American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-06-15
The New Orleans Investigation.

The Congressional Committee, which
was sent to New Orleans to investigate
the affairs of the Custom House in that
city, has made its reports, at last. The
| majority of the committee, who were sent
there in the special interest OF the ADMIN
Istration, have, of course, reported In us
| special interest, and have acquitted the
| brother-in law in an indirect manner, by
| saying that the schism in the Republican
party in Louisiana, was quarrel among
| leaders, the two factions being headed by
| Federal officials There is no doubt that
Collector Casey and Marshal Packard
headed one faction, but what Federal of
ticials headed the other? How did it hap
pen that, if Federal officials headed each,
the brother in-law had the disbursal of all
the patronage; that he alone could en-
ploy the military power of the United
| States to take possession of State RepuD-
lican Convention, and guard it with
United States arms in the Custom House;
| and he alone could use its naval power to
| protect members of the Legislature from
civil process If both factions were
| headed by Federal officials, why did the
| President, before the reports of the Con-
| gressional Committee were presented,
send letter to his brother-in- law request
ing him to resign-a letter which has fail
ed to reach him, since the whitewashing
| report has been made?
The report of the majority of the Con-
gressional Committee, like the French
arms and Secor reports, Is simply farce.
1t ignores the evidence and stultltes those
who have made it. If one fact is clearer
than another in the political records OF
| the past two years, it lso that Collector
Casey and his tool, Marshal Packard, re-
peatedly violated the law, practiced cor
ruption, and connived at corrupt prac
tees on the part of others. This is a
fact which cannot be denied, and which
the adherents of the Custom House ring
themselves have never categsrlcally de-
MED. But it could not be expected that
Administration congressman would pre-
sent a report which would reflect dis
credit upon the Administration and de-
grade the Presidents brother-in law !;
which would loosen the grasp of the Ad-
ministration upon the political control of
the State of Louisiana, on the verge of the
Presidential campaign, and prejudice
their own patronage, as well as the new
catalogue of favors which they must
ask of General Grant if he is reelected.
A conscientious Executive would have
summarily discharged Casey long ago
upon 1.-THE of the evidence, as u man
every way unfit to hold the position, and
an open violator of the law. There is
probably not a man in the country. of in
telligence enough to read evidence and
analyze it, who does not know that Casey
is guilty of all that is charged against
him. The President himself knows it,
and before the Congressional Committee
made its report, wrote a letter to him re-
questing him to resign-a letter which the
brother in-law has found it convenient
never to receive, or, if he has received it,
never to act upon. Now the committee
has whitewashed him by affirming, not
that he is not guilty of the charges alleged
against him, but that he is no worse than
the others, of course he will retain his
situation as an important auxiliary in
controlling the November election in
Louisiana, by use of the Custom House
Chicago Tribune, June 3.