The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-11-01
Don PIatt on sawyer's Case.

WAsHINdTON, ID. c., Oct %, 1877.
One OF the most striking illustrations
of the loose, irregular anG clumsy man
ner of treating claims against tho govern
ment Of the United States is to be found
In tho prosecution Of Sawyer, Brooks ci
al. for conspiracy TO rob through fraud
ulent claim. This has resulted In YER
dict Of guilty against three Of the defen-
doits. The most noted OF these IN the
Hon. Frederick Sawyer, late Senator OF
t,.3 United States from South Carolina,
and yet later Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury.
One knowing Sawyer cannot help but
feel sorry for his fall. He was, it In truo,
a cnrpot-bagger, but unlike that class
generally, no IL q man of education, Of
fair ability nnd singularly amiable and
refined In his manner. I knew him
quite intimately, and cannot now bring
myself to believe that no IL guilty an
charged. Tho only testimony, and 1t is
not evidence, proves only that he was In
bad company; But so we're Grant, Rich
nrdsnn and fifty other eminent officials
In tho aamn crowd. It wna proven that
as Assistant Secretary he took tho clai,,.
whilo being Investigated from an officer
known to bo hostile and gave Il to an
other known to favor It. And this In
done every dny. It IL tho duty of zach
Auditor, Comptroller and Solicitor to
out legal foundation, and find facts and
law to sustain tho assertion. When the
Secretary believes, or has reason to be-
iieve, that the claim has some foundation
or equity, he selects subordinate who
&C lost will make an effort to conaider
both eidos. 1t was not proven beyond
this that Sawyer had any hand I'm the
conspiracy. Nor could II b6 proven that
one cent OF tho money found it's way to
Sawyer's pocket.
Whot hOtharu mn ta fn knoo, to,,, , -,
official engaged in tho discharge of his
official dnty can be Indicted ard convict
cd without tho slightest approach to
proof Of n corrupt motive.
am moved to write this from kind
ly remembrance Of the fallen man in his
better day. He was In the Senate, 80 far
ns appearances went, peer Of tho list.
Tall, erect, he I'D n handsome f.yo ex.
pressing not only genial, amiahle ma
turo, Dut sone thought had nuch force
of character. He passed from tho Sem
ate, whom his term ended, to tho Treasu-
ry, where ho held. as have said, tho
position or Assistant Secretary.
saw from time to time his decline,
The wild life Of Washington proved too
much for him. He became addicted to
wine, women aud the card table, and rs
his means disappeared his appearance
kept tally with his degradation. 1t Is n
sad study, and one too often afforded
hero to grievo us by o man who, under
the influence OF Vice aud vicious habits,
ainks from position before tine world To
bo below tho worlds contempt. "Get
drunk among gentlemen" said tho late
Tom Corwin,. land you are SAFE" We
live to know that refinement so enalnele
vice that IL appears all respectable and
half virtue. The trouble about Corwin's
advice Is that to get drunk among gen.
tleinen ono must have u good income.
Gentlemen put up with o wealthy inebrl-
ato, but they scorn poor, beggarly ono.
Poor Sawyer lost his money--lost his
Senatorial appearance, and, with these,
all chnra, tor. Before being put on trial
for this offeEse he was found In low
gambling hell that was raidod ny the
police, and people who were proud once
to secure his recognition passed to the
other side, or with nverted looks, when
they met. His clothes got shabby, and
his countenance that shona out Of q rid
dy face grew TO be downcast, as If he felt
that he was moving about protested
note-o dishonored check on life. And
80 ne IL. Tho man who was the favored
guest at the first tables-a distinguished
Senator and social pet-now inoks ct
the world no abandoned through the
hars cf prison, through which no SUM-
light comes TO him, unless his accom-
pliahed and affectionate daughter, who
Slinga TO her father In that pififul sort of
way that makes his criminal career SO
rotnfuf.-C CfneiaI.uG El0ttiTcr.