Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-09-06
AN ABLE vINDICATION OF PRESI.
DENT CHANTS ADMINS
TRATION.
Extract from Senator Logsn's Recent
Speech at DuQuoIn, III.

discussing principles than TO follow the line
of argument proposed to us by our oppo-
nents. They, instead Of discussing princi-
pie, attack us with charges Of corruption
against the Administration. If they pro-
pose this mode Of warfare and throw down
the glove, we are ready to take them up and
meet them on their own ground. Applause
In taking up the glove, make the following
statement: That General Grant has saved to
this Government more money in the collec-
tion Of revenues, and has permitted less de-
falcation and punished more men for crime
against the Government than any Acminis-
tration since its organization. Applause
And for the truth OF my statement, l refer
you to the written history Of the different
Administrations of the Government. But
men who claim to be honorable gentlemen,
such as Judge Trumbull, Governor Palmer,
Governor Koernor, and even Yarmouth, of
Louisiana, charge the Administration with
being corrupt, and II Is reiterated by all the
small fry in this country down to candidates
for legislative and county offices. Upon
what evidence do they make the charges
None that is tangible, but merely upon their
open declaration, unsustained by the facts
in the case. The claims of Secor and Choir
penning are two cases cited by those gentle.
men. What are the facts The Chorpen-
ming claim is as follows A resolution passed
Congress requiring the Postmaster General,
Mr. Creswell, to adjust and settle the claim
OF Mr.. Chorpenning for extra mail service
ined the claim although required to adjust
and settle 1t by resolution of Congress, find
ing the amount that would be due him
under the resolution-came to the conclusion
thst the greater part of 1t was fraudulent,
and SO stated to the Chairman Of the
Committee on Post.06ices and Post
Roads of the Senate. A report was
made against the claim. The resolution
requiring the adjustment of the claim
was rescinded by Congress, and not one
penny of the money was ever paid to Mr..
Chorpehning, nor any one for him, nor will
it ever be so paid, And by this action of the
Postmaster General the amount, instead of
being fraudulently paid to the claimant, was
saved to the Government. The next charge
of Judge Trumbull is that 500 900 were fraud
ulently paid on claim by the Secretary of
the Navy. This Secor claim was for extra
work done in building gunboats to be used
against the rebel navy. For depreciation of
currency and for damages the Congress of the
United States paid him Sll5,0O0 The $685.
600 was paid by the Secretary of the Navy on
the authority of a board authorized by Con-
gress for extra work on change of the con-
tract by the Government for the building of
said vessels. A committee of Congress in
vestigated this claim, at the suggestion of
Mr.. Blair, ofMichigan, a Liberal Republican,
who has engaged in this conspiracy against
the present Administration. The commit
tee, after examining the case, decided that
the claim was an honest aud just one, and
that the Secretary of the Navy was fully au-
thorized and did but his duty in paying the
sum. During Johnson's Administration mil
lions of dollars were paid on claims by rebels
against the Government for property. Is it
not strange that Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Blair Il
Co., didn't find it necessary to charge Presi-
dent Johnson and his Administration with
corruption? But some of them were found
defending him even by their votes when
unanimously charged with malfeasance in
ien hv hn of no Nf
Representatives, after full and fair investiga-
tiOn These gentlemen have become very
.virtuous recently, when they have designs to
be accomplished; but heretofore their virtue
has been silent. This, it seems to me,
might need explanation.
In connection with this desire to call your
attention to set of resolutions heretofore
published In my speech made at Cairo, but
TO throw light upon this question l will re-
peat them here substantially. One year ago
the 10th of September next, the Republican
State Convention of Illinois adopted a series
of resolutions. The fifth resolution spoke
of General Grants Administration rs honest,
patriotic and economical. The sixth resolu-
tion gave the facts of the reduction of taxa
tion, the honest collection of the revenues,
the economical administration and the faith
full execution of the laws, and closed by
commencing him to the American people.
On the reporting of these resolutions
by the Committee, of which Horace
White, of the Chicago Tribune, was Il
member, Judge Trumbull made q speech,
indorsing the convention and platform SO
did Governor Palmer; so did Governor Ogles-
by and General Beveridge. The understand
ing is, that Judge Trumbull assisted in
drafting those resolutions. But, strange to
say, all the charges that are now made by
these men (Crumbull and Palmer) against
Grant and his Administration were well
known to them prior to the adoption of these
resolutions; but withinlfour months from
their adoption, without anything that is no
made a charge against Grant having trans
pired, Judge Trumbull introduced resolu-
tions in the Senate for the investigation of
corruptions in the Administration of General
Grant. Ii Grant was corrupt, and he knew
it when these resolutions were adopted, he
acted in bad faith in indorsing them. II
these things had transpired before, and were
known to him, and he did not then consider
them corrupt, he certainly acts in bad faith
now in denouncing them as corrupt.
[''Thats So" and apl lause.
Now, my fellow citizens, suppose that ]
should to night announce to you, as | do
that General Grants Administration was
honest, patriotic and economical, and within
four months, without General Grants having
done anything after had been beaten in
sore-headed Convention for the nomination
of President, 1 should from this same stand
announce to you that General Grant
was corrupt, his Administration faithless
that he was not deserving the confidence oi
the people, and should by every process OF
argument try to dissuade you from support
ing him, would you think me an honest
man? No! noll
Then l desire to call your attention tC
Senator Schurz, of Missouri, man for whose
abilities l have great respect, but who
doubtless entered into this conspiracy foi
the overthrow of the Republican party anC
destruction of Grants Administration, be
lieving that hereafter his own State of Mis-
souri, would be Democratic, and that ht
would stake time by the forelock" and bt
one of the first to thrust the knife into tht
vitals of the party that has heretofore sus
tanned him. Believing he could transfer thu
German vote of this country into a soliC
body to whoever might be nominated at Gin
cinnati, inducing at the same time Mr.. Sum
ner, of Massachusetts, a man of great abil
ity and learning, but q proud, ambitious
man, to enter into this conspiracy, with {
view OF turning over the colored votei
In the same way to the nominee o
the Cincinnati Convention. T"They cam
do it'll He has published hi
letter to the cOlored people directing then
how they should cast their votes in the com
ing contest, but for the effect it has haC
upon them he might as well have issued
bull against the comet "That's so," anC
loud applause. The colored people are nov
notifying him, by resolutions and otherwise
that they are not for sale or transfer. The,
know who their friends are, and they pro
pose to stand by them. [Applause,l Wheth
er the Germans will give the same notice t.
Mr.. Schurz, as have the cOlored people t
Mr.. Sumner, remains to be seen. Senator
Schurz Is man of great ambition, revolu
ZIONIST by nature, with great desire 10 bt
the controlling power in this Government
believing that he can, by transferring tht
German vote, If successful, be the leader in
the next Administration, and thereby b,
looked to hereafter as the man who makes
and unmakes them at will But think hi
chagrin and modification will come wheI
the voting is done for | believe the Ger
man-American citizens are honest, patriotic
independent and well meaning generally
well educated-a thoughtful and rejecting
people-that they will not let themselves bt
transferred by any man, however much pride
they may have in him on account of his abil
ity, but will prove themselves as faithful t.
the Government and Republican principles
in the future, as they have in the past. [LouC
and long continued applause.l
Governor Koerner, of this State, also join
In this al a a Al ha pap ~,