual
IN making this expose We're ,-iirst, the belief
that he (liar!an) sympathized with General
Howard III church difficulty with DR.. Boyn-
ton, he father Of the person who published the |
charges. Second, that with other correspou
tents OF the public press, General Boyn;on, the
person who made the charges, had taken ,
'fensc al Senator Harlan for not being Invited .
o bis daughters wedding, and these two were
cllo"ed by i lot Of afidagts which we're in.
ended Ia answer the charges made in the let,
or 10 the Gd.ctb.
10 reply ;o this weak defense made b, liar
an aud Of his statement Of the reasons for the
tiack, General Bo!nton has published card
a the Washington Chronicle in which he saws:
That 10 my knowledge Secretary Rarlans uos!,lcn
. regard t. General Howard has never been sub .
~ 81 confederation q knowledge on my part Or
ye" II conversation between any members Of Or
@E";gnA family. from the first day Of tie trouble
t9dei IL 10 it4s hour. 50 far my knowledge OK.
dtd. Lc has never bad The rctuutcet connection !
18th ihh trouble hog has asy !-Ac.cd connection he
~ hAsc had with u ever presented itself 70 nav
'd aa'al ;Ais article suggested IT. &
In reply 10 the second reason assigned bv
r. Harlan General Boyntou SAYS:
Never having called upon any member Of Senator .
aF4al' family. aud never having received a cali
m A''F Inen4hoT q! Il. and never having had any
.ih3ao acquaintance w4th my member II II bcycud
p9fbtb.c formal introduction IL public ;hc ahs,rs
q making the fact G! not having been invited fo
'''fa'" wedding ~ has family the ground for per
"' ''"''' "fNt' '"' SENATOR VIII TtaGsIf appear.
Senator Harlan having declined 10 commence .
suit for damages for libel on the ground that
would be an insult TO common sense" Gen A,
nj Boyntou calls MIR. Iarlans attention ia o,
tact that law exists in the District of -
'InmhIa providing for the Indictment and
nishm"nt by Imprisonment for n term of |
airs OF persons toUpd guilty Of libel. and fur. Go
n that the law provides that in the trial of rif
ilctmcnts for libel "the truth thereof may IL
gwen IT evidence under the general issue rs u,
Justification Of the alleged libel. and if il an. -
ar that the matter charged as lbelous was
C aud was written or published with good L
tves and for justifable ends, tho defendants .; o.,
ii be acquitted" He challenges Senator ren
rlan to give him the benefit Of that act. and C
lares that he holds himself in readiness nj the
time to substantiate, by sworn testimony. Jan
essential points of the grave charges made w ,tGi
only IN a civil action for damages, but also and
er indictment at common law for the al fou,
ID libel Should Mr.. Harlan decline TO ac- lode
this challenge from General Boynton, who hun
OF only Republican but responsible par s a,S9
he Will to all intcnts and purposes stand gnla
victpd of tho charpns =, h; oh h, ro L.o., $780,. 100