The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-04-29

Mn. GRANr's FRHND.-The Now York
tJoussalu QfaeG Gonssence very pertinentiy
says that the Government, in it's prose-
buttons Of merchants accused of revenue
frauds. was severe to the extent of injus-
tice. Where any money was to be made
by Government spies, and custom house
any lack of promptness and vigor In tho
legal proceedings to recover damages.
But in the treatment of its own officers
and agents, when charged with fraud,
we do not see the snme relentless en-
ergy displayed. The mail contract
swindles have been lately blazoned
through the newspapers. They were in
famous, audacious and largely profitable
to all concerned in them. Ali the par
ties involved, however, had the advan-
tage of q connection, more or less init
mate, with the Government; and, there
fore, we ore not surprised to learn that
every man among them, save one, is dis
charged from arrest ON the ground TINT
there WINS no evidence against him. A
little moro carnestness in the prose-
cution, it seems to us, would have
! fastened guilt upon sOme OF the clerks
suspected Of completely in the frauds.
1t is not denied that they receiv-
ed bribes for doing work auxiliary
to the swindlers; and for that they ought
to be punished. Similar lack of force il
noticed in the Government prosecution
of tho parties charged with forgery in
relation to the Cherokee and Choctaw
appropriations. Thirty indictments were
found against them, and the evidence
was apparently strong; but conviction
has failed in every case. The facts indi-
cate looseness or carelcssness, to say
the least, on the part of the Government
prosecuting attorneys which deserves in
vestigation.
THE "PooR CRIMINAL. The Grant
organs have made much of the tender
ness of heart displayed by Gen. Grant in
pardoning criminal named Hodge Mt
the solicitation of tho convict's wife.
They have published some highly en-
bellished accounts of the matter-how
the wife told the President of her little
ones asking with pathos that was
mnddening," the "agonizing question, t"
won't pa come home Christmas? how the
President chastity penned note to the
Attorney-Genenl, and nervously hand
ing it to her, snid, 60 and tell your chill
dren that their pm shall come home
Christmas. We are glad to know that
the President is 80 tcnder-hearted, but
cannot help regretting that he did not
display little of his mercy to the poor
people of South Carolina, Alabama and
Louisiana. whom he oppressed and har-
ried in order to advance his political
schemes. People may think queerly of
the mercy which permits II convict to eat
his Christmas dinner Mt home and
allows hundreds of innocent men to
be driven to prison and thousands
to the swamps and mountains by the
brutal soldier, Major Lewis Merrill.
We should remember, too, that Co
vernon Bullock was very amiable
individual and utterly unable to refuse
request for pardon, but that tho people
of Georgia did not feel very grateful to
him for allowing so many rogucs,
mvishers and murderers to eat their
Christmas dinners mt home every year.
There is lenienoy which moralists make
almost as criminal as tyranny or op-
preston. The "poor man" whom he so
nervously restored to his family, does
not appear to have deserved much pity.
The poor man" was An army paymaster
who hnd taken advantage Of his position
under the Government to rob the tax
payers of S450.0D0, and who Ind escaped
with the rather mild sentence Of ten
years imprisonment in the pcnitentiary.
He is now at liberty, and is, doubtless
the possessor of n very handsome for
tune. The Grant organs in prnising
| their hero had better cite nn act more to
his credit than the pardon Of Hodge
.AuJ,tstd Chronicle and Sentinel
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