Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-11-03
Old Documents Are Dangerous Things


SHELBYvIILF, Tenn, Oct. 10Th 1875,
To the Editors Of the Chronicle;
The above Is quotation from u
speech made by Hon. James K. Polk,
who was, subsequently, ty the Demo-
cratic psrty, elected President OF the
United States, in one Of his cauvasses
for Congress. The writer of this heard
the speech aud remembers 1t as though
it was uttered on yesterday.
1t was then true and il yet, aud was
often afterwards used against its disiin-
gulshed author, with telling effect
Whenever party or statesm has
committed an error, the old document
\ that contains the evidence IL danger
our IN the future. They may after a
time forget their own errors and nc
cuse their adversaries Of a like utiensc,
with or without facts TO sustain them.
In illustration of the above, the pres
cnt generation OF Democrats, in order
to divert public opinion from their
own shortcomings, ami having forgot
ten their own previous errors, accuse
the Republican party, now in power,
aud especially the incorruptible patriot
and warrior at the head of the Govern.
meut of corruption, in retaining bad
men in Office, and indeed some accuse
him of knowingly appointing corrupt
persons to positions Of trust aud con-
, tideuce. Although not necessarily the
purpose of this article, viii interpose
a denial, of their various allegations OF
corruption in the Republican party
; and those whom they have placed III
power.
My object Is to prove tha'
D there never was such Dast
official corruption In any polltlcal or,
c ganization in this country as existed
in the Democratic party when in pow
Q er in days gone by. To do this l vii
refer to two instances, as illustrativ,
a Of the character of Democratic ofticial'
8 while they were In power, ana undel
5 administrations peculiarly Democratic
as TO promote elections favorable to tina
8 party.
G The old statesmen and politicians al
remember the great and princely de
faulter, Samuel Swartwaut, a. Collect
or of the port of New York. DE, al
though friend and associate OF AaroI
Burr, in his alleged treason, was ap
pointed to the collectorship OF New
. York by President jackson, amoni
the first acts of his administration
and he continued there nearly elgh
9 years. The defalcation, running
: through series OF years, amounted t
a one million two hHndred and twenty
l. five thousand seven hundred and nv
l. dollars and sixty-uine cents, III ,225,
: 70J 90 } Considering the amount q
y revenue from imports at that time, an
j the amount of circulation then exist
ing. as compared with the same sun
u 1t would amount to, say, twelve OF III
= teen million dollars. "A sum eXceedln
e the aggregate Of all the alleged DEAL
y cations OF all officers appointed b
President Grant since he came INT
lr power. Yet Swartwaut was not dis
e turbed, but was permitted to 60 |
Europe, to enjoy society there, AS h
d had done more than n quar-
l. ter of century before. An
= IL you compare his defalcf
D ton with the amount OF collection
20 at the port of New York then and nov
l. it will appear still more enormous.
u ran through q series OF years, augment
ing annually, and yet he was permit
b ted to remain In office, and poke
70 thousands aid thousands each succeed
p ing year. Assuming that he was !
n office eight years, in the classic styl
of the present Democracy, he stole
I, hundred and hfty-three thousand 90
E. lars per annum, and yet he rename
h in Office until he saw proper TO retir'
e But let US come TO cases neart
c. home. There were many other detaul
g ers on a smaller scale, however, sea-
lr tered over the country. AT that tim
n there were land offices, as now, in a
l. the States, where the Governmer
l. owned public lands, at which Recei'
IS srs of public money were appointed
ID Many of these officers were defaulter
l. and were permitted to remain In offlt
So after ii was known, because they wei
" influential Democrats OF extensiy
ne family connection, Of very PowerfI
influence, cooperating with the frienC
of the Administration, and were pc
n, mitted to resign, and to recommen
ne their successor. They were IN con
y instances not named LOT rear tneir SUI
10 cessors might iollo" IN IN tne footsteps
,hi H'I - csrrSsd on and msnagad n,
H. Da,oocra,ic Administraiiona
tviII nrodnca a few =" old documents
~, ~ ooSrasnor danca hetyeen M