The Van Buren press., 1871-07-18
The Speaker of the Last legislature.
A Little More History.

! We now have the history Of another
one of Senator Claytons especial favor
| ties. Ancient history tells us Of a isbu
| lous monster, the ChimGra, which ravag"
ed the country or Lycia until slain by
Bellerophon 1t is said to have had the
head and neck of q lion, the body of
goat, and the tail of serpent, and yom
! tied forth fire. This is about the most
convenient thing we can now think OF
with which to compare the subject this
sketch.
When the present war broke out there
lived in one of the picturesque villages
Of Virginia, n young gentleman by the
name of Charles w Caswcll Young,
dashing. he Joined the confederate forces,
and SOON obtained a commission. After
serving year or more. the confederate
pastures were not sufficiently green to
satisfy his gormandizing propensities,
and he deserted our forces and fed TO the
enemy. BY his pleasing address, with
the aid of the serpent which went to make
up his composition, he succeeded in in-
gratiating himself in the favor of the
federal authorities, and obtained com
mission as lieutenant in the Goth Penn
sylvania cavalry After serving some
little time he came to the conclusion that
it was perfectly lawful and right TO rob
the governmental notion which, by the
way, pervades large majority of office
holders at this day. With this idea he
concluded to appropriate lot Of gov
crnment property to his own use, and
! "a q In, bn apt m
throw the responsibility on tho captain of
his company. He was caught fagrante
deiicto, tried and dismissed the service.
For the next three or four years nothing
was heard of this monster, He turned
up aeths place early in 1870, under a
new name. or course, he was ready for
any infamous undertaking. He just came
in time for our ex governor who was pre-
pairing his schemes to secure scatin the
! United States Senate. Interviews ensued
between them, and il was decided 10 send
Caswell-we will continue to call him by
that name for the present--to Arkadel-
! phia to manage affairs in that section.
He was editor Of n paper there, county
attorney, and just before the last election
was made registrar, and run for the leg
islature. The election came of, but the
Clayton party failing to have enough
votes, Caswel and his strikers put the
names of over 400 imaginary votes on
the poll books, and then put ballots in
the boxes for them. This secured the
election Of their ticket. SO highly elated
was Clayton at CaswelPs management
that he determined to promote him still
! further, and decree went forth that he
must be made speaker Of the house Of
representatives. The day came around
the stairs leading to the hall were
guarded with police, under the govern
or's instructions-no one was permitted
enter the hall but members. As soon as
Caswcll got inside he proceeded to and
occupied the speakers chair His rul
iugs were always Of partisan character
SO well did he carry out the behests of
his master, that at the close of the ses-
sion he was rewarded with the position
Of superintendent OF the pententiary-a
position in which he could crafty his de
sire for spols. His very f,st act was to
violate the law under which he was APP
pointed by leasing the labor to be used
outside the prison. His management is |
reported to be marked with violence and
brutality. Such is the evidence Of a re-
cent coroner's jury against one Of his /
employees. We have no doubt the reader |
is already acquainted with our hero if
he is not, we ask perusal Of the follow
ing, VIXEN all doubts will be removed
WAR DEPT, ADJ'T GENERALS OFrrcE,)
Washington, June p, 1871. |
Lieutsnant Wesley Narkwo0d, Late Of
the Veteran Reserrs Corpse, LHie
Rock, Arkansas
SIR; Referring to your letter Of May
10, 1871, requesting to be Informed
whether the order OF dismissal against
Lieutenant Charles w. Caswell, late of
the goth Pennsylvania cavalry, disquali-
ies that officer from holding Office under
n State government, | have respectfully |
to inform you that Lieutenant CaswelI
was dismissed the service of the United |
States A" for falsehood and approprlating |
to bis own use property belonging to
the government" That dismissal has
never been revoked, and stands against
the officer at this date am, sir, very |
respectfully, your obedient servant, =.
TnoMAs NJ. VINCENT,
Assistant Adjutant General