The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-08-15
Frauds in the Paper Contracts.
Treasury Machinery Sold for Less
Than the Bids,
Especial Dispatch TO the Enouirer !

L.
William p. Wood, late Chief of the Sc
cret Service of the Treasury Depart
ment, publishes a card to-day severely
assaiing Secretary Boutwell, He was
for long time in a position to know
the secret working of the Department,
and he threatens to publish a pamphlet
in which he says he will have the fol
lowing facts:
l. That there are million of dollars
of Government bonds which have been,
and are now, in daily progress of ex-
change and redemption, while the true
owners are receiving the interest due on
sqid bonds. The identical bonds drawn
have been received or exchanged by the
Government under Secretary Boutwell,,
as also his predecessor, through the
Fconnivance of unscrupulous bankers
and ignorant and corrupt officials of the
Government, by erasures and fictitious
numbering Of genuine bonds, the result
fof which will be that the credit of the
Government will either nave TO suffer
the loss Of these bonds or be relieved
from loss by some special act of Con.
gress, in which case the Government
will be the loser of thousands and thou
sands Of dollars on the article OF regis
tered bonds alone.
2. 1t will be shown that the paper
transactions of the Treasury Depart
ment are of such character they will not
bear fair examination without exhibit
ing the Secretary's ignorance Of the
subject or his connivance at the glarine
frauds and favoritism which has been
in practice under this administration OF
the Department. Also showing that
! fiber paper for bank note or other pur
poses as preventive against counter.
feiting is q delusive theory which will
be established by statistic details and
mechanical experience. 1t will also be
proven that the honorable Secretary dis
posed of the valuable paper making
machinery of the Government at one
fourth its original cost, and at less THAI
one half of sum offered for the machin
cry by parties who were not his favor
ties.
3. That through George S. Boutwell''
want of manliness he stoops to petty
mean resorts to defame those aroun(
him who do not volunteer subservienc,
to his dictations, indifferent himself a:
to whether such dictations are in accor
dance with law or otherwise; and sucl
examples will be given as should mak'
every honorable man detest the politica
demagogue who row presides over tn
Treasury Department.
T. A synopsis of his clerical, mercan
tile and political history will be given
as well as his career as COMMISSIONS
of Internal Revenue; and by eXampl
an inquiry will be submitted to know il
what other light than defaulter to tn
: Government the now Secretary Bout
well can be regarded because of tn
: amount expended, malappropriated o
purloined, equal in amount to betwee
two and three millions of dollars durin
his administration of the Bureau, an
which remains unsettled to the presen
f day. Mr. Wood closed his commun
cation as follows: During the interval
may forward a communication to Ger
eral Pleasanton, the present Commiss
ioner of Internal Revenue, inquirin
f from him under what law and fror
] what specially appropriated funds al
to be paid the amount conditioned b
virtue Of the commission and write
| agreement which now hold from Hor
/. Geo. S. Boutwell,, Secretary Of the Treas
: ury, it being well-known fact tha
f Congress refused to pass bill eivin
c him authority, as Secretary Of tn
treasury, to make conditions in sac
} cases. l will inclose in the said con
munication of inquiry the origin;
y commission to myself from the Groto
fnancer by which the Commissions
= may comprehend the reasons taken fo
: the interest in that speciality, and wit
5 the explanations and proof L will flu
u nish to show the unblushins hypocrit
and sneakng treachery of the man VIII
unfortunately for the country is no
= desirous Of running the Treasury De
1 partment as if he owned the whole con
: Germ.