The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-01-11
Complete Nth new
TYPTS AND PRESSES.
ORDERS SOLICITED.

nj
Interior.
The same correspondent attacked
Mr.. Harlan during the last Congress,
aud Mr.. Harlan noticed him SO tar
rs to reply to his charges in the Sen.
ate chamber. That reply was gen.
orally conceded to be = complete refu-
tation of the charges then made
What course he may choose to take
in reference to this renewed attack
from tho same source, l do not know.
A man Of Mr.. Harlan's established
character, cannot be expected 70 ac-
oept the challenge Of every CORES
pondent Of . newspaper, who desires
to win notoriety BY being sued, or
by being called before On inves,iga-
ting committee. These farces have
been played too oftcn at public ex.
pepse TO be further encouraged.
But / have, for my own satisfac-
tion, taken some pains to SEQ what
shadow Of evidence thero may be
found in regard to these charges, and
in behalf Of An abused public, as we'll
ae in justice to one Of lowa's most
faithful public servants, give you
the result of my inquiries:
1st. The charge concerning the
sale Of the Indian iands, which !
have abovc explained, is revamped
and restated. It needs no further
comment.
I'd. 1t is i,ssinuated-not charged
that after he had refused to accept
one of the sections Of the Pacific
Railroad, (L think 1t was on tho Kan
cas- brancbl he sought an interview
with the officers of tho company, and
they had changed his mind by cor
rupt appliances.
I have read the sworn statement
Of the treasurer of the company that
Mr.. Harlan did refuse to certify, ~
the law required, that the road had
been built in compliance with his
terms; that Mr.. Harlan and the com.
pany differed a. to some things nec-
eesary to make it . irst-class road,
and that the officers Of the company
appealed to the President. This lead
to An interview between tho Presi-
dent, the Secretary and these officers.
In this conference Mr.. Harlan did not
abandon his view Of what was re-
quired, and on the pledge Of thsCom-
pany TO make some Of the changes
necessary, and for other EaAeons sat-
isiSctory 70 phia the President took
the responsibility Of ordering tbas
the road be accepted and the bonds
issued.
Sd. 1t is charged that the coal
for his private residence was furnish
cd BY the Department ofthe Interior.
This ia 80 for true, that Mr.. Harlan
had coal sent TO his house under the
contract to furnish the Department,
but an accurate account was kept of
the coal thus sent, and have seen
this account and the receipt Of the
proper officer to Mr.. Harlan for tho
payment in full for that coal, given
at the time Of the transaction.
4th. It is charged that be took for
his carriage pair Of horses that be-
longed to the Department.. Thero
was, when Mr.. Harlan became Sec.
retary Of the Interior, q pair OF
horses in use for work on the
Washington aqueduct, work under
the control Of the Interior Depart
ment Congress having refused,
about this time. to make any further
appropriation for the prosecution Of
that work, these horses had to be
sold. Instead Of selling them At
auction At half price, which, as every
one knows, is the usual result of
such sales, Mr.. Harlan directed the
contractor, Mr.. Sheriff., to have them
valued, and he bought aud paid Tor
them at this valuation. I have seen
the original papers showing the
valuation and tho payment OF 1906
for the horses, and / have seen the
horses and know that to have been
their full value.
5th. 1t is charged that the carpets
and furniture Of his house were paid
for by the Department, In pursu.
ance OF custom Of long standlog in
the Department, q small room in his
house was furnished with carpet, a
| desk and table, to be used M n
| business office. When Mr.. Harlan's
short term had expired, ho caused
these TO be valued, and paid for
them 1865. 1t was their fnh valuc,
| as any may know who have called
to see tho Secretary on business, and
been shown into this little room; ; and
| have seen the voucher, showing the
valuation and the payment.
9Th. 1t is charged that persons
were paid as messengers, and other
wiso OF the Interior Department.
who were really in the service OF
Mr.. Harlau's household.
Thcre arc, no doubt, as Mr. Far
| ton has shown in his article In tho
AAantic Monthly, more such door,
| keepers, messengers, porters, DC, IN
| all the Departments than are necea-
| sary. But if before and during office
hours somc Of these men werc ON.
ployed BY Mr.. Harlan about hi.
private affairs, for which he paid
them as any other gentleman would
do, and they we're seen by the 6a.
sette's correspondent at Mr.. Harlan's
reoeption ct 10 o'clock Mt night, is
this to be made the foundation OF a
charge that his household servants
were paid by the pnblic treasury
Such is the entire article OF column
and q half charging fraud and cor
ruption in office against Mr.. Harlan
Indeed, | believe have noticed every
| clearly defined allegation in the ar-
| ticle.
/ The State OF Iowa has never had
a more honest, iaithial and useful
represen entatiye of her interest than
Mr.. Harlan, and the public has new
or had q purer mhn in it's service
| ln fifteen years career as Senator no
breath OF suspicion aseaiied his pub
lie or private character. II WAS
| only when he came to Office, whcre
| he must serve corrupt purposes, or
meet the anger OF men who sought
70 use him, tha, he is charged with
corruption. l trust the press o'
Iowa of both parties, will unite ~
the condemnation OF this anSsn'f-
ous attack.
/ 1t is years since the writer 81 TIM
|, has taken any part in politics, hut h'
has long been close ard nnin.er