The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-03-30
GOVERNOR THkYER.
PARTISAN INVESTIGATIONS.

Inc power 10 investigate "a con-
duet Of government officials is wisely
lodged in the representatives of the
people, but there is a limit to its
proper exercise 1t was never de-
signed that this arbitrary power
shall be used for mere partisan pur-
poses, as is being done now by the
Democratic House investigating com
mittees, aided by their partisans in
different portions of the country.
Whenever there is just cause to
suspect wrong-doing, we make no
objection to the most searching in
curry /; and when guilt is discovered,
We insist that punishment. swift and
sure, shall be inflicted. But this is
very different from what is now
going on in Washington. Some
thirty or forty Investigations are
going on, only a small part of which
are based upon information. They
are simply blind throwing of drag
nets, in the hope that something
may be found that will damage the
Republican, and help the Democratic
party in the coming Presidential
election. Hundreds of witnesses are
examined, every one of whom must
be paid mileage and per diem out of
the treasury, whether they reveal
anything or not.
Yesterdays LEADER gave a syn
opsis of Major Woolley's testimony
before the House committee on ex-
penditures in the War Department,
which testimony was telegraphed
over the country, evidently for the
purpose of creating the impression
that money was paid Gov. Thayer,
vhile u. S. Senator, for his influence
in obtaining a post-tradership for
Major Woolley, while the facts in
the case are as follows: Major
Woolley was appointed trader at
Fort Russell, by Gen. Augur, when
in command of this Department, at
the request of the officers and the
council of administration of the
above post. Several years thereafter
Major Woolley got into financial
difficulties, and solne parties urged
his removal upon the Secretary Of
War; At that time Gov. Thayer
was a private citizen. living in Lin
coin, Neb., and Maj. Woolley, having
been on friendly terms with him
for several years, called upon
him at different times for aid
in his extremity, and urged him to go
to Washington and intercede with
the Secretary of War in his behalf.
With this request Gov. Thayer COM
piled. and he made four or FIVE visits
to Washington during a period of
four years, argued the a S with
Secretary Belknap and succeeded in
securing Woollcy's retention. Maj.
Woollcy only paid him for his time
and the expenses of these several
trips, and nothing more. Governor
Thaycr ncvcr had any interest,
express or implied, in Woolley's
leadership : nor did he have any
bargain or understanding with him
in relation to it; and furthermore,
he never had any connection with or
interest, directly or indirectly, in any
post leadership, and never knew of
any consideration being paid for such
an appointment, or to anybody for
procuring it.
Gen. Thayer, as a private citizen,
made these trips to Washington, to
help a friend in need, and that friend
paid his expenses no improper in
fluence of any kind was used by
either; Woolley paid nothing for his
appointment to anyone, and Senator
Thayer, while United States Senator,
never received a cent, directly or in
directly, from Major Woolley. These
are the plain unvarnished facts, which
will convince every fair-minded per-
son hat the transaction was strictly
honorable and straightforward.
Personal Paragraphs.