, 1870-02-26

i've IL AouSAeoa A1oAA lle EIht OlStt1Et OF
South Carolira q, avoided IN expulsion By
rtsierirg his sent. Here, ordinarily, Mr.
Wl1ttemore aud his case should fall into
oblivion; but, as it is reported that the ex-
member intends to be a candidate for re-
election, the facts leading to his sudden
retirement still possess degree Of public
interest. From the official report Of the
testimony We obtain the following particu-
lars:
One r. T. Kegler, formerly a resi-
dent Of Charleston, desiring to have
his son appointed to the Nava
School, applied to Senator Sawyer, o
South Carolina, who gave him letter o
Introduction to Whittemore. Kegler applio;
to Whittemore, who had such an appoint
ment in his gift, but who told him that b.
had already promised it to another. Thi
IVES in January, 1850, In april following
Keeler met in Boston ono r. F. Shaw, who
in tie COURSE Of conversation, stated that ht
bad au appointment for q naval cadet, and
would appoint keRleris son, but said there
was to be 't a consideration fo1 it," at the
same time showing Whittemore's letter on
thesnbject, II which the valae Of such an ap-
poiutment Was put ut from s., ,O00 to 81, 600.
He gave kegler letter to Whittemors.
Kesles rot finding Whittemore in Washing
ton enclosed him Shsw's letter, and made
application FOR :he place. To this White
more responded as follows:
DARLINGTON, S. c., May 1s, 1859,
DEAH sR: IN reply :, your eomnuuscas,oo. /
Eli'ou ,tu nalue, tnAt nave act Inc ralue of tne
srpo.ntntns, outaide OF ny 6nirtct. At $500.
1Cufs, &C.. b. F. WalIIENoKk
Kegler vas disappointed and sngsy. He
showed this letter to several persons, and in
September following wrote to Whittemore,
telling him he had been offered $500 for
the aforementioned letter. To this
Whittemore replied, demanding return Of
the letter. General 4 schospf stated that
be WAS introduced to Whittemore, and ap-
Piled to him to have a son Of General Tyler
appointed to West Point. Whittemore
answered him: ''You can get it; my price
Is $1,000" General Schoepf declined to
purchase. He, however, employed law
ser[Mr. Este), who negotiated with another
member, ecd got the appointment for
Sl,5Go.
Ar. John J. Daley, Of New York, stated
TINT he engaged one Henry S. Olcott, an
agent ut Washington, to procure On ap-
pointment for his son to West Point. Sub
sequent1y the boy Was nominated by Mr..
Wh1ttemors, Of South Carolins,-the boy
hayirg had to 60 to South Carolina for q
lew nocths so as to be able to claim resi-
dence- For this service he paid Mr.. Olcott
$4,000. This took place in January, 1869.
0lcott is now in Europe. E. 2. Brook
testified that he sided O1cott in the matter
and induced Nhittemore to appoint young
Daley that he paid to WMttemors from
$1,000 70 u 500, not fox the appointment,
but "u1der a religious understanding On hi:
(Whitsemore's) part that the money MAS X
be usod for political and educational pur
poses in bis district"
To this array Of testimony Mr. Whitte
moss answered by stating that Mr.. Goas, {
collsaRue Ct his in u1e r---s-u. Ct.ne-.--
but who had not bsen 1e-elec:ed, was do
sirous to have son appointed, and offersl
to place in hiR hands $500, to be spent il
his district, if the appointment. was unads
He promised to appoint young Co.'s. Sub
aequentlY there were several applications
intending that Of .Kegler. His peo
ple vere poor, and wero suffer
ing; thsy needed help every way
and he was beset With applications daily 70
contributions to church, educational, ant
political objects. There zns no boy O.
loyal psrentage in the district fit to be ap-
pointed, and be thought that, as be had K
80 out Of the district to make his selco-
tiors, there WAS no impropriety in gettins
Tor his constituents the sums Of mona,
offered for their relief by those soaking tht
nominations. He then admitted receiving
Tho money in tho casa Of Daley, and also
$500 for the naval cadetship. He deniet
that he had received this money for the ap.
pointments, claiming that he had receiyet
it to cover expenditures made in his dis
tlct for the poor, for tie churches, for tn
schools, and for political purposes. q
denied euphatically the statement Of Gen
eral 6choepf, and criticised sharply th
conduct Of Kc2ler.
This is the whole story. Tho Law pro
viaes for the appointment Of certM
numteE Of cadets to West Point, aud to III
Naval Academy, every year. The nom;na
tion Ct The cadets is accorded by custom t
members Of the House Of Representatives
for their respective districts. The whol
term at the academy being four years, th
number annually appointed is only one
fourth Of the whole number Of Representa-
tives, and thus it is that only portion Q
the members have the power each yea,
Tho right Of the member to nominate ha
BY practice become absolute, limited onl
by the qualifications Of the boy when ex
smined. Upon The members nomintiou
the Secretary Of War, OF Of the Eayy, a
the case may be, Issues the commission
Tho appointment Of few to each acsdeu
is lodged with the President.
Tho Foiut that Mr.. Whittemore and b
associates in this business raiso is th,
there is ro impropfiety in member
Congress accepting the highest sum
money offered him, to he spent in chari
or for political purposes, in consideration
such an appointment. 1t is true that men
bers Of Congress are compelled to sper
money in their districts to be elected; th
they may be supposed to have some inte
est in tie building Of churches and Il
propagation Of religion, and in the welfa
Of the poor but what state Of moral ol
iiquity is implied in claiming that they a
thereby warranted in exchanging otfici
appointments for money 10 cover these pc
soIal or charitable expenses! The Pre-:
dent could hardly defend himself upon il
peachment if, for each Of the dozen cade
appointed by him annually, he accept
Sl,5co, to be spent in controlling nom
mating colseutiou, purchasing votes,
spreading the Gospel, either at home
tbroad; and it is impossible to make al
obstruction between the ctiminality OF au
a proceeding On his part and that Of
member Of Congress doing the same thin
The facts in Whistemosc's case vera q
u1itted, and were proved His detence u
wholly unteuable. To admit that a ment
could be reimbursed for political e1peps
or for his private charities, in considerati
Of his vote or other official acts, would
TO convert the Office Of Representative il
that Of a broker, selling his public acts
the highest bidder.
hIr. Whittemore may be able to get
elected; the people Of his district may
60 besotted IS to accept his explanation
defence as satisfactory; but "a re-e!ee
can hardly avail him. Tho acts we're c
mitted By him as mem'>er Of the pre-
Congress, and Of those acts This FL
took jurisdiction. He cannot plead tn