Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-03-20

vo,ed fos II; the other day, or turned up
missing. Whist wrought the miraculous
chsngei fa.t-f ~
When man steps forward to ioter.
cept the following Of q righteous judg.
msnt upon q piece Of gigantic official
pecuIation, he cannot be sllowcd to take
the position Of on immaculate defender
OF just principle. The man who do.
fends . band Of robbers, though he be
no robber himself. has but little advan.
tage Of them ia moral position. The
Collins appropriation was caused by
outright corruption. Let no man de-.
fend It and claim 10 wash his hands Of
tho stain. In law fraud vitistss q con. :
tract. In legislation corruption should
work q similar consequences. A con.
tract carried through Congress by tho
purchase ofvotes, (if,he purchase could
be proved. which, in such case. would
always DO the great dificulty,) would
doubtless be. held to bs invalid by tho
Courts. The men who were corrupted
In the Collins appropriation, and the
agents engaged 10 the work Of doing it,
deserve the penitshtisry. But va do not
step here. If the principle Of law to
which We refer 10 sound, then il is the
duty Of every upright legislator to with.
hold his vote from every measure which
he knows or has good reason to believe.
is aided BY corrup. appliances. In this
way only can a stop no put 10 the infa.
nous business Of paying measures thro'
Congress. The stigma Of corruption
would damn any bill, IL the moral tone
Of our national Legislature were what
il ought to be. We are not aware that,
throughout all the disc 6ssions of Con.
gfess upon tho various schemes Of rob.
berry before il at the last and present
session, any memberAas risen Il. declare
his opposition to any bill simply on the
ground that corruption was an element
in It's support. Doubtless many gentle.
men may have given votes under the
promplings Of such q sentiment, but tho
moral influence that such a position
boldly and openly takes on the floor OF
Congress would have upon legislation,
we believe has yet to be exorted. We
are quite aware that this suggestion may
be received with an incredulous smile
among members Of Congress, and that
they will innocently declare tha, such a
rule would incapacita,e them from vo.
ting for most measures where appropria.
ton. are concerned. What sort Of an
answer this would be. the public mus,
judge.
We do not know whether the corrup,
practices in regard 10 legislation which
have rapidly been gaining ground in
Washington have risen to a sufficient
height 10 work their own cure. The de-
motalization is great, but it is alway.
long before the constituencies awake Il
the rascalit3 Of the Representatives. Tn,
mon o. Washington can steal and plum
der for long years without a whisper
against their Immaculate virtue reaching
unsuspecting supporters. Wo know sew
eral cherished plans Of future political
success now about culminating, tha
would be awfully riddled at home, il th'
secrets ofWashington could be unveil
ed to the eyes Of the unthinkins masses
We trust, however, that the max, Con
gress will set its face s.ernly against sucl
practices as have disgraced the one whicl
was brought to a close yesterday. Le
the infamous system Of bribery and cor
suption that has signalized il, beginning
with the Nebraska bill, be indignantly
spurned by the new men who have wor
.heir way to the National Legislature
A radical change 10 necessary to saw
tho legislation Of the eountry from ute
losthsomeness.