New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-11
Secretary Richardson and his
Traducers.

!" Mr.. Richardson has been confirmed by
the Senate as judge of the court of claims.
Now, gentlemen, prepare your swindles.
Detroit Ne,cs.
The above embOdies the spirit in brief Of
the relentless crusade waged by the whole
" Independent" and copperhead, and the self
righteous portion Of the Republican press
against ex-Secretary of the Treasury--Rich-
ardson. Every crime in the calendar has
been charged against him, and some of them
have boisterously clamored for his impeach-
ment, while Others have shamelessly de-
clared their purpose to continue their assault
without regard to truth, of course,) until
they had driven him from office.
The paper from which we quote may be-
licve that Mr.. Richardson has been guilty of
swindling and is a corrupt man, and yet
everybody acquainted with him knows there
has never more incorruptible and perfect
ly honest and usright man filled the position
from which he has just retired, and not a
dishonest or corrupt act has ever justly been
laid at his door.
Even the Committee of Ways and. Means
who went into the Sanborn Investigation
with their minds poisoned against him by
these indscrminate attacks of the press, and
who pursued it under this feeling of preju
dice, were obliged to report that they found
nothing fraudulent or dishonest in his con-
duct nothing worthy Of stripes"
And the Democrats in the House COM
planned that they did not find some criminal
conduct in spite of their failure to prove any
guilt upon him. The committee were en-
gagged three whole months trying to find out
what offence the Secretary had committed,
but utterly failed. In regard to the Sanborn
contract, if he got more than he ought, the
Government lost nothing. He got what he
did get from many that never would have
been collected otherwise.
That is the whole thing in nutshell.
1t is not pretended that the Secretary got
dollar, only that he thought half of seven or
| eight hundred thousand dollars was better
| to the Government than nothing; so he
made bargain with Sanbon to collect it for
| fifty per cent, as the law authorizes him to
| do.
Some of the papers which have joined in
this wicked cutlery against an honest and
faithful public officer, have probably done it
irnOcently, taking the word of the men who
had motive for his ruin, as proof of his
guilt. But a majority have been false wit
nesses, deliberately, Intentionally, and ma
liciously. They were opposed to his APP
pointment, and were resolved from the start
to drive him from Office. They succeeded in
working up $50 strong public sentiment
against him, and SO cripple his usefulness
that the President deemed it best to appoint
| a man who had not incurred the hatred of so
large portion of the press and politicians of
the country. We are not disposed to ques-
ton the wisdom of the act. On the contra
ry, no other course seems to have been left
| him. He has shown his confidence in the
| integrity and ability of Mr.. Richardson, by
nominating him 10 the vacancy in the Court
of Claims, and he will prove that he de-
serves it.
If the genera sentiment Of those who
know Mr.. Bristowt any proof of the fitness
of the act, the f,csdent has been exceed.
ingly fortunate II The selection of Mr.. Rich
arlson's successor All admit that he is a
man of superior ability and requirements,
unimpeachable integrity, and sound judy
ment. We trust, as we think, that he will
Justify this favorable opinion, but whether
he does or not, it won't save him from the
attacks Of the independent copperhead
press, unless he proves recreant to his
country, his official duties, and especially to
his party. And the more he comedies to
mand of him, and the more malignant and
reckless they will be if he fails to give them
all they demand.