The sun., 1872-02-16

koStTnastcr Gcuciui trcSWcii, senator
Cameron, and President Grant
Protecting the Great Baltimore
Frauds.
The letter OF our Washington corrcspon-
dent relating to the operations of the cele
brated Baltimore whiskey Ring, which
appears in another column, contains start
ling revelations of corruption in which
some of the highest officers of the Admin
istTntion are implicated. The facts given
In this communication are commended to
the consideration OF those who have any
doubts remaining rs to the corrupt and
mercenary character OF the influences
which have exerted the create { power at
Washington since the Presidential chair
has been occupied by a man who sigualzcd
his entry into authority by providing for
all his worthless relations ut the public
expense, and be-towiug the most impor-
tant Offices at his disposal on persons who
had made him gifts OF houses or money.
It will be seen from the disclosures made
ing secured evidence showing that tho
United states was hHar lefau led out o.
millions Of dollars bya Eiug acting in COLI
lusion with the Supervisor OF the Internal
Revenue ia Baltimore, tie Supervisor hly-
ing been a dvfIulting agent Of the Associ-
stcd Press previous to HI appointment by
GRANT, applied TO the Secretary Of the
Treasury for authority 10 institute pro-
cecdings against the active members OF this
Ring, There is nothing very surprising in
this, for instances OF collusion between
revenue officers and persons engaged in
Ewindling the Government have only been
too frequent of late. But it is astonishing
to flnd that the fraudulent operations of
this whiskcy Ring were sustained by such
powerful influence that the Secretary of
the Treasury in asking authority from
Congress to make an agreement with the
nformer felt obliged to disguise the pur-
pose of his request, lest the effort TO bring
the swindlers to justice should be defeated
by their oonfederates in the United States
Senate and in the Cabinet.
1t is still more astonishing to find that a
Joint resolution introduced at the request
Of Secretary boutwell, for the purpose of
enabling him to secure great sums of
money due the Government, which had
been favorably reported on by the Judi
ciary Committee of the House ana the
Finance Committee Of the Senate, should
suddenly be arrested in its progress when
1t was discovered that its effect would be
10 end and punish fragrant frauds upon the
Treasury; and that the interposition Of
Senators, IA member of the Cabinet, ana Of
the President himself should have been
brought to bear upon our national legis-
lators for the protection of men who were
cheating the Government and TO prevent
the Secretary of the Treasury from rccov-
ering money of which the United States
had been defrau1cd.
The hnpuuity with which certain G.s-
lllers in Baltimore have been allowed TO
uCIftluu lnc Government mas long bef'll no.
torious, ana the gains of the Ring have
been computed at millions of dollars. The
wonder which such II state OF affairs would
naturally excite ceases, however, when we
ind no less a parsonage than Poshna-tcr-
General j. A. j. CHEswELL writing to tn
counsel of one Of the conspirators 10
rob the Treasury, authorizing him to tell
the other members Of the Ring, whom he
designates as "our friends" that he has
thrown his personal and political influence
hgainst mcclure intended to protect the
Treasury from their dishonest purposes,
and that hc apwchends no danger in de-
feating il. When Senators and Cabinet
Ministers combine with Illicit distillers to
plumber the Government, and bring the
Influence Of an Executive who thinks the
acquisition of wealth the highest aim Of
human ambition 10 support their designs
n is evident that the most strenuous en-
G,ayors OF the Secretary of the Treasury
!, c.rcumvent their schemes, however