The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-16
Scandals Of the Past.


Samuel Randall, and other Democratic
dignitaries may become involved in the
disclosures now being made at Washing
ton has had the effect to dampen the
ardor of the Investigators considerably
This should not be the case, and we bid
them go forward with their work, who
ever may be implicated. When they
find Republican scamp, clean him out,
and the Republican party will applaud
the act. When they discover his Domo-
cratic associate they must not shrink nor
hesitate, but serve him in like manner.
"Let no guilty man escape" is an excel
lent motto still.
And while upon this business of invcs-
.igation, and stumbling upon these sad
exposures, it will not answer for US to
fold our hands in despair and say there
never was anything like it. There has
been something like it, and the history of
the country is studded thick with as base
crimes as those now being brought to
light. A correspondent of the Washing
ton Star recalls some of these. Among
them was the payment of the celebrated
Galphin claim, by which the Secretary of
War, Crawford, who made the allowance,
received for his own fees the sum of
Sl15,OOO And in spite of the clamor
raised he hung ON to the money and re-
signed his office. But he was not i'm
peached. General Lewis Cass was also
involved in very questionable transac-
ton which the correspondent thus de.
scrIbes:
General Lewis Cass, after General Jack
son, was the great "Thunderer" of the
party. Under Jackson Cass was Score
tary of War. Cass' collection, as extra
his organization of a company for specu-
lations in Western lands are notorious.
He had opportunities of securing for his
company a monopoly of the most choice
tracts of land, to learn when they would
be put on the market, to secure them
then to raise their price, and to sell them
to purchasers forced to buy. 1t is we'll
known that in Western land speculations
Cass amassed his ample fortune. Did
Jass elicit from the Democracy any man
Hesitation of horror-even of indignation!
Did General Jackson demand his punish
ment? Did not both, in effect, indorse
and approve it :? General Jackson subse-
quently made Cass Minister to France.
The Democracy made him first Senator
of the United States, next nominated him
as their candidate for the Presidency,
and then made him Secretary of State
Under the Democracy Belknap would be
in the line of promotion
I,L tIo
ocratic Vice President, was another un-
faithful brother. While he held that
office he lobbied through claim for one
Captain Buckner for removing the Chick.
asaw Indians, and obtained an award of
$146, 900, which was $4,000 moro, &C.
cording to the report of committee,
than he was properly entitled to. John
son got $4,000 of this.
In 1884 one W. P. Harris, who was
Receiver of Public Moneys at Columbus,
Miss, was ascertained to be defaulter
in large amount. He was not prosecu-
ted or removed, but in 1886 wrote to
President Jackson, resigning, and recon-
mending a successor, one Gordon D.
Boyd, who was duly appointed. The
sequel, as related by the correspondent
of the Star, is exceedingly rich. It was
only five months after the latter appoint
ment when Boyd also was found to be a
defaulter When Harris resigned the
Secretary of the Treasury kindly entered
on the books the following: Balance
due from Mr.. Harris, 500, 17S.OS." 1t
wa. hoped that Boyd would not find it
necessary to steal, but he did, and in
1887 the Secretary sent Mr.. Garesche to
examine the affairs of the Columbus
office. Here is an extract from the re-
port made by the latter on his return
We commend it to the careful perusal Of |
these Democrats who imagine that pub
lie roguery is new thing in this country:
The man Colonel Gordon D. Boyd |
seems really penitent, and | am inclined
to think with his friends that he IS honest, |
and has been led away from his duty by |
the example of his predecessor, and a |
certain loOseness in the code of morality, |
which here does not move in SO limited |
q circle as it does with us at home. an |
other receiper uouId probably foilow in the
footsteps of the too. You will not, there
fore, be surprised if l recommend his
being retained, in preference to another
appointment; for he has his hands full
now, and will not be disposed to specu-
late any more And SO it was de-
creed! In the October following, the
really penitent" and ''honest" Boyd was
allowed 10 resign, and the Secretary. as
in the case of Harris, entered on his books:
40. d. Boyd il indebted $50, 937 80, as
per lust statement at tbs Irsasury!!"
The Louisville Journal, referring to the
sase at the time, said:
A Mr.. Gordon D. Boyd, some time ago,
was appointed receiver at one OF the
Mississippi land offices. Shortly after
ward he proved defaulter to the amount
Of $4,000. The PRONUNCIATION OF the
fact did NOT at all abash him. lie i'm
betook himself to the stump
for the vindicatiou of his character II
lid appropriate the money to my own
lse," exclaimed he, "and expected to
be able to repay it. hut my speculations
urned out uDfavorably. It's my nasstor-
me, aud not my fault. Hope GENTLE.
ZEN, Yor ARE SATISFIED !" "Oh, yes"