Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-08
Mr.. BarIoW's Standing at Washington.

We take the following from the Washing
ton correspondence of the Congreqationalist,
religious journal Of high standing. pub
lished at Boston. That paper and its cor
respondent cannot have the slightest per-
sonal or political interest or bias in regard
to our Third District affairs: and the letter
is simply another bit Of impartial testimony
to the damaged reputation of Mr. Barlow at
Washington:
Before quitting this subject Of charac-
ter as prerequisite for office. which has
wholly connected itself with the Demo-
cratic party, let me speak of two Republi-
can nominations. In New jersey that
party has presented as its nominee for
Congress. Mr.. Robson, ex-Sscre.sry Of
the Navy under Grants administration.
Nothing positive has ever been proved
against Mr. Robson, bat he left the Cab
met uudeT heavy cloud OF suspicion
Navy contracts for large amounts were
entered into. that bore on their face such
evidence OF fraud that public opinion
generally settled down to the Onyicilun
that they could only have been inspired
by the private benefit of the Secretary.
l. it wise for the Republicans to nominate
one whom public opinion believes to have
been dishonest? Mr.. ltobeson doubtless
desires the nomination as testimony to
the world that his neighbors consider him
an honest man. Bat may not the guilt,
thus " hltered of Mr. Robson, be found on
the sknt. Of too willing a constituency ?
Let the Democracy, if it will, be careless of
the character Of IT. nominees, but let not
Repu hljCans be guilty of the same folly. 1t
is sadly icmoralzing to have just ground
of suspicion against men high in office.
VERMONT NOMINATION.
Above all, let not New England send dis
honest men to the National councils. And
of all the New England States, Vermont
should be above reproach. Yet in district
in Northern Vermont, when the two par
tics had made their regular nominations,
Mr.. Bradley Barlow. of St. Adams, POM
mated himself for Congress lie was well
known 20 the district as a gentleman OF
wealth which he had acquired while
residing in Vermont by very large con-
tracts Tor carrying the mails IN the ex-
trcms southwestern part OF the c0un-
try These roates were so far from popula-
ton ard business that they required large
capital and much executive ability. And
for years he had succeeded in obtaining
these postal contracts over other lower bid
ders. When the attention Of Congress was
called t. this fact, committee OF investiga-
ton Wa appointed. Mr.. Barlow did not
hesitate 10 ADMIT to the committee that he
obtained these contracts by bribery. lie
testified under oath that he loaned
So. 600 at different times to the
brother of the Assistant Pest
master General that had charge of these
valuable contracts; that he had taken no
receipt io7 this large sum of money, nor
had he ever been repaid, nor did he ever
expect to lie repaid that when other COM
mittets had been appointed, he had in
similar Way loaned $4,000 and more. aud
that therefore hi contracts had never been
investigate that be had tffered high
bios Tor postal contracts and had then
bought eff the lower; and that he
entered into large contracts in the name
of an unmarried daughter. 1t the con-
tracts were successful, OF course he re-
ceived the profits. These admissions of his
were spread through the district and yet
in a State as intelligent and as honest gs
Vermont, be has received a large plurality
vote 1t is sad day for the reputation of
the country when such men as Mr. Barlow
can represent Vermont in Congress, and
when New Jersey selects Mr.. Robson. In
tegriiy olsh: to bs an essential element of
character IN every legislator. W. K IL.