The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-05-05
CORRUPTION IN OFFICE.

The Democratic journals and speak
ers of Oregon and elsewhere are boil
ing over, apparently, with righteous IN
dignation at the corruption and rotten
ness OF the times, insisting that the
present administration has produced
worse and greater thieves than that of
any other since the formation of our
Government. The changes are wrung
upon these charges daily, and it may be
that now and then an uninforrned or ig-
norant party may be led to believe that
these assertions, told with such an air of
candor and sincerity, contain at least q
mite of truth. Every well informed
person will see through the shallow
demagoguery and trickery OF such as
sertions from Democratic authority. The
truth is, official corruption is nothing
new in this Government, we are sorry
80 say. In Benedict Arnold's time,
while he was military governor of Phil
adelphia, the charge was made that he
trafficked in appointments. AS he had
recently married gay woman (his sec
4ond wite) his excuse was he needed
money to keep up a stylish mode of
life. The first development of breach
of official tlust in this country occurred
under Jackson's administration, when
Jesse Hoyt and Samuel Swartwout
were favorite leaders in the Dem ocratic
party. Both were, In turn, collectors
at the port of New York. Secretary
Woodbury. permitted Swartwout to re-
main in Office, even after it was known
be was defaulter 10 the tune of $685.
754. Mr. Wise, of Virginia, publicly
charged Secretary Woodbury. with
keeping IN office Mr.. Harris, of Colum-
bus, Mississippi, who was detaulter to
the department in $3.50, ,ooo-and still
Harris was allowed to retain his posi-
tion Joshua Phillips, assistant cashier
at the custom house under Swartwcut,
defauIted in the sum of six hundred
thousand dollars. The public carriage,
during Hoyt's eollectorship, was given
to tool Of Hoyt's, George Shourt, who
was paid the enormous sum of SAG, ,688
for carriage bill running for a period
of about three years. One of the most
remarkable frauds during Van Buren's
administration was the entire ernbezzle-
Enent ef the Smithson bequest, amount
ing to 100000. Tie money was loan
ed to speculator of political power,
and thus this grand donation was thrown
away. Harris, the defaulter spoken ot
above, vas succeeded by G. D. Boyd
who, in less than six months defaulte d
in $55, 5,965 81. The agent OF tn.
Treasury sent TO interview Boyd, actu
ally recommended that Boyd should b
retained; in the language OF the agent
Has be had his hands full now,' b
would not be so likely to steal more
This man Boyd remained in Office unit
he had entered in bis own name 28, 90
acres of land, for which he never pal
one cent, and then was permitted I
retire, the Government recognizing Ii
title to those lands, without punisl
ment, with bis sshands full.n Am,
Kendall. Postmaster General und'
Jackson, was charged with receivir
$50 800 from a Boston Company to i
duence the President in his decisions
the Chickasaw and Choctaw India
land sales, and the Investigating Cor
mittee, all Democrats, would not alIo
the matter 70 be investigated. (See a
pendix Congressional Globe, sessi,
1888 1889, vol Z, PIP 1917 A prom
nent New York politician, Isaac 8
Fowler, stole s75 900 from the Cover
ment, and was aided by Democra
Government officials to escape to Me
80, although It was their sworn duty
hold and prosecute him. Anotl
Democrat, Lewis Cass, while Seerets
Of War under jackson, used his i
aition TO speculate in Government Ian
and eIlns got away with $68s %
Richagsa M. johnson. Democratic =
resident, detfauded the Chiekasaw
1And ont Of eI22, ,248 SO, gett
600 for tse job. A shown By 9
under Van BuFenss adm
tion Deraoesatic Secretary
WAR; Floyd staaI of nearly one Z
sion dollars, and Boss Tweed's steal
nlilliona help TO figure mp