Swartwout-Hoyt scandal
Encyclopedia
The Swartwout-Hoyt scandal arose from corruption in the Office of the Collector of the Port of New York
.
In 1829, President Andrew Jackson
appointed Samuel Swartwout
to serve as Collector of the Port of New York. Nine years later, in 1838, it came to light that Mr. Swartwout had been embezzling (to the tune of some $2.25 million), and he fled to Europe, evidently with his ill-gotten gains.
President Martin Van Buren
then appointed Jesse Hoyt
to replace Mr. Swartwout and to take corrective measures to prevent any future problems in the Collector's office. However, in 1841, allegations began to circulate that Mr. Hoyt had also been embezzling, and Hoyt was removed by Van Buren on February 27.
There was also something of a "scandal with the scandal." President John Tyler
appointed a special three-person committee, headed by Senator George Poindexter
of Mississippi
, to investigate the allegations of fraud and embezzlement in the Collector's Office. The committee's report found overwhelming evidence of massive corruption. However, President Tyler had made the political mistake of failing to secure the approval of Congress
for the creation of the Poindexter committee; the Congress, miffed at what it viewed as an usurpation of its powers, repudiated President Tyler's action in creating the commission.
Collector of the Port of New York
The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, sometimes also as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York or Collector of Customs for the District of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import...
.
In 1829, President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
appointed Samuel Swartwout
Samuel Swartwout
Samuel Swartwout was an American soldier, merchant, speculator, and politician...
to serve as Collector of the Port of New York. Nine years later, in 1838, it came to light that Mr. Swartwout had been embezzling (to the tune of some $2.25 million), and he fled to Europe, evidently with his ill-gotten gains.
President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
then appointed Jesse Hoyt
Jesse Hoyt
Jesse Hoyt was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
to replace Mr. Swartwout and to take corrective measures to prevent any future problems in the Collector's office. However, in 1841, allegations began to circulate that Mr. Hoyt had also been embezzling, and Hoyt was removed by Van Buren on February 27.
There was also something of a "scandal with the scandal." President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
appointed a special three-person committee, headed by Senator George Poindexter
George Poindexter
George Poindexter was an American politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi.-Background:Poindexter was born in Louisa County, Virginia and was of Huguenot ancestry. He was orphaned early in life and had a sporadic education growing up...
of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, to investigate the allegations of fraud and embezzlement in the Collector's Office. The committee's report found overwhelming evidence of massive corruption. However, President Tyler had made the political mistake of failing to secure the approval of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for the creation of the Poindexter committee; the Congress, miffed at what it viewed as an usurpation of its powers, repudiated President Tyler's action in creating the commission.