Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-23
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From the day that the Saviour drove
the gamblers and money changers out
Of the Temple to the present period,
thcro has not assembled y moro cor
rupt and dopravcd body Of men any
where than those who have met at
our National Capitol for the past six
years, entitled Congrcssmcn, They
buy and sell each other and their con-
stituents, and then rob the Treasury
Laws and charters are bought and
sold like merchandise at the counter.
Congressman arc obtaining titles to
all the public lands and the great rail
roads, and at the same time are rob-
bnp the Treasury annually of millions
of dollars.
The latest outrage brought to pub
lie notice is the selling of Cadctships
in the Military and Naval Academies
at West Point and Annapolis. A
committee Of Congress is now investi.
eating the matter. Tho Washington
correspondent of tho ". Y. Herald of
the 18th, says;
"Thc principal case examined to-day was that
Of S. Newton Petts, late member Of Congress from
the Twentieth Pennsylvania district. Three wit
ncsses were examined, namely, Major Bloss, editor
Of the Titusvo Herald; Mr.. White and Mr. Dsr-
rickson and their testimony, Il true, is OF = very
damaging character. According to their .sidenoe,
when the nominating convention m,t n Franklin,
and Mr.. Pettis was chosen as tho candidate Major
! Bloss had interview wit Pettis and offered
$500 to the latter the e. .dition that he would
give tho cadctship to Watch he was entitled to a
son ~ Nc lhshor, ot fiinsville, man intercsie I
20 sons extent IN tho oil burincss. Mr.. Pettis,
they alicgo in .neir testimony accepted the offer
without an! qualification, promising to make the
aPpom'' Ient in ease he should get elected. Il
seeina that Major Bloss had been consulted on the
.-Jleet by Mr. Bishop, Sr before the meeting OF
the nominating convention was held. and had been
instructed TO make the offer not merely 10 Mr.
Pettis, but to the person, whosoover It might be,
who succeeded In obtaining the nomination After
concluding with Pcttis, Major Bloss went back to
Iitusyille and reported progress to Mr.. Bishop.
subsequently Mr.. Pottis got elected, aud the pro-
position was renewed. Dir. Petts then explained
that he had promised the cadetship TO another
party before Bloss offer, and that a. soon Ms he
might succeed in putting Oh party number one he
would conclude the bargain with party number
two. The arrangement remained in suspense for
some time, when at last Mr.. Derrickson, a friend
Of pettis, came to Mr.. Bishops friend Major Bloss
aud stated that he authorized to close the bar
gain. Mr.. Deriekson explained to Dioss that
Pettis had borrowed $3.50 from him tDeIricksonl
Tor election purposes, and that Pettis was willing
TO give Bishops the cadetship II Bishop would
pay $500 more than originally proposed, or $500
in all at the same time Dorriekson showed a notc
Of Peitis' promising to pay Derriekson $3.50, and
containing an endorsement by Pcttis 10 the effect
that-"Thc within note shall be cancelled when
the money Is paid by Mr. Bishop" Dloss accept.
ed the proposition for Bishop 10 pay $500 and the
bargain was closed. After the communication Of
this arrangement IL seems that Pcits was
by the first party 70 whom he had promised to give
the eadeiship, aud finally 10 get rid Of the thing
he tPcttis) wrote to this party number one, e1.
pressing rrgre that be could not keep bis promise
and explaining that Ic'uniary embarrassment,
had obliged him 10 dispose Of the appointment Ia
Mr.. Bishop. The writing Of this iniudicious let
ter s said to have been the cause Of The discovery
OF the Improper transaction. Party number one
being incensed at Pcits' going back on his word
showed the letter TO some OF his fricnds: the mat
ter got talked about, aud finally reached the car.
Of the people, who thought It their duty TO com
munieaic Il TO Congress. The investigating com
mittee find that the 6cld Of their Investigations I.
daily becoming enlarged. Fresh cases are report.
ed every day, aud the probability seems to be that
the labors Of the committee will not soon reach a
close At present there are some ten eases report.
ed-iwo or three from louisiana twv from Soutl
Carolina, three or four from Pennsylvania, and The
rest from other States The carpct-baggers thu,
far stem 10 nonopoise lions share Of the traffic