The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-21
AN INTERVIEW WITH TREASURER
SPINNER.

~EBsTER-TRIBuTE TO ANDREW JOHNSON
OPINION OF SECRETARY RIcHARDsoN-A
PARLoR OFFICE, &C., sc.
Especial Correspondence Richmond DispatchI
WASHINGTON, March1S, 1873.
Ihlnking that in these days Of gross ve-
nality The views Of an honest man might
be acceptable, went on an interview
Ing. raid lately. and captured the ven-
cradle Francis f.. Spinner, Treasurer of
the United States. This trIsty officer has
stood sentinel at the vaults of the Treasury
since the first year of Lincoln's adminiStra-
tion. Indefati gable in the conduct of his
office, he is equally relentless in his opposi-
tion to the Democracy and the statesmen of
the South. Through a mistaken notion that
he must be "radical in all things" he hates
a "rebel" rs he does poison, and seems to
have forgotten that since the surrender the
dead past has been buried, and that Peace
has brought healing on her wings.
Several reasons suggested themselves to
me why should print the views Of this not
particularly "great and good man." but very
certainly honest and candid official. In the
first place, his character for honesty, person.
ally, politically, and officially, is beyond the
most remote tinge Of suspicion. What he
says he believes, and generally, if not always,
knows and he don't hesitate to express him.
self in accordance with that belief and
knowledge whenever there is reason. Gene.
raj Spinner is an old politician, although he
was only in Congress during six years; but
while there lie was known as the embodi-
ment of honesty. l don't know whether he
was Republican or Democrat in that
period (he was at one time the hunkerest
kind of q bunker DemoclaD, but he was. l
know, very much respected for his candor
and good judgment. He now fills an office
equally as important and far more RESPONSE
hle than that of any Cabinet official in the
Government, and has held it for twelve
years. with certainty of being there four
years longer if be SO desires.
The apartments of General Spinner in the
Treasury building are first-claSs curioslties
In their way. Belt known that. in addition
to living his official life in that building, his
private being and existence is also there. and
he calmly reposes O. nights in a room adjoin'
ing his office and in direct proximity to the
strong vaults laden with the bonds, the coin,
the certificates. the currency, and other mil.
lions of dollars worth of precious paper and
bullion, for which the Treasurer, under his
Observation-Disclosures bond, is re-
sponsible,
His office is parlor and a study as well
as his workshop. The walls are covered
with photographs, paintings, and engrlvings.
Two dozen floral specimens, twisted by fair
hands into striking pictures, and encased i'll
neat frames, are taStefuly arranged within
the room. An equestrian statue Of the Presi'
dent adorns the mantel. a photograph OF
Thad. Stevens, whose memory Spinner re-
vercS, looks grimly down upon the shining
bald head of the Treasurer, and seems almost
to utter encomiums for his official diligence
and radical politics. His desk is 4 model o
beauty in the way of floral ornaments, hang.
ing baskets, unused pen-wipers orna1nentcd
with cute limitations of bristling terriers and
maternal-looking pussy cats, with whole
families of puppy-dogs and kittens that look
natural enough to bark and "mew." All
This is the tribute that grateful lady clerks
pay to his great good nature and exceeding
ga'lantry.
But to my interview. said, after ple,'
SAINT greetings with the amiable Treasurer:
thinking it just as well as not to commence
with common question, General, what is
your opinion Of party politics and leading
politicians Of the present period?"
81 have very little, if any, opinion at all
Of politicians now," the General said, rather
thoughtiully. "There are, however, enough
pure men in the Government to counteraci
AL the evil influences Of the past. Corrup-
ton has had its day, and there will now be
Il change, though perhaps not so much as
people think. It's bad feature that the cor
ruptions that occurred four years ago have
just come to light"
"You don't imagine" said, "that there
will be in the future any Developments OF
other corruptions since Credt-AIoDiier %
"No, Credit-Mobilier is dead, and there
can hardly be anything else. / never be-
lieved that Dawes, or Wilson, or Kelly had
any idea Of what was going on when they
were approached by Ames. and l even
doubt if Patterson had. There was Il big
conspiracy to rob the Government, but These
men were not in it, and every thing having
come to light there will be nothing else"
The Treasurer alluded to the Thirty
fourth Congress, of which he was member
and said he did not consider that it was fal
behind the Forty.sccend. He knew from
experience something about that Congress.
| glanced upon the elaborately decorated
walls of the apartment and called the
Generals attention to a photograph OF the
select committee of the Senate and House OF
the Thiriyfolrth Congress, upon which he
sat with ToombS OF Georgia, Seward o
New York, Douglass of Illinois, Campbell oi
Ohio, and Orr of South Carolina, when, as
General Spinner told ME, the House put q
clause In the appropriation bill that United
States troops should not be used in Kansas
and Nebraska against the settlers" l asked
the amiable man, who was describing the
usual hieroSlyphics that give greenbacks
their greatest potency, if he thought any one
OF that group would have been caught deal
ing in Credlt-Mobiier trapSactions or any
thing similar thereto.
The reply was "No, l don't think they
would not one of them." And he further
expressed himself: GAS general rule, men
from the South are more honest in pecunlary
matters than our men. They are tricky in
politics; l had occasion to notice that, and
have often spoken Of it. They would do
ANYTHING in favor OF slavery; believe they
would commit murder for that; but when
they came to dollars and cents they were
more honest than our lnen; KNOW tlat
from experience"
NV observation here was that if some OF
his eX-congressioual colleagues should read
this they would hardly relish his opinion.
The Treasurer of the United States, with
out looking up from the yoluminous pile OF
bonds on his desk, used an adjective more
for emphasis tliau for elegance, and said nc
didn't care. / take the liberty OF entering
here, EN- parenthese, that ] don't believe he
does. The conversation did hot lag one
particle, and was instructed further by the
words that came from the lips Of tue financial
patriurch. His opinion of Danie! Webster
was not frst-class. He said between Oakes
Ames and Daniel Webster lie thought the
former the honeSter man. 1--WE are apt" he
Ito think that people in the past
were great deal better than they are now ;