The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-29
SECOR robson.
TmH PLUNDEREzg or THE navy
NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS-.

FEEE FMUNwEEzEg OF TIME NAVY
NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS-.
The Republicans of line First District of
New Jersey Endorse TEaief. .".
IN. Y. Sun, Sept. 1ol
The Republicans of the First District of
New Jersey have nominated the notorious
Robeson for Congress. and thereby have
assumed The odium and the nfamy Of his
corrupt administration of the navy under
Grant No man ever held high office in this
country who 30 openly and darIngly ptosti-
tuted 1t to venal uses during, the sevon or
eight years in which he converted the depart
anent into a brokers shop for jobs and con-
tracts. and auctioned the public patronage to
the highest bidder. In this plundering ,sys-
tern he was upheld by stolid President, him
self defiant Of public opinion, and by party
maiorities In both houses Of Congress.
During the seven years, from 1870 TO 1876
inclusive. before the House OF Representa-
dives passed Into the hands OF the Demo
gratis, the expenditures for the navy aggr,e-
gated S157, 3S0,847 81, or an average Of nearly
twenty two and Il half millions in year In
round numbers. 10 this enormous total
lilo property which Robson bartered away
with favored contractors, without authority
of law. In order to swell their colluEive
profits. The expenditures for the , navy IN
fhe fourteen years from 1e4s to 1861 In
elusive, summed up $685. 1899 10, or less
fhan half the average of Robeson's seven.
For these vast expenditures there Is moth
ing to show but rotten hulks q debauched
service. and the sudden wealth OF ring who
had pass KEYS into the department.. The In
vestigation OF 1876 proved beyond the posi-
biIity of successful dispute that d regular
combination of middlemen was organiz tsl
who. with Robeson's favor, levied toll on all
contracts and open purchases for the navy.
and divided the spells, In spite OF the ap-
railing perjury OF different witnesses OF Jne
alteration and mutllation OF books OF account,
E.f, tad ~
tions, the corrupt connection between Robe
son and the Cattells, and Matthews, and
Noblitt, and Roach, and many others, who
monopoIized the great jobs, was fastened SO
strunply that no artlice, or lying, or false
swearing could unite the knot.
identified with Jay Cooke and the throng
of spectators Of which he was the ostensibe
chief, Robson did not hesitate when n t t
public money and transfer 1t TO London to
prop up the lettering fortunes OF the foreign
branch Of that concern, Tor which act i'm.
parchment and its penalty would have been g
deserved punishment. Utterly reckless and
unscrupuluus, he stopped at no violation OF
law by which his ring might be enriched, OF
the party on which he relied to defend his ex,
uesseS could be strengthened.
The navy yards were transformed into
nolitical headquarters, their commanders
into partisan agents, and the employees OF al
grades became mere creatures OF the caucus
who at Mare island were marched to the polls
in double file, every man bearing large
ticket with the names of the Republican can
siidates to prevent the exercise OF any inde
pendent opinion. At home ana ABROAD undel
This disgraeefu rule, the navy fell in public
estimation, and the gallant officers who tool
just pride In their profession would no
eneea the threshold Of this spokesman, know
ing that promotion and favor could only %
procured by the sacrifice of self-respect,
His career AS Secretary closed consistently
with It's whole course. Invited to act TEN
porarily until the advent Of his successor, tx
a., ~, 10 II
Of holding over he made illegal contract!
for three or four millions of dollars, which
had to be broken, after having, in the re
manning hours of his own term, diverted thu
money appropriated Tor pay OF the navy tx
the benefit of the ring contractors.
During the two terms of Grantism In which
he fourished In company with other plum
serers, Robpson lived riotously every day
affected certain off ial state was one of thu
leaders Of shoddy, and maintained q costl,
establishment after the pattern OF Tweed
Connolly, Shepherd, and other patriots OF tina
order. A constant and a very great revenu
from some source was Indispensable for Thu
vulgar parndr, and Secor Robson had II.
It Is no secret that he went to Washington
poor, and that Mr. Adolph i. Bore, whom
Grant first appointed Secretary, Obtained a In
was the chief object OF his ambition, and witt
1t the opportunity to Improve his straitenet
condition. His account with the Natona
Mr.. Whitthurne's committee, two years age
by the officers Of that institution. On tn
first Of January, 1866, Robson had to hi
credit there SAB oil; on the first of January
1857. $40 ss; on the first of January, 1868
1918 90, and on the first Of January, 1866
$2376 6S. 1t thus appears that he usually OK
pended whatever money he received froI
professional business, or from the office h
held. during these years, for the debit side q
the ledger shows thai his checks were mostl
for small sums.
Later in 1870 he went to Washington. and
is worthy o. note that among the nrst sum
TO his credit in the fall Of that year in thi
Camden bank, were derived from checks an
notes of A. G. Catteli Il Co. and the Corn ES
change Bank OF Philadelphia, Of which tn
elder Cattel was then president. 1t Is nc
unlikely that they were loans made to Stal
his official life at Washington. or course b
had to feel his way and to learn the ropes b.
fore plunging into jobs, but the figures sho
that he did fair business from the star
Three bank accounts were examined by til
committee with the following results in d.
posts alone:
NATIONAL BANK OF CAMDEN.
as69-Depos s ..........-.................$ Gid
Is1o-Deposts- ...''..'..'''-..'...'.''. ~ 9l9
IS7l-Denosits. II 1913
Total. Observation-Disclosures. .SG7.SF
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WASHINGTON GA
COOKIE
1s8e-Deposits ...,...-..''...'''.---.. 50. 100
1ST0-Deposl S.. 13,453
1s71-Depusits. Observation-Disclosures. %, $50
Is72-Depos 80, 534
IsT3-Duposits. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. IT, 124
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $3.50 S02
After Cookies failure he opened an accoul
with new bankers, as follows:
RIGGS l. co.
1s7s-Depos It's. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $19193
@ 1s7A-Deposits. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 65.s25
Is75-Deposlts. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 63 274
lSTS-Deposi1 Observation-Disclosures 20 5l3
Total. .-"'.t,. bosot
He stopped depositing soon after the inve
Sgation began on the fifteenth OF March, 1877
when he discovered that Mr.. Whitthorl
meant business, which was his first expe1
ence Of that kind, for in all former cases
was whitewashed at the public expens
ne foot II in InrpSits GS0t