see how steals are filtered through Congress, can understand this. Of this transaction the New York Tribune, though evidently desiring to shield "Honest JOHN," is obliged to thus present the case : this case? "Why was $2,000 offered to Mr. Hale for his services in this case? Is he in the habit of receiving a retainer of $2,000 when he is retained as a lawyer? It seems not, from his own account. Why was he offered $2,000 in Was it not because it was presumed or hoped that his position as a Senator, his political distinction and influence, would enable him to achieve results which an equally good lawyer, lacking these advantages, would vainly attempt? We do not know that such was the fact, and yet the case looks as though it were. On the whole, while confident that Mr. Hale intended no wrong, and trusting that he has done none, we decidedly incline to the opinion that Senators ought to leave the defense of alleged peculators and public robbers to members of the bar, whose power to aid them is purely professional, and who have no sort of scruple as to undertaking the defense and pocketing all the fees that may be offered. THE MIDDLE MEN IN WASHINGTON. It is pretty generally understood, though we believe no official report has directly stated it, that there is a horde of outsiders at Washington who act the part of stool pigeons for high of ficials. These chaps play the part of confidence men." They stand about the streets, and the purlieus of that rural Sodom, to have the first talk with contractors. If these are willing to draw a "margin," they can have "audience at court," if not, they are fools to approach one of the Departments. But if they will shell out liberally, then they are sure of contracts, and the bonus is no doubt divided between the middle men" and the head of the Department. Do not the facts presented by VAN WYCK and DAWES, to say nothing of vast array of other facts, prove this? THE HORSE SWINDLE. a The following telegram, which was sent over the wires to the Associated Press, January 11, 1864, is but a sample of the swindling the Government in almost every locality: "Out of eight hundred horses bought in New York, and sent to General Butler, seven hundred were condemned. General Butler has obtained permission to go into the open market." FRAUDS IN THE NAVY YARD. [From the New York World, Jan. 1864.] "The frauds which have just been unearthed n the Brooklyn navy-yard are in keeping with the general corruption which seems to pervade all the departments of the government. Day by day the press of the country chronicles the discovery of new swindles upon the public treasury. So common have these disclosures become that they no longer excite comment, much less indignation. They are taken as a matter of course. Yet we cannot but believe that they will materially injure the administration party in the Presidential contest just opening. The Brooklyn navy yard frauds are not exactly committed upon the government, but upon the workmen employed in the navyyard and the families of the soldiers in the field. When the war opened, with commendable generosity the carpenters and shipbuilders agreed to give one day's wages in each month for the benefit of the families of such of their numbers as entered the service, and they have since the commencement of the war continued to pay in their regular monthly assessments.It is now discovered that the money, which amounts to a very large sum, has not been giv en to the volunteers' families, but has found its way into the pockets of some of the leading Brooklyn politicians. It further appears that the Republican party of Kings county is kept in motion by assessments levied upon the poor workmen in the navy yard. The shoody patriots who control the action and monopolize the offices and the gift of the Brooklyn politicians, do not pay a cent toward the party expenses, while the poor workmen, in addition to the heavy assessment they are under to the volunlarge sums which are needed for running the teer fund, are also compelled to supply the Kings county Republican party. Every feature of this navy-yard business is disgraceful to every person and party connected with it." THE BOOK SWINDLE. The Great "reform" Congress of 1863, thinking perhaps it would be their last chance, passed a joint resolution to seize all the books not already disposed of to be divided among themselves, as the thieves divided the vesture of the Redeemer. Secretary UPSHER, in his late report, thus refers to this swindle, and tells the country how he managed to evade it, and thus to break up the vandal conspiracy: "On the 3d of March, 1863, a joint resolution retary of the Interior, and all other custodians was enacted authorizing and directing the Secthereof, to cause equal distribution to be forthwith made among the members of the two books and documents which had been printed Houses of the then expiring Congress, of all or published at the cost of the Government, and not actually belonging to any public library, or the library kept for use in any department of the government, excepting, however, all such books and documents as were embraced in any existing order for the distribution thereof among the members of either House of Congress I found, on examination, that the number of THE VESSEL CHARTER FRAUDS. volumes of the documents referred to, their in- was connected with a sale of damaged corn to The following table, compiled from the testimony of Mr. COBLENS, Mr. A. C. HALL, and Mr. JOHN F. PICKRELL, and the reports of Col. BELGER and Gen. MEIGS, exhibits Mr. COBLENS' transactions with the Government in the chartering of transports for the War Department: Cost of Vessel. Rates of Charter. Name of Vessel. Steamer Cecil.... Steamer Edwin Forest..... 4,500 40 per day. 4,000 40 per day. 5 000 80 per day. 3,000 2,500 70 per day. 2,250 25 per day. 12 per day. $65,283 Steamer Haswell....... Total.......... $947 per day. "The rules of arithmetic (say the committee) show that Mr. Coblens was receiving money from the government at the rate of $344,655, on a capital of $65,283, which is equal to 5291⁄2 per cent. on his investment." Of all the chapters of frauds under this fraudulent Administration, none is more conspicuous than that brought to light by the GRIMES Committee, relative to transports, &c. It seems that the War and Navy Departments Steamer Fairy Queen... have been in the habit of appointing obscure and irresponsible agents to do that which should be done directly with officers of the government. They have pursued precisely the course a man would pursue, if he wanted to make a haul from the treasury, and dare not do it without the aid of an accomplice. High-minded, responsible, honorable men cannot often be found to play agent in such a business, and hence the Departments have been in the habit of securing the services of the other class. Take, for instance, the case of COBLENS, whom the War Department selected as agent to procure transports for the army. The frauds, perjuries and rascalities in the management of this business, were so bold and palpable that Congress appointed a select committee to "investigate " them, with Mr. GRIMES (Rep.,) at the head. The committee express their regret that time was not allowed for a full investigation, but God knows, they exhumed enough corruption to last a life-time, under any honest administration. A Prussian, and an obscure pedler, horse jockey, and by descent an Israelite, by the name of COBLENS, of Baltimore, who was poor before his appointment as agent to secure Government transports for the army, appeared before the committee as a millionaire -the owner of ten steamers, three barges, and eighty acres of valuable land in the vicinity of Baltimore. He was wholly unfamiliar with commercial pursuits, aside from retailing Yankee notions, and jockying in horses. He admits that he refunded $1,500 to Government, which was obtained by bribing the inspector of horses-that he bribed three of the clerks in Col. BELGER'S office, and that he In addition to this monstrous swindle, the and evidences of perjury, but for want of room, THE COMMITTEE'S CONCLUSIONS. 'The ground covered by this report includes only a small portion of the duty assigned to the committee by the resolution of Dec. short to afford more than a beginning—an out22. As previously stated, the time was too line of the work, which should be undertaken at once by a competent military commission, and prosecuted through all the channels of the 1861, and the present time. The committee transport service, between the 20th of April, are overwhelmed with astonishmsnt and sor row by the revelations which have been made, but they believe that nothing which so vitally concerns a free people, should be concealed from them, and they hope that this investigation may tend to a more honest and economical administration of the department of the public service to which their attention has been directed. The conclusions reached by the committee from the whole examination in which they have been engaged, are "1st. The vessels to be employed by the Government should always be secured through the regular and legitimate channels upou offers to be made by the owners, or agents of such vessels, in answer to public advertise ments. Danforth, of N. Y., from the owners of the steamer Mattained in violation of law, and against public feeling, and amora, and from the owners of other vessels, were obthat steps should be taken to cause it to be paid into the treasury. [This is easier said than done. It might implicate others high in office, hence it has not been attempted.] "13th. The War Department can only restore confidence in its transactions, by inflexibly adhering to the rule that coutracts shall only be made with the owners of vessels, or with their immediate, legitimate, established agents, and that every officer who shall be shown to be influenced in the slightest degree, in according a charter, by fear, force, or of faction, or the hope of reward, or who shall ever give reasonable grounds for suspicion of his conduct, shall be summarily punished, if guilty. [Has this been done in a single instance? | 14th. The cases of perjury shown in the testimony, taken by this committee, shall become subjects of judicial investigation. This will do to talk, but we believe has in no case been acted on. THE MILEAGE STEAL. "2d. That the practice of employing an Agent to charter vessels, with unlimited power to fix the rate of charter -to determine the character of the vessels to be employed, with the apparent attempt to fasten the responsibility for such transactions upon another party, or upon another department, as in the case of employing John Tucker, with Capt. Hodges, U. S. A., to charter vessels for the McClellan Expedition, the former to inspect and charter, the latter merely to sign the contracts that they might have the official sanction of the Quarter Master's Depart-reform, and that "honesty" so much boasted ment, can neither be justified upon principle, nor upon its results. 3d. All vessels should be thoroughly inspected at the the time of purchase or charter by the Government, by competent experts in their profession, who shall be directly responsible to the military branch of the Government. And it is no apology for the want of such examination to say that the vessel had at some time during the preceeding twelve months been inspected by the agents of the Treasury Department. "4th. That the monopoly of chartering vessels by Hall, Loper and others, even were it known that their transac tions were honest, cannot be justified, and the officers who knew that Hall and others were extorting commissions from the owners and agents of vessels, and permitted such monopoly to continue, deserve the severest censure. [This How can the people expect retrenchment, of by the party in power, when members of Congress take all they can get? Not content with attempting to grab all the books, they took from the treasury a constructive mileage for attendance on the extra session, without traveling a rod. The following from the Chicago Tribune will answer under this head: "THE MILEAGE GRAB.-The members of Congress were guilty of a sneaking, dirty grab which they took out $80,000 to which they on the Treasury, just before adjourning, by were not rightfully entitled. The law allows ger, U. S. A., knew of Hall's transactions, and knowing round,-Sundays included-or $8.000 a year, each member of Congress $8,00 a day the year is a rap at Mr. Stanton.] "5th. The committee are satisfied that the late Assistant Secretary of War, John Tucker, and Col. James Bel them, permited his monopoly, and illegal practices to continue. "6th. That the practice of allowing any person to act at the same time in the double capacity of broker of ship owners and agents of the Governmert, to select vessels, in both of which characters Hall did act, according to the testimony of Col. Belger, is wholly indefensible. 7th. That the commissions received by Hall, Loper, Danforth and others, which are estimated by the committee to amount in the aggregate to several hundred thousand dollars, [probably not less than $5,000,000,] rightfully belong to the Government, and immediate steps should be taken by the War Department to ascertain the amount due from each, and to secure the money." [The fact that no move of the kind has been attempted, is pretty conclusive proof that the "War Department" has had a" portion of the hog."] "Sth. That many of the charters affected by, through, or under the agency of Hall, Loper and others, were se cured at exorbitant prices, and are otherwise tainted with fraud. All such charters should be at once annulled [but they were not] and steps taken to restore to the Treasury the sums thus extorted, or fraudulently obtained [that's a thing that has never been attempted under this "honest" administration.] "9th. That all the charters with Charles Coblens were exorbitant in price, and were tainted with fraud-that both Coblens and Pickrell should be made to disgorge [what an Utopian idea] their ill-gotten gains, and the charters should be annulled. "10th. That no money should be paid upon charters with Coblens, Hall, Loper, &c., upon vessels owned in whole or in part by them, until the amounts honestly and equitably due to the government, growing out of these transactions, shall be ascertained and paid. "11th. That the facts heretofore recited, concerning Col. James Belger, are sufficiently grave to warrant their being examined by military court. "12th. That the sums of money obtained by John B. and mileage at the enormous rate of fifty cents two regular and one extra session. a mile each way. The late Congress has held The law allowed no mileage for the extra session, but the honorable gentlemen set it aside and reached their arms into the treasury and took from thence a third mileage-the Western members getting from $800 to $1,500, and those west of the Rocky Mountains from $5,000 to $6000 apiece." STUPENDOUS FRAUDS IN NEW YORK. A commission was appointed by Congress to "investigate" the monstrous frauds in the Subsistence Department. An article from the New York Times (Radical) of the 27th of December, 1862, is before us, from which we take the following short extract, as a sample of the whole : "Mr. Olcott entered upon his investigations on the 1st of November last, and has already discovered frauds to the extent of $700,000 perpetrated in this city, and the prospect is, that they will reach double that amount before the investigation is finished." Thus it goes; frauds by the million are per petrated-an investigation is had-the guilty | exposed-but nobody punished, and still the frauds continue. Still the raid upon the Treasury is unchecked-thieves multiply like the locusts of Egypt-now and then we hear of an arrest, but seldom, if ever the infliction of punishment, They are all so linked together-from the highest to the lowest-that there is scarcely an honest man in power left to prosecute. Now and then we see such articles as the following, floating through the columns of the press, as editorials or telegrams, but they are so frequent as to hardly attract at'tention. SWINDLING AT CAIRO. "The postmasters at Cairo are in a bad way. Robert M. Jennings, the assistant, was arraigned before United States Commissioner L. B. Adams, of Springfield, on Tuesday, on a charge of embezzling, secreting and destroying letters, and upon hearing of the case, was held to bail in the sum of $3,000 for his appearance at the next term of the District Court. John Q Harmon and D. J. Baker, Jr., became his sureties. Mr. Linegar, the postmaster, has been removed, and Col. James C. Sloo appointed in his stead Linegar is said to be behind in his accounts with the government at least $3,000, and also behind with his clerks at least $10,000. Linegar is one of the leading abolition politicians of southern Illinois, and, perhaps, one of the least competent men for postmaster to be found in that section."-Chicago Post. A DEFAULTER CAUGHT. "Howland, the defaulting Quartermaster, who drew $16,500 on a Government check and then fled, was arrested at Hyacinth, Canada." -Telegram. A Government paymaster (Cook) deposited several hundred thousand dollars in a faro bank at Cincinnati-drank, gambled, and was arrested He felt sorry, and we have heard nothing of it since. CONTRACTORS ON THE WAR. "Contractors have carried on this war. The blood of our men, the groans of our wounded, the tears of the orphan and the wail of the widow, have been coined into money. Mr. DAWES, Republican member of Congress from Massachusetts, in a speech on the subject of the extravagance and frauds of the administration, said: "In the first year of a Republican Administration, which came into power upon professions of Reform and Retrenchment, there is indubitable evidence abroad in the land, that somebody has plundered the public treasury well nigh in that single year, as much as the ment during the Administration which the peoentire current yearly expenses of the Governple hurled from power because of its corrup tion." FREMONT'S FRAUDS. The report of the select committee that traveled all over the western country in 1863, taking testimony-traveling over six thousand miles, and examining over 260 witnesses, is another chapter in the history of these frauds and rascalities, that has branded this Administration as a synonim for peculation and plunder. The committee condemn the purchase by FREMONT of the Austrian muskets, amounting to $166,000-a total loss, as the committee say they were entirely worthless. The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Treasury are condemned, and placed between two millions of dollars, which went into the hands of a mere pet, with no security and without warrant of law. FREMONT'S expenditures are severely criticised. It is impossible for us to even notice all the flagrant frauds exposed by this committee. The report itself occupies 136 pages, and the evidence makes a monster volume.Gen. FREMONT is censured for incompetency, and in speaking of the extraordinary expendi. tures on the "St. Louis fortifications," the committee say: "The circumstances surrounding this work are of the most extraordinary character, and are marked by extravagance, recklessness, insubordination and fraud." And, again : "The dealings of the Quartermaster's Department at St. Louis, while in the charge of Maj. McKinstry, with the firm of Child, Pratt & Fox, were very extensive, amounting to over $800,000 since the present difficulties * broke out. This business was not confined to the particular kind of business in which the firm were engaged. who were hardware merchants, but extended to every variety of article and thing which the department had occasion to buy. * To secure to this firm this monopoly, by which immense private fortunes were taken from the treasury, all provisions of law and army regulations, requiring advertisement for proposals, and the contracting with the lowest bidders, to furnish these articles, were totally disregarded, and the most unblushing system of favoritism and exclusiveness established that ever disgraced the service. * Every branch of industry whose products were in any way necessary to the department of the west, was made to pay tribute to the firm of Child, Pratt & Fox. The profits made by this firm out of the United States, by enjoying this monopoly, were enormous. Coligan, its bookkeeper, admitted in testimony that it would reach 35 per cent., which upon a trade of $800,000, secures the princely fortune of $280,000-a tax upon the treasury of the United States, which nothing but the most controlling reasons of military necessity would ever justify." * * * MARSHAL LAMAN MR. LINCOLN'S RIGHT BOWER This distinguished individual, whom Mr. LINCOLN took on to Washington with him, for the purpose of giving him the Marshalship of the District of Columbia, is most severely handled by this committee, for his extraordinary "cheek" in charging $40,000 for taking the 37th Illinois regiment from Saint Louis to Williamsport. HONEST OLD ABE AND SIMON-HELPING THEIR FRIENDS-RICH DEVELOPMENTS. When Major MCKINSTRY was on trial for matters related to above, he produced two letters in court-one from Old Honest Abe and one from Honest SIMON CAMERON, which the Major relied upon for his justification in committing such base plunders, withont advertising, &c. The gentleman Mr. LINCOLN so patriotically desired to serve, because of the patriotism of Illinois," was a partner of Cameron's son, residing in Harrisburg, Pa., and the other individual, Mr. YOUNG, lived in Middleton, the home of Honest SIMON, himself. The Mrs. GRIMSLEY who figures in the record, was not only in the partnership, but is understood to be a sister of Mrs. LINCOLN. THE TESTIMONY OF MR. FOX. "Q. Are you acquainted with his hand writing? "A. Yes, sir. "Q. Do you know James L. Lamb, of Springfield, Illinois? "A. I do, sir. "Q. Did not James L. Lamb, of Springfield, accompany you at one time to Maj. McKinstry's office? "A. I met Mr. Lamb at Maj. McKinstry's office. I did not go with him there. "Q. On that occasion did not one or both of you present to Maj. McKinstry two letters, one from the President of the United States, and one from the secretary of war? "A. Not on that occasion, sir. "Q. Did you or Mr. Lamb at any time present such let "Permit me to introduce James L. Lamb, Esq. of Springfield, Illinois. "I have known Mr. Lamb for a great many years. His reputation for integrity and ability to carry out his engagements are both u questioned, and I shall be pleased, if consistent with the public good, that you will make purchases of him of any army supplies needed in your Department. Your ob't servant, "A. LINCOLN." What under officer could resist such an appeal from the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy? Honest Simon to Major McKinstry. "WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 1561. J. MCKINSTRY, Brigadier General and Quartermaster, St. Louis: SIR-The bearer of this, James L. Lamb, Esq., of Springfield, Ill., is the personal friend of the President, as well as my own. He is a gentleman of integrity and bu siness capacity, [Simon was posted on "integrity," and any engagement entered into will, no doubt, be faithfully carried out. As Illinois is bearing her burden of the war, both in furnishing men and means, it is the desire of the Administration an irresistible hint] that the citizens of that state should have a fair share of the Government patronage dispensed in your department. If you can do anything for Mr. Lamb, in purchasing supplies, you will oblige, provided he will make his prices suit you. Your ob't servant, SIMON CAMERON, Sec'y of War." Thus, for the first time in the history of the Government, did the President of the Nation and his War Minister, combine to urge a pet and a partner of the household on the favor of those who dispensed the patronage of the Government. "Q. Did you some time in 1861, make an arrangement with Lamb and others to supply the army with goods? "A. I made arrangements with Mr. Lamb. The Judge Advocate here objected to the "Q. Are you personally acquainted with the President letters becoming a part of the record, on the of the United States? "A. I am. "Q. How long have you been acquainted with him? "A. For nearly ten years. ground that they had no reference to any party who was connected with any of the trans |