The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-08-27

the same time Mr.. johnson was indu-
ced 10 order Postmaster General Ran
dali to reopen the case. Governor Ran
dali, however, standing firmly by the
position he had taken, appealed to At,
tJrney General Stanbery as to his right
to reopen this case, and Mr. Stanbury
decided that it could not be reopened
hy order of the President or otherwise.
Mr. Mcclellan was still retained. But
upon the incoming of Grant, Mr.. Nc
Lellan's removal was one OF the very
first made, and Mr. Giles A. Smith was
appointed in his place, and as Second
Assistant Postmaster General became
the chief of the contract office. This
significant appointment was speedily
| followed by that of Mr.. George Earle
as First Assistant Postmaster General,
-Hr. Earle being the laU partner Of Mr..
GresaceH, and also the attorney Of the
| Chorpenning Ring. Mr.. Childs. for
many years chief clerk of the Contract
Office, was at once removed to re,
mote desk, and it would seem that the
Post Office Department had thus been
completely organized in the interest of
the Chorpenning Ring. But an unex.
pected danger here threatened to render
the removal of Mcclellan, the transfer
ring of Childs to a remote desk, and
the appointment of Creswell, Earle, and
Smith Intellectual to accomplish the in.
tended swindle, for it was announced that
Mr. Boutwell, intended to appoint Mr..
McLellan-the Rings old enemy-to
the position of Sixth Auditor, in which
capacity, as the auditiDg officer of the
Post Office Department, he would have
to pass the Chorpenning as well as all
other claims. This calamity was how.
ever, averted by Mr., CresweIl-s making
a personal appeal to Mr.. Boutwell,, and
another person was appointed. Thus.
with the Post Office Department in the
hands of Chorpenning, Mr. George
Earle, having remained in Office until
he had become familiar with the routine
Of its business, resigned the First As
sistant Postmaster Generalship and pre-.
sented the Chorpenning budget The
Contract Office having been fixed, the
new claim was rapidly passed, and Mr..
j. A, j. Creswell Grants Postmaster
GeneraI signed requisition on the
Treasury in favor Of the Chcrpenning
Ring for S443, 900,
Thus far everything had worked as
smoothly as with an executive depart
ment so organized in the interest of the
sNindle it was expected that it would
The ordeal of the Post Office Depart
ment had been successfully passed, and
the requisition for S443, 900 reached the
; Auditors office But here, alas. for
Chorpenning, the organization had not
> been so thoroughly fixed The perpe-
tration of this stupendous swindle was
soon whispered among the clerks, aud,
, before the money could be paid, Mr..
Dawes was informed, and, by hurrying
a resolution through Congress forbid
ding the Auditor to pay the requisition,
the robbery wss prevented. And thus
was defeated as outrageous a fraud as
was ever attempted upon the Treasury
of the United States; and although both
h Houses of Congress unanimously passed
n Mr.. Dawes's resolution forbidding the
payment of the draft, it is most remar-
). kable that no investigation into the ac-
. ton of the Post Office Department has
: ever been made 1t is not reasonable
= to expect that the caution of Grants
. Congress Ring in preventing an exam
), ination into the parts played by Messrs.
Creswell Smith, and Earle, for, fear o1
. exposing the aid afforded by the Presi.
y dent himself, will be now defeated by
the removal of Mr. Creswell and the
,. exposure of the inner working of the
q Post Office Department, at least while
y Grants re election is pending.
Yours, W. L. w.
y Washington, August 7, 1879.