Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-10
woRCEs ER.
ALcar from PoIincaI History

battle of partisan aims and feelings was I'M
usually fierce and INSCRIPTIONS. 1t was the
time of that desperate fight between General
Jackson and the old United States Bank under
the management Of Nicholas Biddle, which has
become memorable in our politics. Many of
us can remember it very distinctly; and what
ever may have been our views and sympathies,
then, we can now see that General Jackson was
right, that he was honest in making the fight,
and that his triumph brought great benefit to
the country. A weak man in his place would
have failed, for many of his foremost political
friends were scared, and really believed, for a
time, that he was bringing utter ruin upon his
party. His political opponents thought so, too;
and without much regard TO the merits of the
question or TO the facts relating TO the case,
they poured out against him and his leading sup
porters a roaring flood of baseless calumny,
which they believed would be overwhelming
One of those against whom the assaults were
most fiercely directed, was Amos Kendall, who
was, in 1888, the presidents confidential agent
in making preparations for a removal of the de-
posts In the records of partisan warfare there
was scarcely parallel for the INSCRIPTIONS
calumny, Justification, and Misrepresentation of
every kind, TO which he was subjected. The
little ceremony of proving what was charged,
was deemed unnecessary. 1t was enough TO
assert and repeat the libels, and keep them in
circulation. Under the operation of this infu-
enee, continually supported by speeches
in congress and by the partisan Jour-
mails, a great many intelligent people
came to believe the president was nothing bet
ter than a raging devil of Ignorance, self-will,
and reasonable purposes towards the consttu-
ton, and that Amos Kendall was monster OF
political iniquity. Events have vindicated
President Jackson; and it can now be shown in
the most conclusive manner, that Mr.. Kendall
was one of the purest, most upright and most
irreproachable men that ever held cf1ce at
Wa shington. Not one of the ealumnies uttered
against him was true or excusable; they were
due wholly TO the rancorous madness of parti-
Zan passion, and were believed and kepi in cir
cuIatiou for political uses, by raging partizan
prejudice.
Mr.. Kendall first appeared at Washington in
1929, as fourth auditor of the treasury. He had
been literally educated in New England, was
naturally endowed with great capacity, and had
very remarkable executive ability, which was
supported by unusual vigor and activity. The
force and success with which he corrected
abuses and managed the business of his bureau
soon drew attention and brought him into con.
fidential relations with the president. He was
occasionally entrusted with other important
work; and, in the summer of 1885, he was made
postmaster general. He found the management
of the post office department in a very
bad condition. He said in subse-
quent memoir, that, under his predecessor, "a
few powerful mail contractors, through favors
to the officers and more influential clerks, had
really controlled the department, and, for their
own selfish ends, had caused all its embarrass-
ments." Measures were taken at once to expel
this influence of the contractors, and reform the
fraudulent practices it had established This
moved the contractors TO make war upon him
and they hoped, by means of an alliance
with his ran:orous political opponents, &c
destroy him. Out Of this grew proceedings SC
scandalous and villainous, that it amazes one
now to read the record of them.
Among the rascalities discovered and checked
by Mr. Kendall, was one in favor of Stockton ani
Stokes, of Baltimore, who made a terrible fgh
against him for interfering with It; a fight b,
which he might have been crushed Immediately
if he had not been held in his place by the in
flexible will of General jackson, who believed
in him. Stockton and Stokes were contractors
for carrying the mails between Washington anG
Philadelphia, and, also, TO Wheeling. He
! a., IL,
tered to their credit. Investigation proved II
TO be a huge fraud. They had already beer
overpaid. OF course he suspended pay
ment of this credit although power
full influences were used TO induce
him to allow it. The contractors appeal
ed 10 congress, where such democrats as they
could influence, united with the heated oppo
nents of the administration, enabled them to get
what they wanted The solicitor ofthe treasury
their particular friend, was directed to settle
their claim, which he did without making in
quiry of the postmaster general, awarding then
100000, $4,000 more than the fraudulent sun
entered on the books. Mr.. Kendall sought earn
estly to prevent at least the payment of this add
tiona $4,000; but he was unsuccessful. TIL
strong for him; they secured the $1,000 Il
which they were no more entitled than common
thieves are entitled to what they steal.
Afterwards, these contractors brought pri
Vate suit against Mr.. Kendall, in the distric
court, to recover damages; and the influences a
nwork for them secured verdict against him
awarded being $12 600; and, as tn
AZ tnslly prosecutors could not get at the littl
isDroperty he had, he was arrested and confne
to the prison limits of the district. He carrie,
the case to the Supreme Court of the Unite,
States; and there the swinding contractors wer
beaten and condemned to pay large amour
Of costs. His conduct was vindicated; anC
the triumph over his prosecutors wen
still further. Through the influence O
another honest man, Elisha Whittlesey
of Ohio, he was INDICATED by congress. Afte
Gen. Harrison became president, Mr.. White
sey was made sixth or post office auditor of the
treasury. Here he soon became acquainted
with all the facts relating to this fraud of Stock
ton and Stokes; and his representations, aided
by other influences, induced congress to pass
by unanimous vote in each house, an act re
imbursing him for all the expenses and losse,
to which he had been subjected Moreover, thu
outrageous proceedings in his case, led to The
adjustment of Imprisonment for debt, in tht
District of Columbia.
II does not follow that man ia bad because
he is accused loudly by the rancor of party OF
faction. We may safely believe what is proved
by indubitable testimony; and it would be foil,
not 10 see what stands out clearly in the recorC
of public man. But the usual method of 20
litical calumniators is TO make injurious an,
slanderous assertions with all the plausibilit-
possible, and omit attempting to prove them
These are repeated without proof, and at length
quoted without proof, on all occasions, as es
tablished facts If the wings had not Iibele,
Mr.. Kendall in this way, until they actuall
brought themselves TO believe ell manner of evi
of him, il would not have been possible 70
Stockton and Stokes to consummate that frau,
and then subject the faithful postmaster genera
to a scoundrelly persecution. This method o
assailing public man in order 10 destroy o
injure him, is used now; but it ought not I,
succeed with anybody who can use reason o.
prize sell-respeet.
General pleasontou, in one OF his recen
speeches, gave utterance to gross slande,
against the president. He was afterwards asket