The New York herald., 1851-08-07

clccteo 10 s1e rited Stacce Senate.
Clans AeA-ssr TIE UyIrRD STATES, AND CRIMES
RELATING THERETO. "A third letter from our
Washington correspondent, X. z. Y, is given to-
day. striking view is presented in it, OF the
law relating to the Tag ous practices in repee, Of
claims against the government. It Is con.snded
that the criminal law, he quotes fully, applies to
the entire tribe ofclsim nongers-the stoolpige ,ns
buzzards, rats, and sharks infesting the national
metropolis, prcJing or the federal treasury. The
great length Of the letter is Objectionable, and
athoagt tits wortk attentive perrssl, insomuch as
We cultivate variety in our columns, We beg our re-.
frected correspondent hereafter TO compress each
letter into the space Of one column If possible.
The present letter smells considerably Of the
chop" snd though on legal subjects We should in
all modesty, perhaps, defer 20 X. 4. Ne deibe-
rately expressed opinion, yet We are constrained to
say that we ere no, :ully Convinced Of the anena-
bility Of those who pursue the nefsrious coarses
complained ofas to claims pending before Congress.
or the departments, or bureaus, o. boards Of CON
nissiorcIs, at Washington, TO the pena,,e, Of the
law quoted, concerning "mair .enance,a " cham.
petty" bs-ra.ry,' ard "emt-s:ery." Certainly,
aIaaks5a.e is raakebate every where, snd the res
son, policy, principle and morality, is tho same in
these cases, as in ,hosc where suit Is ,nsng, or i
70 be prosecuted in g court Of justi 20; hut VIC are
Inclined to think that .he Law rofc-ret 10 would be
decided &c be confined to causes In oourts. We
would also suggest, that while the crimes .! main
t-Ia2es. chanpcrty, bs-rstry AM enb-ace-y, ss
they ere called, may be perpetrstod with respect t
:lairns and dpgtes, suits between iniiyidras Il
Lay Lot be 80 in cases wherein .hc government II
oie party. And so likewise with respee. 20 rur
chasing disputed titles, &c. Oae reason stated for
the prohibition and Iunihnert Of such practices in
the ordinary transactions q society s, that they
tend 20 enable The iich aai powerful t. oppress and
ri2rg she poor and weak. Another reason is, ths,
they encourage and promote litigation. THIS las;
reeson may apply 70 cases where he government /,
party as nuch as the cthers bat surely the other
siound does MT apply TO the government, which
has itis The exclusive power Of allowing or dissl
b"iDg The claim. We coaceic, however, there Il
eog.ney iu ;he arsument tha: permitting such
practices n cases Of govern nen. claims enables un-
lrireiIleo Politician in oise legislative, executive
CT ministerial, 20 chea, ant stea, ab hbiu,n, from
sbe publie treasury. Ifpermittci to speculate in
slsh claims in any Instances they can exercise the
poscr q allowing aEd paying claims in which tnoy
have N interest, without dctoction and they may
Withhold justice 20 cODsiTsr iransfers friends and
cDrerin,rs. The law OF England. statute and COM
mon las, az 20 the crimes referred 70, or any
Other crincs, Is considered by many sourl law
yers not 20 be Ia force Ia this coIstry with
rt.ptctto offences against the cieral government
insmuch % the same has not been expressly
aa1ited by ,he fCdcfal cor Institution or bv act
CT Congrss. How for the law cited was re-
cngnzcd and adopted b. the state OF MARYLAND.
lc.0fe the cessioa Of the nric; Of ola 10 The
United states; and how far The acts of Congress
relating to that District have adopted the Vltv.
iaud laws; and how far those laws If In fo-ce IN
Nary land, and in the District. n in Envlani can
b. made applicable TO tho exceptional bic rras.ices
men ntioDco, arc the questions 10 be settled. we
refer the d, cision Of them 70 abler an wiser heads
Lan ours hut wc are surprised, If the law Il az our
correspondent insists, that the subject has not been
80 pitsertod 10 tho Grand Jury IN Washington be- /
fore this Who ~ remiss In thiel Pu: ge ars boiI /
70 say, that if tho Law cited does not sppv I'm.
gee. Il Juld make il applicable ~ rcrt sesst.p nv
tnaciing u lUliy as to ali cssos OF claims AGAINST
y governmens.
Wth reference % the crime o. emb-acs-v.
I nay De that it is confined o. tamuori6s !
with iHIy men, by cntroat.s money. prrsoss
sions. c1itriammcnts, ani ths lihe, but the use
- employ mont, 20 influence Congr,ss.nen scare.
tar e.. sBuuurs c0mpuylleTs, c1IHuis-.Yners or
clcl D.. 70 ALLOW y clgim "ty Uz.s .. either t.~
suasi iors Or punch, iDp0rtun.tes rtrt cyasipg a.
cbamD agns, osjoiery o. ogngafsLa.b du iEs @pa
catph, 'ctcHiiou, ~ .Jatefs e.ie,. .iDnr q, sun
pcff, of fheiD cD1blcfs. t-.ud bs intefit,vciy
hi'lo.cteo hJ Aet a. C,1s ia ls1ois aud
cor petctr. 'c frfas -, Goo tlr .-ls. lei, ffba-.
.8nIig ~ ''tutlH gent fc.ssf .a.l yfoh.o...-l.
~ @ -neeIu il' 'harfsd frgu.s'ng 81 Is.trail- |
fg rteif ts iu ia .n tncs
We Wet,Isin. ho syer, fom ma ing -her sst
tstOi. at THIS hms v avoid ics5s'4ilac4; of ar
ou9Iondsst