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

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct %, 1877.
One of the most striking illustrations
of the loose, irregular and clumsy man
ner of treating claims against the govern
ment of the United States is to be found
in the prosecution of Sawyer, Brooks ct
al. for conspiracy to rob through fraud
ulent claim. This has resulted in a ver-
dict of guilty against three of the defen-
dants, The most noted of these is the
Hon. Frederick Sawyer, late Senator of
the United States from South Carolina,
and vet later Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury.
One Knowing Sawyer cannot help but
feel sorry for his fall. He was, it is true,
carpet-bagger, but unlike that class
generally, ne is q man of education, of
fair ability and singularly amiable and
refined in his manner. I knew him
quite intimately, and cannot now bring
myself to believe that he is guilty as
charged. The only testimony, and it is
not evidence, proves only that he was in
bad company. But so were Grant, Rich
ardson and fifty other eminent officials
in the same crowd. It was proven that
as Assistant Secretary he took the claim
while being investigated from an officer
known to be hostile and gave it to an
other known to favor it. And this is
done every day. It IS the duty Of each
Auditor. Comptroller and Solicitor to
pronounce every claim fraud, or with
out legal foundation, and find facts and
law to sustain the assertion. When the
Secretary believes, or has reason to be-
lieve, that the claim has some foundation
or equity, he selects subordinate who
at least will make an effort to consider
both sides. It was not proven beyond
this that Sawyer had any hand in the
conspiracy. Nor could it be proven that
one cent Of the money found its way to
Sawyer's pocket.
What bothers me is to know how an
official engaged in the discharge OF his
official DUTY can be indicted and convict
ed without the slightest approach to
proof of corrupt motive.
/ am moved to write this from kind
ly remembrance Of the fallen man in his
better day. He was in the Senate, so far
as appearances went, peer Of the list.
Tall, erect, he had handsome face, ex-
pressing not only q genial, amiable ma
ture, but some thought had much force
of character. He passed from the Sem
ate, when his term ended, to the Treasu-
ry, where he held, as have said, the
position of Assistant Secretary.
T saw from time to time his decline.
The wild life of Washington proved too
much for him. He became addicted to
wine. women and the card table, and as
his means disappeared his appearance
kept tally with his degradation. It is
sad study, and one too often afforded
here to grieve us by man who. under
the influence of vice and vicious haDlts,
sinks from position before the world to
be below the worlds contempt. "Get
drunk among gentlemen" said the late
Tom Corwin,. "and you are safe" we
live to know that refinement so enamels
half virtue. The trouble about Corwin's
advice is that to get drunk among gen.
tlemen one must have good income.
Gentlemen put up with wealthy lnebrl-
ate, but they scorn poor, beggarly one.
Poor Sawyer lost his money-lost his
Senatorial appearance, and, with these,
all chara, ter. Before being put on trial
for this offense he was found in low
gambling hell that was raided by the
police, and people who were proud once
to secure his recognition passed to the
other side, or with averted looks, when
they met. His clothes got shabby, and
his countenance that shone out OF rud-
dy face grew to be downcast, as if he felt
that he was moving about protested
note-a dishonored check on life. And
so he is. The man who was the favored
guest at the first tables-a distinguished
Senator and social pet-now looks at
the world he abandoned through the
bars of prison, through which no sun
Light comes to him, unless his accom-
pfished and affectionate daughter, who
clings to her father in that pitiful sort of
way that makes his criminal career so
painful Cincinnati Enquirer.