Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-09-27

trlghttul hnanclal panlcS ever knoWl
occurred, resulting in the ruin of many
business men. Fisk and Gould mar
rowly escaped lynching by the infu
rated brokers for their participation
in the plot, and the day of that panic
has ever since been known as "Blacb
Friday" Mrs. Grant made $25, ,O0O
out of this job but Porter and Bah
cock, then OCCIDENTAL Secretaries Of
the President, lost $45,O00.
Violations of the Constitution.
Grant to treat with utter disregard
the requirements Of the Constitution
and the laws when they interterred
with the execution Of his designs.
Usurping State Governments
Twice President Grant, in utter def
ance of the principles of republican
government, has without authority OF
law and the United States army to
overthrow the legally elected State
government of Louisiana, in order to
oblige his brother,in-law, the notorious
Casey, who wished to be elected
United States Senator. lie wanted to
do the same thing in Arkansas but
was oyerruled by Congress, notwith.
standing his personal efforts to in
huence the members.
The District Of Columbia Ring.
The history Of this infamous associa-
ton OF swinulers is familiar to the
whole country. A Ring formed for
purposes of plunder has had absolute
control of the District Of Columbia
for years, and by means of false meas
uremen,s and fraudulent vouchers sup.
piled by Baboock, while confidential
Secretary OF the President, and by
other devices, has succeeded in plum
dering the Treasury Of Millions OF
Dollars which the taxpayers of the
different States will have to make
good. Boss Shepherd, the leader OF
this Ring, Is one of the most intimate
personal friends of Grant, who has
aided him to the utmost extent OF his
sl;l;+y in his designs noainsf the nub
lie funds. Grant is believed to be 9
secret partner in the Ring real estate
pool.
Conspiring with Professional
Burglars. In consequence Of the
ruinous effects of Boss Shepherds ex
travagance upon the interests Of prop
erty holders in Washington who were
outside of the Ring, the leading citi'
zens petitioned Congress to investl
gate The doings Of the Shepherd gov
ernment. One of the most prominent
of these citizens was Mr.. Columbus
Alexander, and in order to punish him
for interfering with the Ring schemes
Dick Harrington, then Assistant Dis
trict Attorney, through the United
States Secret Service, hired profession
al burglars to break open his own safe
and then swear that Mr.. Alexander
employed them to commit the crime
The conspiracy failed, and when Har
rington was on trial for his share il
it, President Grant, in order to intiu
ence the jury, invited him from tht
criminal dock to a particularly selec
reception at the White House. Gen
Babcock, Grants confidential secre-
tary, is now ander indictment to
being concerned in the same couspira
cy.
The Whiskey Ring.-Since Gran
has been in office various whiskc.
rings, in consideration of contributing
literally to Republican election funds
and for other considerations whlcl
Gen. Babcock could best explain, hav'
been permitted to defraua the revenue
by selling untaxed whiskey. 1t is
moderate estimate to say that mor'
than One Hundred Million Dollar!
have thus been diverted from th
Treasury by the Whiskey Rings, al
of which must be replaced by taxing
the people. Mr.. Bristow was driver
out of Grants Cabinet 70
endesvoring to break up these Rings
and punish the thieves who composed
them.
Enormous DefalcatiOns. - Th
business of the various executive de
partments under Grants Adminlstra
ton has been SO loosely conducted
and the appointments to office hav
been SO badly made, that the books @
the Treasury ON June 10, 1876. show
ed defalcations on the part of Grant
otficeholders, which had accumulate
since he was inaugurated President
amounting in the aggregate to SO.