Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-25
Frauds on the Treasury.

Frauds on the Treasury.
We are indebted to the Hon. Pierre
Soule, for copy of Senate report No. l,
of the last special session, made by MIR.
Borland, from the Senate select committee
appointed under the resolution of the 9th
August, 1852, to investigate frauds of all
kinds on the Government of the United
States The document is too voluminous
for us to undertake to read it at this time :;
yet we are disposed to embrace this occa-
sion to say, that we are satisfied that the
labors ofthis committee are likely to prove
very beneficial to the public service.
While it can hardly be questioned that
portions of the testimony given before
them was dictated by personal disap-
pointment, malice, and, indeed, by senti-
ments very foreign to patriotic regard
for the cause of honesty and the interest
of the State, nevertheless, the committee
in question have done much to expose the
fact that the robbery of the Treasury of
the United States by all sorts of cunning
devices, has come to be a fixed business
with many men. And further, that a
lax and very reprehensible condition of
public opinion has encouraged such en-.
terprises, until the man who successfully
swindfcs the Government of tho United
States, looks around for applause for his
adroitness, instead of fearing such punish
ment as would most likely be his recon-
pense if dealing after the same fashion
with his neighbors.
The newspapers are in the habit of
crediting the community of Washington
City with at least countenancing all such
acts. This is grave mistake. As is the
case at all seats of Government; we have
here, at times, considerable number of
persons, most of them residing at dis
lance, who live by their ingenuity in
extracting money from the National Treas
ury for purposes really foreign to the le-
gitimate ends of the government, and in
payment of demands which will not bear
the test of the severe scrutiny to which
all claims upon the money extorted from
the laboring masses of the United States
by taxation, should rightfully be subjected.
The people of Washington, however, as a
general thing have very little sympathy
with them, and as freely denounce their
diSreputable practices, as do any others.
These people, having for the most part
been previously in public life, enjoy posi-
tion in society thus given to them in
ignoranceof their unworthiness, but from
which it is quite as difficult to drive them
here, under such circumstances, as else
where. We repeat, the business men of
Washington are as firmly set against their
dishonest schemes as any others in the
country, and are as anxious as any others
to see the measures for roofing them out
Of the purlieus Of Congress already COM
menced in both Houses, successfully prose-
cuted.
This good work is so far but initiated.
If the present Government of the United
States prove to have the nerve to stand
up to their many indirect pledges to lend
their influence without fear or favor to
effect this object, they will reap the graf
itude of all who arc properly impressed
with the recollection that our Govern
ment depends for it's continued success on
the honesty and justice with which it is
administered. Its power is in the SYM
pathy and confidence of the people
Whenever it shall become notoriously
corrupt, it will cease to enjoy that conf
dence and sympathy; resolving itself, i'm
perceptibly it may be, but not less surely,
into Government akin to that of Mexico,
in its failure to embrace security for the
rights of these who are rishtfally entitled
to look to it for real protection, and for
aid in the application of the thousand and
one elements of individual prosperity
which our country affords to persons
determined to prosper, and who only