Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-04-20
LEAVES OF HISTORY.
PecaIations of0siciais ia the Good Old Days"
of Jackson and Cas-.

ing interesting "reminiscences OF tht
good old Democratic days:'
Sen. Lewis Cass, after Gen. Jack
son, was the great 'Thunder'.of th,
party Under Jackson, Cass wa,
Secretary of War. Cass' collection
as extra allowance, illegally, of $780,.
600, and his organization of a com.
pany of spectators in western lands
are notorious. As Secretary of War
Cass had advantages which no mere
citizen could have. lie has oppor-
tunities 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. Ii
is well known that in western land
speculations Cass amassed his an pie
fortune.
Now, Mr.. Belknap speculated In
traders licenses, by which the sol
diers was swindled; Cass in land, by
which the adventurous and hardy
emigrant WAS plundered. General
Jackson subsequently made Cass
Minister to France. The Democracy
made him Senator of the United
States, next nominated him as candi-
date for the Presidency, and then
made him Secretary OF State. Under
the Democracy, Belknap would be in
the direct line of promotion.
Col. Richard NJ. Johnson (the slay.
er of Tecumseb, and a Democratic
Senator of the United States under
General Jackson, the great cabinet
pacifioator' and confidential friend
was, during Martin Van Buren's ad-
ministration, Democratic Vice Pres
ident; leader of the Democracy
Hs, as Vice President, also had his
little speculation-in a claim of Capt.
Buckner's for removing the Chicka.
saw Indians. Says the report of the
committee which in 1862 investigat-
ed the matter:
sThe whole amount thus paid to
Capt. Buckner was SAG, 293 so; oil
this amount the sum of $751; was
beyond doubt, improperly paid. Il
the committee haYe been cor. oct in
the view they have taken of this
case, the Chickasaw fuod has sustain.
ed loss 1912, 243.5 so attributable to
the want of prudent economy and
faithfulness on the part of those con.
nected with it's disbursement, and
the accounting officers
Col. johnson WAS the only man
who prosecuted the claim before the
department; that while Vice Presi-
dent. He at first demanded that
'Buckner purchase for him a farm in
Arkansas and some negroes. provid,
ed be got the money Buckner de-
clined. But while the two were rid.
ing to the department the day the
$37 740 was improperly paid, Buck.
ner agreed to lend Johnson $4,000
The reqnisition was obtained and
paid, and the Democratic Vice Pres
ident got the $4,000. Was the De-
mocracy shocked at this exposure {
No; but in 1s48 they voted Col.
Johnson $4,000 in payment of an
old Indian claim.
In 1884, w. p. Harris, receiver
of public moneys at Columbus, Mis-.
issippi,-endorsed by his Democrat
ic representative in Congress (John
F. I'll. Clay borne) as zone of the main
pillars of the Democratic cause, 'oi
diffased and deserved popularity, as
'one of the earliest and most distin-
guished friends of the (Jackson) ad-
ministration in Mississippi as zone
whose family and connections are
extremely influential and who are
cooperating with US in the arduous
struggle against the enemies of the
Democracy-was known to be de-
faulter. Was he removed or punish
ed !?
In March, 1884, the Secretary of
the Treasury complained of his cons
duct; in August 1885, he threatened
his removal, but the reasons assign
ed in the above endorsement forbade
it; and in August, 1884, this w. p.
Harris-this pillar of Democracy
wrote to President Jackson, resign
ing his office, and nominated as his
successor, Col. Gordon d. Boyd, oil
Attala county another main pillar
of Democracy endorsed by Harris
as one who had been for years q
prominent member of our (the Mis-
sissippD Legislature as IAN ardent
supporter of your (Gep, Jackson's)
administration, and as AN unyield-
ing advocate of the principles of De-
mocraoy.'
Col. Gordon D. Boyd, of Attala
county, was accordingly appointed,
Secretary Woodbury. quietly enter
ed the following on the books of the
Treasury; Balance due by Mr.. Har-
ris, s108, 178.08.'
OILY five months later the Score
tary was forced to open a similar
correspondence with Col Gordon. d.
Boyd. He early fell into the foot
steps of his illustrious predecessor.
La June 1887, Secretary Woodbury.
appointed Mr.. Garesche to examine
the affairs of the Columbus Office,
and he reported Col. Boyd a default
ter to the amount of $4,000. Was
Boyd removed? We're they shocked
or outraged at the conduct of this
main pillar of Democracy? Mr..
Garesche, in his report, says to the
Secretary:
The man (Col. Gordon ID. Boyd
seems to be penitent, and | am in
clined to think with bis friends, that
he is honest, and has been led away
from duty by the example of his pre-
decessor, and certain looseness in
the. code CT morality, which here
does not move 10 so limited circle
as it does with us at home. Another
deceiver would probably follow 10
the footsteps of the two. You will
not, therefore, be surprised if | rec
comend his being retained in prefer
ence TO another appointment; for be
bias bis hands full, and will not be
a H.. .