The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-08
AN EPIC,


published letter written by . gentle
man in San Francisco we'll Known Il
MANY persons In New Orleans in re
latjon to forgeries committed by Senator
West while a resident of California. We
have In our possession letter written
by the same gentleman. Mr.. J. q. May
nard, to friend here, in relation to the
same matter, but giving more fully The
details. The Infamous character OF
West, displayed in forging checks upon
his California employers. is familiar to
the people Of this state. 1t is a notorious
fact that, at the time of his migration
from New Orleans TO San Francisco, the
present Louisiana Senator departed be
tween two a,lns, carrying with him the
funds Of an association OF which he had
been made the treasurer. The manner
in which he obtained his election to the
United States Senate is pretty well
known also though, until the secrets
Of all the thieves caucuses which have
been held at the capital of this thief
ridden State are rendered, up. II cannot
he fully proved. There are living wit
nesses. however, to the fact, that at a
certain caucus OF Radical Senators and
Representatives, held the day previous
To the election OF United States Sen
ator, something like thirty six thousand
dollars were distributed by Mr.. West g
hackers. This. probably. cannot he
proved ilst now but, the country may
rely upon IL. that much that was pub
! lished by the New York Tribune some
time ago as TO the manner i'm which West
! obtained his election IL true. "F
But the particular event in the eminent
Senator's career TO which we wish just
now b. attract particular attention is his
forgery OF drafts in San Francisco.
In relation 10 this matter, Mr.. J. G.
MAYNARD, well known here AS a reliable
and honorable gentleman. wrote the
following letter, early in 1876, TO friend
in this city. G
SAN TRAScisco, January %, 1876.
Dear Nj feel 50 indignant with poor
Louisiana's carpet-bag Senator West,
for his pendacious and malicious con
duct in the United States Senate recent
ly. that cannot resist telling you por-
the war. which came very near making
him a ward of the State dn the peni.en
tiary) instead Of a willing, lying instr,,-
mert Of Radicalism in the Senate Of the
United States. West is not unknown to
FAME In this community. Prior and
some time before the war. he was
clerk or bookkeeper IN the com
mercial house OF Dewitt, Harrison
81 60, OF this city, whose checks
be forged to raise money TO play Mt faro,
for about 800. Finding that he would
doubt convicted II tried, he, in company
with his particular and intimate friend,
DR.. Parker NOW living and doing bust,
ness In this city,, applied to several
sporting characters for the loan Of suf.
ficient funds to redeem the forged
checks. aud after many fruitless at
tempts finally got the amount from Il
Mr.. Chas., Burroughs, since deceased,
who was then dealing faro for Q Mr..
Teacle, a very rich retired merchant.
with strong sporting procliyities, This
stances, aud which actually saved West
from being sent to the iPenitentiary
where he rightfully belongs, remained
unpaid for years after my return. and
his election CD to the Senate, and most |
probably would be unpaid still, had II |
not been for the fear Of exposure threat |
ened through letter of distinguished
ex-Judge OF our Supreme Court, in
whose hands Burroughs had placed tho
matter. uf.M |
This Is the case in brief which I can
have supported by afIida1 d il desired.
have been assured that when he was /
in warehouse In this city he forged re-
ceipts for goods. but OF this l am not
positive OF the other there Is no qlies-
tion.
remain. truly, your friend,
JIG. MAYNARD.
There are few men who, without
brains, suspicious birth or personal
courage. attain to eminent station: and
we cannot but wonder at the ingenuity
and audacity Of one who, through rob
berry. forgery and bribery, has reached
the high good to which the lcftiest vir-
tue. the highest patriotism and pro
foundest wisdom have not always been
able to lift their possessors. And
certainly there must be something
bad and corrupt In a state Of
society and politics In which so extra
ordinary and unnatural an event can
which the honors and emolu-
ments of public life have become the
rewards OF prohigacy, meanness,
cowardicc and rascality, while men Of
honor and ability are laughed at for
their integrity and patriotism, and find
no demand In the political world for
heir brains. .H"
The career OF our Senator is rich in
Incidents Of class with those above re-
ated, and his life and adventures would
furnish happy theme for story in the
Police Gazette. But as the epic poet
Ices not profess to describe the whole
ife of the hero he celebrates. but only
'ne particular action Of his life, as tho I
Of Achilles at Troy, the re-
urn OF Ulysses. or the coming Of Eneas
nto Italy, SO we have only attempted
n this article to give the history OF one
" the achievements Of our hero. At ,
some later period we may take up our f
pen and resume the story. @
Impeachment Of the Ex.Sccrctary.
The New York san makes a brief but !
cry cafisfactnrv orrup,ant