The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27
GRANTS ALLEGED CORRUPTION.

The country has been regaled with so
many evidences Of fraud and corruption
within the last several months, implica-
ting prominent officials and influential
members of the Republican party, that
recent allegations against President Grant
do not excite special wonder and conster-
nation. In ordinary times, the develop:
mente made In Washington last week
would arouse the whole people to intense
indignation. But we are becoming ac
customed to revelations of a startling
character, in the ordinary acceptation of
that term, and the vigorous prosecution
of investigating committees into the past
history of Gen. Grants administration
no longer furnishes food for unusual e1-
citement or sensational flourish. 1t is
plainly expected by the public that the
lightning will strike heavily about the
person of the President, whose intimacy
with Belknap, Babcock and other gentry
of that guild cannot fail to connect him
with doubtful practices and ignoble pur
suits.
The Committee on Expenditures in
the Department of Justice have un-
earthed a rich bonanza in regard to the
misappropriation of government funds
for election purposes. Our readers will
remember the charges made in 1872 that
election frauds were committed in New
York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina,
in which the influence and money of the
general government were freely used to
prevent fair election. The recent reve-
lation relate to the conduct of the cleo
ton programme in New York, where
immense sums of money were used to
secure Republican triumph. The un-
lawful diversion of public money was
under the supervision and control of the
Department of Justice, whose chief de-
tectiye, Whiteley, has made the astound-
| ing declaration that $35, 900 of the secret
service fund Under his charge went di-
rectly into the hands of John 1. Daven-
port, chief supervisor of elections in the
city of New York under the enforcement
act, upon the order of Attorney-Generals
Akerman and Williams, who were acting
under instructions from the President.
Whiteley testified thathe protested against
this use of the secret service fund, and
that he demanded written instructions,
which were promptly given in every in
stance, and the Attorney-General repeat
edly told him that it was the express
order of the President.
The testimony Of Attorney General
Williams confirmed the statement of
Whiteley in every essential particular.
He was not disposed to make the pay
ments to Davenport, but President Grant
overcame his scruples by saying that
Davenport was engaged upon an impor-
tant work, in preparing some books which
were intended to prevent frauds in the
elections. Davenport was not required
to file any vouchers for the expenditure
of money, and his demands were honored
without question as to the purposes for
which the money was used.
Mr.. Akerman was before the commit
tee on Monday last, and acknowledged
having given money to Davenport from
the secret service fund, but when asked
whether he did so by direction of the
President, he requested further time to
frame his reply to the question.
Davenport's testimony alleges that he
commenced his system of registration
under the auspices of the Union League.
After spending ten thousand dollars, he
met up with President Grant at Long
Branch, and was assured by the Presi-
dent that he would recommend the mat
ter to Williams. He received altogether
about $4,000, partly through Akerman
and partly through Williams. He never
considered that there was any corruption
in the business, although it is not pre-
tended that his work was authorized by
any law. Davenport is an infamous and
notorious character, whose disgraceful
conduct as supervisor Of elections in 1872
was fully exposed by the leading news
papers at the time. He received $40, 900
from his secret service fund just before
the election in 1872.
President Grant denies the charges
made against him, and denounces the
statement of Attorney General Williams
as untrue. He has no recollection of
Williams calling upon him in reference
to the disbursement of money under
Davenport's manipulation, and that if he
did it was represented to him in differ
ent light, by which he was deceived. He
is firmly resolved upon full investiga-
ton of the charges, and has decided to
| take the advice of his Cabinet in the
premises. The humiliating spectacle of
an American President under charges of
unlawful application of the public money
for election purposes, when he was a
candidate for reelection, is rather too
much of load for the Republicans, who
are sorely vexed at the persistence of a
Democratic House of Representatives in
raking the embers of an expiring dynas-
ty, whose history is replete with every
evidence that personal government has
been maintained during the last eight
years, without regard to the means en-
ployed in perpetuating its power and sus-
tanning its woful ascendency.