The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-09-05
AN ABLE IMMIGRATION OF PRESI
DENT GRANTS ADMINS
TRATION.
Extract from Senator Logan's Recent
Speech at DuQuoin, Ill.

FELLOW CITIZENS I would rather prefer
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 I
In taking up the glove, l make the following
statement That General Grant has saved to
this Government more money in the collec-
ton of revenues, and has permitted less de-
falcation and punished more men for crime
against the Government than any Admins
tration since its organization. TApplanse I
And Tor the truth of my statement, [ 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 it 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,
MIR. Creswell, to adjust and settle the claim
of Mr. Chorpenning for extra mail service
ined the claim although required to adjust
and settle it 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 it was fraudulent,
and SO stated to the Chairman of the
Committee Post Offices 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was rescinded by Congress, and not one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..
Chorpenning, nor any one for him, nor will
it ever be so paid. And by this action of the
being fraudulently paid to the claimant, was
saved to the Government. The next charge
of Judge Trumbull is chat SOC, 900 were fraud
ulently paid on claim by the Secretary of
the Nary. This Secor claim was for extra
work done in building gunboats to be used
against the rebel navy. For depreciation of
currency and for damag es the Congress of the
United States paid him $4,000. The $685.
600 was paid by the Secretary of the Navy on
the authority of 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
vestlgated this claim, at the suggestion of
Mr.. Blair, of Michigan, 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 honest and 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 &
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
office by the Republicans of the House of
Representatives, after full and fair investiga-
ton. These gentlemen have become very
yrtuous 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 1 will re-
peat them here substantially. One year ago
the 10th of September next the Republican
State Convention of Illinois adopted series
of resolutions. The fifth resolution spoke
of General Grants Administration as honest,
patriotic and economical. The sixth resolu-
ton gave the facts of the reduction of taxa
ton, 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 vas a
member, Judge Trunbuu made a 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 (Trumbull and Palmer) against
Grant md his Administration were well
knownto them prior to the adoption of these
resolutions; but within four months from
their adoption, without anything that is now
made a charge against Grant having trans
pired, JUG ge Trumbull introduced resolu-
tions in the Senate for the investigation of
corruptions in the Administration of General
Grant. If Grant was corrupt, and he knew
it when these resolutions were adopted, he
acted in bad faith in indorsing them. II
these things had TRANSFERRED 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
t''That's So" and applause.l
Now, my feilow-citizens, suppose that
should to night announce to you, as l 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 s
sore-headed Convention for the nomination
of President, l should from this same stand
announce to you that General Grant
was corrupt, his Administration faithless
tnAt ne IS not deserving the confidence Of
the people, and should by every process oil
argument try to dissuade you from support
ing hlm, would you think me an honest
man? Mo- mol
Then ! desire to call your attention to