Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-22

Johnson, and with the knowledge
and approval Of President Taylor,
after being appraised by Secretary
Crawford Of his interest in the claim.
Secretary Crawford received OF
the principal, as his fee, 81, 4Ol.9s3,
and OF the amount Of interest, s94,'
l76.34-in all lis, 176.424.
A great clamor-a pretended cry
of indignation, amid a genuine jnbi-
lee-was raised by the Democracy
throughout the country. An inves-
tigation was made by the House, but
Secretary Crawford froze to the
money, and resigned. There was no
impeachment! Nothing but an ec-
stacy as disgusting as that which
they manifested in 1916, when Chas.
J.Ingersoll exposed Daniel Webster's
Misrepresentation, when Secretary of
State, Of portion OF the secret ser
vice fund in negotiating the cele-
brated Ashburton Treaty.
The old Wings did not fall to re-
mind the indignant Democracy OF
their own repulsive record.
Gen. Lewis Cass, after Gen. jack
son, was the great "Thunderer" OF
the party. Under Jackson, Cass was
Secretary Of War. Cass's collection,
as extra allowances, illegally, of $685.
900, and his organization of COM
pany for speculations in Western
lands, are notorious. Were they
creditable! AS Secretary of War,
Gen. Cass had advantages which no
mere citizen could have. He had
opportunities of securing for his
company q 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 well known that
in Western land speculations Cass
amassed his ample fortune.
Now, BelSnap speculatcd in trad
ers' licenses. by which the soldier
was swindled. Cass in land 10y
which the adventurous and hardy
cmigrant was plundered! Whose
was the greatest crime Did Cass'
elicit from the Democracy any mani
festation of horror-even Of indigna-
ton! Did Gen. Jackson demand his
punishment Did not both, in
effect, indorse and approve it! Gen.
Jackson subsequently slnade 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.
Underthe Democracy Belknap would
be in the liue Of promotion.
Col Richard M. .Johnson(the slayer
of Tecumseh, and Democratic Sem
ator Of the United States under Gen.
Jackson, the "Great Cabinet Paciii-
Gator" and confidential frienD was,
during Martin Van Buren's Admin
istration, Democratic Vice President,
II leader of the Democracy He. rs
Vice President, also had his little
speculation, in claim of Capt. Buck
ner's for'removing the Chickasaw In
dams. Says the report Of the House
Committee which, in 1912, investi-
gated the matter:
1.-THE whole amount thus paid to
Capt. Buckner was Sl46,293.5D; OF
this amount, the sum Of S31 ,740 was,
beyond doubt, improperly paid. II
the committee have been correct in
the view they have taken of this
case, the Chickasaw fund has sus-
tanned loss of l22,243.50, attribut-
able to the want Of prudent econo-
my and faithfulness on the part OF
those connected with its disburse.
ment, and the accounting officers
Col. Johnson was "Me only man
who prosecuted the claim before
the Department; and that while Vice
President He at first demanded
that "Buckner purchase for him
farm in Arkansas, and some ne
groes, provided he got the money
Buckner declined. But while the
two were riding to the Department
the day the s37,749 was improperly
paid" Buckner agreed to lend John
son $4,000. The requisition was
obtained and paid, and the Vice
President got the $4,000! Were
the Democracy shocked at the ex'
posure o, no! But in lS4s votet
Col. Johnson $4,000 in payment o.
an old Indian claim.
In 1884, w. y. Harris. Receiver
of Public Moneys at Columbus, Miss.