The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-01-12
Aggregate black mail.


a large balance in the hands of somebody. Perhaps
that's to be used in the Senate, and elsewhere. The
"Courier" closes with the following advicc:-
What is the remedy "Aye, there's the rub" We do
not believe that men who have Seen bought at the rate
Of hundred thousand dollars per Vote was the
boast of certain individuals that they could be- be
the action of the House Of Representatives should Be
abandoned. Let the members Of that body consummate
their Infamous work. the day of reckoning will most
suredly come, and the renegades who have been TAM
Pered with if such there be-will beyond all question,
be placed in their true colors before the people, and their
namesiheld upto iniany notorious that which
tacheso the memory Of the traitor Arnold Let them
be left to their fate.
Awful awful-indeed will that fate be, if the
"Courier" tells the truth and its advice is followed
| for it saws
Let the facts in regard to the of money
collected from foreigners the repeal Bankrupt
Law, be all placed before the Senate; let committees be
appointed and agents selected TO trace the Of this
nous sum; let the pleas which members of the House
may make for their sudden change Of opinion, be
ing be examined into; let their former and present
ciaes be ascerained in short, they few in
Der and have placed themselves in position which is
prfmn Jace evidence Of having been tempered with, t
ere'y act and Increment other hires since July a, be fully
traced and thoroughly canrassed
This would doubtless lead to some funny discls
sures, if followed up closely-if every " act and
increment of those eighteen Congressman, (includ-
ing Tom Marshall and his associate delegates)
was fully traced and exhibited since July last Hea-
would it show where all the money went to =! We
doubt it. But here is the close of the argument =
The very idea of grave and important law being
passed in July, and repealed in January, by the same
Congress- without even the attempt to give reason for
the repeal argues corruption such enemies
have never dared to charge upon the country.
Can any thing be put in more lawyerlike man.
ner, in stronger position Yes. For Mr.. Webb,
after inserting the above arraignment Of eighteen
members of Congress- the first or leading article
OF his paper, in order to do away with the doubts,
which many may have, as to whether Congress did
receive the money not, scaters all these dstnc.
tons to the wind, with the following endorsement,
over his own hand and seal =
We do believe that such political bribery and politi
cal corruption have been and at the bottom Of this
disgraceful proceeding and do not hesitate say,
that in opinion the member of Congress who could
be thus seduce6 his duty his country to his own
conscience and to his unfortunate fellow citizens,
dishonest and dshonorabie as he had openly receirsd
bride in dollars and cents.
This caps the climax We expected 10 see some
horrible commotion or outbreak in Wall street about
this time, as soon as we saw the result of the late
movements in Congress IN relation TO the Bankrupt
Law but such stupendous mine as this, we never
dreamt of seeing sprung, and that too Immediately
under the floors of Congress why it is worse, if
possible, than the celebrated mine laid by Guy
Fawkes to blow up and blow TO atoms the members
of parliament in England We are so asounded
with the stupendous nature of this charge by the
Courier that we hardly know in what light to re-
gard it. It appears to Us to be new species-but
most magnificent species-of moral war breaking
out usual, in Wall street. But instead Of simply
charging a daily newspaper with levying black mail
on an Insignificant scale, we have the arraign
ment of Congress--representing 100000 Of
people,-on the awful charge that they have
| actually been legislating during the extra SEES
sion for the purpose Of torciag eriorting from Bri
| fish Bankers, or European merchants, stock
holders, or Their agents IN this country, or from
some one, fund amounting TO sererai millions,
TO be distributed on grand and liberal scale, &c
cording to systematic programme, among the
| members of Congress, at much per vote, or per
man. or per capita, in order to induce those members
to vote for a repeal of the Bankrupt Law. This is
black mail of the blacklist kisd
! All this, il must be recollected, is distinct and
separate matter from the general feeling in relation TO
the Bankrupt Law. The repeal of that raeasure--if
| il is done-is a simple question, easily understood.
But this charge in the Courier is altogether a new
matter; opens up new field of enquiry; represents
Congress in a new and unheard of light. 1t repre-
sents j, a Bandits Cave, where the members are
like so many brgands, laying down their plans how
they contrve TO rob the world at large-and this
country in particular-on grand scale. We won
der how many caucuses were held before the price
| of vote as given by Webb-SleO eOO-was decided
upon We suppose they commenced at S50O0--
perhaps less-and increased after the Treasury was
| found TO be empty.
But seriously this charge is one of the gravest
and NEST important that ever was brought by news
| paper or any one agans; deberative assembly,
since the creation of the world. How true or other
wise il may be, we know not-have means of
knowing. But this we do know, that if such charge
appeared in any London Paris newspaper, the ed-
tor and proprietor would be had up before the House
OF Commons or the Chamber OF Deputies and made
to prove the truth Of what he states, be punished
accordingly. And trust that Congress, il il has
any regard TO ITS character-its reputation al heme
o abread-any regard for truth or moraty-any re-
gard Tor virtue or honor-any regard for the country
and the institutions OF which II is the leading feature
any regard tor all tina, Is dear TO man. to human-
y-wu instantly take the proper measures to ascer-
tain If there be any truth all in this charge. They
owe it to themselves, and the homes, portion of the
members owe it to their fellow countrymen. TO take
this step, and that too Immediately
This is no vague and groundless arraignment
Here is a specific statement made out the list Of
the names charged with being bought over is os,en-
sibly gwen and the actual sum of money alleged TO
have been received. Congress is organized under
the Constitution to give good laws, nculcaie vr
tue and sound morality. But if such are its acu
aud uses, we shall be better without Congress
Look at this matter in any light and itpresens bu
ty, strong poiuts-two bold features. The charS,
i, true or IL is not. In either immediate
thorough investigation is necessary. Ii it be false
lc. this be shown and proved. 1t it is true, Go,
hn1ws it is high time tia, this was proved AN,
: shown to the whole country.
We await the action OF Congress in this matte
, | ali in.o~-a orvfatv