The Portland daily press., 1880-09-01

Democratic Corruption.

Democratic Corruption.
James Buchanan was the last President of
the United States elected by the Democratic
party. In 1858 pending Congressional cleo
tion in Pennsylvania. Democratic politician,
high in position. wrote the following letter to
the President:
PHILADELPHIA, September IS, 1858.
DEAR SIR: venture to suggest to you the i'm
cry of the sloop now building at the navy yard at
this time Merrick & Sons. Theirs is the only es-
tablshment in the first district which employs
large number of mechanics; at this time 800; when
in fo ce 450.
The managing partners Mr.. M. senior being alb
sent in bad health-are full of energy, straining
cry nerve to keep their force during this epression
and so far as know. the only old Wings of any in
fuence in that district who are in favor of the
election of Colonel Florence.
know from former experience the value of that
influence and feel persuaded it is the interest of the
Democratic party to increase it,
The first district will, / hope. be carried in any
event, but with that shop at work full-handed two
weeks prior to the election, the result would,
respect, W. G. PATTERSON.
The President
This is about as corrupt letter, in its sug-
gestions, as could be penned, and yet the
Democratic President indorsed it as follows
and forwarded it to Isaac Toucey, the Secre-
tary of the navy:
September Is, 1853
The enclosed letter from Colonel Patterson of
Philadelphia, is submitted to the attention of the
Secretary of the Navy. J.B.
The letter was direct invitation to the ad-
ministration to go into the bribery business,
and Mr.. Toucey awarded the contract to Mer-
rick & Sons, who were to be paid $4,000,
though the Novelty iron works offered to do
the work at price several thousand dollars
less. Colonel Florence by the operation was
elected.
This was such . tlagrantly corrupt affair
that it attracted attention upon the facts being
known in England. Earl Gray in speech
on the reform bill in the House of Lords, April
10, 1860. compared the character of the British
government with that of our own, and said:
One letter is addressed to Mr.. Buchanan himself
urging in the strongest to have the contract
for the machinery Of a steam sloop assigned to
election. There was no disguise. 1t put openly
that it was OF Importance in the then state of the
election tnat the contract should be given to this
particular house. appeal to your lordshps wheth-
err if letter was addressed to the first lord of the
admiralty making demand of that kind, and if it
were proved that he had listened to it for moment
he would not, by the universal Indignation of all
parties, be driven from the councils of the state.
lCheeis] But the letter to which have referred
bore this Endorsements: ''The inclosed letter from
Colonel Patterson of Philadelphia, is submitted to
the attention of the Secretary of the Navy. b.
lLaugnter1 Such corruptlOn produces its natural
effects upon every interest in the country.
This corrupt record left by the last Demo-
cratic administration is only part of the evils
done before Buchanan, Toucey, Floyd and the
rest retired to private life. To their incompe-
tence and disloyalty was due principally the
Inauguration of the civil war and the embar-
rassments under which the incoming Republ-
can administration labored in organizing forces
to crush the rebellion. Going back to the his
tory of that period, how does the picture strike
those who are at present screaming for 'sa
changer"