The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-09-14

raise the wind" Wendell asked him
why he came; when, 20 the astCnish
ment Of the latter, Steedman replied
that he tad come back to Washington
q o DO lis neglected work rs Govern
ment Printer"
HE SELLS THE OFFICE TWICE.
Wendell had to pay s25, ere addi-
tional TO buy SteedInan of; and the
latter, il fact, demanded $50. 900.
The S25, 600 was paid for "blackmail,
Or whatever it might be termed.
Steedman had already received from
Wendell 500, 900 for tie Office.
STEEDMAN AS A COTTON THIEE.
4 few years later, there was another
remarkable incident in the career of
James 3. Stee5man. AT that time, ia
1865, be had become Major General Of
Volunteers, and, at the close, of hes
tilities, was placed in the command of
the Department of Georgia. To collect
cotton and other property belonging
to the late Confederate States, was a
part of his duty. How he performed
those duties, may be inferred from the
fact that, in the fall of 1866. he we5
obliged to resign his command very
hurriedly, in order to escape court
martial and disgrace for selling cotton
and appropriating to himself the pro
ceeds.
He was generally reported to have
S2. 600, 600 By his opera
tions when Commander of the Depart
ment OF Georgia.
STEEDMAN As A GAMBLER.
His habits did not permit him to re-
tain even this vast sum long. The next
spring he vas again peuniless, having
garnbled everything away. Persons
familiar with the history OF gambling
of those days say that his play in the
winter of 1866, in Washington aud New
York, was so high that. when he was
gambling in any place, all the other
gambling houses in the same city
would close, and the gamblers would
flock together to witness the reckless
audacity of Steedman's clay.
sTEEDMAN AS ANDY JoHNsoN's PEN
SIONRR.
During all that winter, Gen. Steed
man was waiting in Washington to be
appointed Secretary of War by Andrew
johnson. The appointment did not
come. Eager to accept any crumb
from Johnson's table, Steedman, in
March, 1867. was appointed Collector
of the First DistricC of Louisiana-the
New Orleans district.
FILES A ROTTEN BOND.
On April 4, 1867, Steedman filed a
bond of 500, 600 with the following
securities: William L. Grant, $50, 600;
John T. Coyle, S25, 900; John Francis
Heron, S25, 900; and James Hughes,
S5, 600; each qualifying in double the
amount. Coyle was at that time run
ming the now defunct National Intel
ligencer, aud was not known as man
of means. Heron was then United
States Marshal of Louisiana, nd one
of Andrew Johnson's defaulters for a
large amount.
STERDMAN AS A DEFAULTER.
Gen. James b. Steedman's exper
ience in the Department of Georgia
had fitted him to be as thrifty, and as
swift with his thrift. in the First Dis
trict Of Louisiana. Accordingly, as
early as June 81 succeeding his ap
pointment, the Revenue authorities
even Andrew Johnson's Revenue auth
orities-compelled Steedman to file an
bond of $50, 900. This was
done, Notwithstanding he had already
filed bond of 800, 900, which is the
largest bond ever demanded of Rev.
enue official. This additional bond
was called for on account of defalca
tions already reported, which, Gen.
charged, were committed
by his deputies Nevertheless, he re-
tanned the same deputies in Office
his entire term of service.
The securities upon the additional
bond were: William j.. & rant, $50, 900;
II. N. Crook, $50, 900; Joaquin Nioz-a,
Jr.. 81, 500; Edward Ridgney, 81, 500;
and Samuel H. Torrey, 5000.
Steedman remained largely in ar
rears, for which, in March, 1869, he
was suspended, and, in April, 1869, re
moved.
DEFAULTER FOR So 2,645.
at the time of his removal, lie was
defaulter TO the amount of 1852, 645, 60
which was distributed as follows: Cash
S2O3, 622. 50; taxes on lists, s147, 492;
and spirit stamps, S1l
TAR GOVERNMENT SUES.
The Government instituted suits
against Steedman and his bondsmen
These suits are still pending, but have
not lately been pressed, for the reason
that the Government is well advised
that no judgement could be collected
either of Gen. Steedman or his bonds
men. Heron, one of the bondsmen,
made a compromise, and was released,
from the first bond on payment of one
half of the S25. 900. The only sum re
covered from Gen. Steedman himself
is on account of an error on the spirit
stamp. amounting in the grand total
to so cents!
Gen. Steedman still stands on the
books of the Government as defaul
ter to the amount of 1872, CAS-. so! The
only credit in his favor on account is
the fifty cents above mentioned.
This is a specimen of one of Tilden's
Reformers, who is pursuing Gov. Hayes
with malicious lies. in which the charge
of defraudiDg in his personal property
taxes is made.
TILDEN'S TOOL.
Let Samuel J. Tilden choose other
Instruments to defame the character
of Rutherford B. Hayes than the man
whom he has selected 10 make the re-
cent Infamous attacks-Gen. James B.
Good might have come
put of Nazareth, but honesty and
truth can scarcely be expected from
Gen. Steedman, office-broker, Andrew
Johnson's henchman, gambler, Com
mander of the Department of Georgia,