Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-10-21
Senator Edmunds and Collector
Crane.

lie servants are treated. We refer to tn
apparent willingness with which our pee
pie accept base ISLANDERS against some q
our most capable, aud honest men 10 office
as facts. 1t is quite alarming, and de
serves some thought among those who hav
the honor and welfare of the nation a
heart. Hardly a man who attains an en-
yiable position i'll political life, let hin
have a character ever So irreproachable
but what evil disposed persons will at
tempt to malign and bring them into
disropute by unfair and unjust criticism
especially should that position be attainec
by a contest, which most always is the
case; and thus some of our most capable
and worthy officers have been driven from
the service. Because few have proved
recreant to the trust rcposed in them, is
no reason for CHASING them all as such, OF
to conclude that any one is corrupt sim
ply because some enemy may think he is
and perchance makes damaging asScr.
ton. The people should be ever watch
tul Of their rights and have an eye on the
persons they have elected to guard those
rights; but the apparent tendency Of the
tmcs--to convict public officer on the
assertion of a disappointed political Mrs.
Grundy. is deplorable, and ought to be
stopped, or such men as the people need,
to serve them, will not long be found in
tho service. While the nation has rights
and honor to maintain, the officer has the
same in common, and the same drty is
incumbent on each.
A case in point, is that of Senator Ed
munds, who in carrying out the much ex-
pressed wish of his constituents, did what
he could to secure an appointment for the
collectorship at Burlington. A defaIca-
ton occurred which his enemies would
make capital FROM, so at once, busy
tongues are whispering derogatory state
ments, the people, more from habit than
evidence, - accept the SANDER. and the
crows multiply, till at last respectable
paper like the Californian makes grave
charges. The Senator is thus given an
opportunity to stife the SANDERS that be.
fore had only private circulation. His
reply is equivoca and clear, and
ought to be received by the people as full
ly at least as if Mr.. Edmunds was not a
Senator and a candidate for reelection.
We give the charges as made by the
CoIedon'an and the reply of tie Senator
THE CASE OF A. J. CRANE, LATE COLLECTOR
OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
There are certain facts connected with
the second appointment Of Mr.. Crane as
Collector of Internal Revenue, at a period
when he was known to be a public default.
or and IN proceedings which have fol.
lowed the announcement OF his defacation.
which demand explanation.
We understand that Mr.. Crane was
both appointed and re.apponted Oh the
recommendation of Senator Edmupds
Turing portion Of his first term, Edward
a. Jewett was his deputy. Senator Ed.
lnunds was one Of Mr.. Cranes sureties or,
his official bond. Some time before tho
expiration Of Mr.. Cranes rst term, Jew.
EFT resigned, and after remaining some
months III Burlington openly removed to
Chicago, where he engaged in business,
and has ever since resided.
In the winter or spring Of 1873, upon
the Encouragement of tie Internal Reye.
nue. system, Mr.. Crane was re.appointed
upon recommendation of Senator Ed.
munds to an enlarged district. lie pro-
cured new surcties, Mr.. Edmunds not he.
ing one of them.
In the autumn Of 1872, Mr.. Jewett
came to Burlington on business, putting
up at the hotel KEEP: by Mr.. Crane, where
Mr. Edmunds and his family were board.
ing. The fact of Mr.. Cranes dcfalcation
was at that time known to many persons,
Mr.. Edmunds included. Mr.. Jewett omen.
" left Burlington for Chicago, no iptima.
tlon having then been made that he t
was responsible for the deialcatiop. {
After Mr.. Jewctt had left, it became /
publicly known that Mr.. Crane had been !
defaulter to the amount of more tbo, Gc
teen thousand dollars, for more than two
years before his re'appoutment, and that ,
he had been repeatedly called upon TO I
make the deialcation good. Then for the ,
hrst time the charge was made that Jew. Q
cit was the guilty person and it was omen. i
y claimed by Mr. Crane and bis friends
that Crane had been re.apponted in or. f
der to give him time and opportunity 70 G
make up his defaleatlon. !
As soon as MIR. Jewett heard Of the D
charge he publicly stated his purpose to i
return to Vermont and meet il. Instead
OF giving him time to do SO, the friends Of !
Mr.. Crane procured a warrant and sent 9
the United States Marshal to CHICAGO to $
arrest Jewett. The Marshal found him i
ready to start for Vermont; he came back $
and found the friends of Mr. Crane using
every effort to make the public believe him f
guilty. lie was compelled to give a heavy Il
bail, with resident sureties of updoubted
'csponsibiity. Il
Although the records made complete a
ase against Crane, no proceedings what. {
yer were taken against him until tbe Il
ext term Of the court when the grand in. h