The Republican journal., 1875-07-01
For Governor,
CHARLES W. ROBERTS,
A Big Leak to be Attended To.

we entirely agree With contem-
porary who says that one OF the first and
most thorough investigation to be insttut-
ed next December, when the Democratic
House Of Representatives takes its part in
the national administration should be an
partment of Justice, presided over until
recently by Mr. Landaulet Williams. who
has subsidized into Il Washington claim
agent. A man Of meager abilities, Of
malevolcnt temper, without scrupIes in
the accomplishment Of partisan ends, he
did more to excite turmoil and lawless-
ness in the South, and llunder the people,
than all the midnight ku-klux that were
ever mustered, Under his patronage a
crew of intormers and spies was cncour-
aged in every Southern State, and the
machinery Of the Federal courts prostitute
ed to the basest OF personal and political
ends He is directly responsible for the
long-contnued disagreement of Louis
''t'tts W. INV Nhtl N' III 4'llS
sissipp, South Carolina, Alabama ana
Arkansas. Grant has had no henchman
so devoted to his personal and political
interests rs Williams; and his apprecla-
ton Of it was shown by the persistent el'-
fort made to place him in the high Office
adorned by the learning and virtues of
Marshall, fancy and Chase. But an out
ragged public sentiment, Tor wonder pre-
vented his confirmation by the Senate.
Alter this rebuke, it was not long until
the unloading process compelled the re-
tirement of Williams from the Cabinet
1t is significant that one of the first OIL
cial acts of Williams successor in the De
partmcnt Of Justice, has bcen a circular
addressed to subordinates throughout the
Union, pointing cut the necessity Of re-
trenchment in the lavish and undoubtedly
corrupt expenditures encouraged by the
late Acknowledgement. Ofcoursc the Rad
ical Congress is primarily responsible for
the appropriations, but Williams was the
obedient instrument that diverted the pub
lie Moneys from judicial to partisan and
personal purposes. 1t was his assigned
duty to create Il Radical party in the
South, with the ignorance OF the negroes
and the rascalitics Of the carpet-baggcrs
rs q basis. How signaly he failed we all
know, although he scattered millions and
wickedly perverted the Federal Judiciary
to the grand object he had in view.
A few figures extracted from the Official
records show how dearly the people have
paid for the achievements of Williams in
the acknowledgements office, They are
well worth considering
In the last three years Of ,Johnson's adj
ministration, When Mcssrs. Stanberry Of
Ohio and Evarts Of New York were At
torney Generals, the expenses Of the De
partment aggregated s., l03, SlS.
In the two first (iscaD years of Grants
administration, with IIoar Of Massachu-
sets and Akerman of Georgia, in the De
partment, the expenditures reached 3d.
234,721.
Then Williams came upon the stage,
and in the three fiscal years Of 1872, 1873,
and 1874, and the first quarter OF 1879, he
expended nearly twelve millions Of dol
lars (Sl1,795, 400. Three years and 4
quarter of Williams cost the taxpayers Il
million and half of dollars more than
five years Of his predecessors.
Intelligent observers of public affairs
have pretty accurate general idea of the
way the money was squandered in carry
ing elections at the South, but upon the
House of Representatives next winter will
devolve the duty Of searching ont the au-
thentic details This sort of information
will be vastly interesting pending the van-
vass of 1876 Williams left the Cabinet
undoubtedly to forestall all investigation
Pierpont accepted the place to save Grant
ism from the impending exposure, by the
eleventh hour promises of reform. But
these devices will be of no avail. The
truth must come out 1t is essential to
round off one chapter in the history OF
Radical rule.