Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-02
sgse Richmond Coilectorship.

The Washington Republican of taia no.aieg
ssys:--
We we're mistaken il asserting, as nc did yes
tcrtay, that the dcsir, to Dust Collector Russell!
from his position IS Collector Of Ioseraal Rave-
1a3 at Iichmoui vas due to the circumstance
! .h&t he :9a5 rot q se:ire Of Virginia. This is
ial from being the ease. Charges ola very
grave character have been preferred against
Dir. Russell These charges, which are specific
! il their chera.tt7, nay be briefly summed up
as lo9as:-
/. That Collector Russell was Il rar;iceps
| cciIlUs IL the ,icfai@l!;on fore Rush Burgess
The circumstances Of this affair arc that Mr
Rush Burgess at enc tine bought ninety bar
| roz G. whisky and paid for them 81 900 in
Government stamps obta!ocd from Collector
Russell, for which be gave his note at fifteen
days Tor 50 900, aud which rotc he paid cut Of
| the public funds, borrowed from Russell for
that purpose. The above statement can be SUB
stantiated b. bank officers, bank books and sew
ersl Intelligent and respectable c!tizoGs Of Rich
! ,aond ami also by the bank books and stubs Of
check books Of Rush Burgess himself, which
can u produced at any time.
,. Frequent irregularities ia tie management
of the collectors Office, such as permitting spc-
ca! tax stamps TO be signed by one Of tie clerks
That Mr.. Russell allowed the Internal rev.
cuu, Iaw 70 be violated By dealers 10 leaf to.
bacco.
+ That there was violation Of the law re-
ported to him which lie failed to take any No
ticc c! Tex dirty days after The report vas made
as 10 drty bound 10 do.
5 That lie procured his official bond by r1ak-
lDS promises 70 his suratics TO appoint their
friends t. Office IS ar Inducemcn: for them To
60 en- his J9al. Tia. il order keep this cor
Tupt pledge he discharged ono CT his clerks,
whom he sel!:prOnounced, in H:it;og, honest
AID efiicicbt, jn order to appoiat the friend of
orc his bondsncn
Pie foregoing charges were submitted 10 Sec
ratsry Sherman LIST week. lie unhcsitatingly
pronounced them sufficient TO justify the imme-
data removal OF Collector Russell, aid ordered
81. investigation to be made into thei- truth BY
some mysterious Influence, however, the invcs
tiga.ion has not been hsd, although the gsnte-
Eien WHO made the charges arc willing 20 Gefrsy
the expenses 4 8 spcc!al agent to proceed to
Eich;noEd and overhaul the books OF Collector
Russell, and bring out tbs! portion Of tie proof
which his books lid papers will furnish.
In tL;s connection it may be mentioned that
President Grant removed Russell from the collec-
to!ship OF the Richmond district ABOUT 3 yoar ago
upon the Identical charges which have been pre-
scntcd to Secretary Sherman. It is evident that
Collector Russell and bis friends are resorting TO
every cndeaTor TO prevent on investigation Of
this serious accusation, which circumstance up-
on liz face. looks very much ss if they were afraid
Of the result. No honest man would for 9 mo-
nlent rest quietly uoder charges so damaging to
his personal sid official honor, snd Collector
Russell, if innocent, ought TO DC among the most
urgent to insist upon having these charges fully
eZ&mined rs the rnstte7 now stands Collector
Russell does not occupy very eEviable position