Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-31
WASHINGTON, d. G.
WILLIAM M. BURWELL, Editor.
Congressional Investigation Of Official
Corruption.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 81, 1865.


When we see the patriotic figure of Sam,
surrounded, like the man in the Almanac, with
malignant reptiles, and with the arms Of party
hostility pointing at his vitals, we naturally ask
why il is that no should encounter such pecu-
liar opposition, and why those who have been
lighting each othcrwith such uncompromising
anger, should, Oh sudden, compose their
strife, and converge their whole artillery upon
hiniy
We may grant chat their objections are
valid; that the American party is MS secret as
Masonry; that il considers an American-born
more worthy Of trust than foreigner; that it
believes the Roman religion incompatible with
the institutions of freedom. Il there anything
in these doctrines which should expose those
who profess them to dcnunciation, and exclude
them from the pale of political, if not social,
confidence. Obviously there is not
There is another reason for this combination
of opposites against tho Amcri IAN party. We
win expose ii.
. The Amer{can party has arisen upon tho
TniaS" ef the old parties. 1t has then to en-.
counter the rcsolutc attempts of both these
parties to defeat it, because otherwise neither
of them can hope ever to enjoy the spoils Of
office. TO the opposition of these parties may
be added that Of the Abolition party, which,
under the lead of Greeley and Wilson, co-ope-
rates cordially with the administration and
General Webb. This opposition to the Ameri
can party is again subdivided by the motives
which animate its enemies. On the part of
tho administration, the organs of the old Wing
PARTY, it is compounded of fear and hope
Each of those parties have in past time been
guilty of perpetratng or protecting frauds of
the most fragrant character. Bargain and cor
ruption have long been their only law of ac-
ton The Presidential Convention at Balti-
more was VIGOROUSLY a Brokers board, at
which men bartcrcd their support for an Off
cal consideration. The Presidency was in eff
feet put up to the highest bidder for Catholic
and foreign votes the opposition of the obsti-
nate was conciliated by missions or departments
IN perspective; whilst the less important off
res furnished the shin-plasters-the small
change by which the rank and file of party was
ronciliated or engaged.
Who that saw Washington, after the incom-
ing Of this most mercenary administration,
can doubt the scale upon which it practised
corruption OF who can doubt that il succeeded
over its competitor by the superior magnitude
Of its briberies? Was Washington besieged
city, that the conquerors should rush in--fill
tho hotels-clog the avenues to public bust
ness, throng the Hobbies, and occupy the govern
mcAtcf the country for oeeks IN Determining
By cabinet council who should hold the offices,
from the minister to the messenger
Was this conquest OF one class Of citizens
over another2 No, it was settling day be-
tween the employers and tho political opera.
liycs who had elevated them to Office. They
camc for their pay, and they received it, Men
talk OF the rapacity Of Santa Anna. His rule
oG action has been precisely that Of all parties
in power, from the days Of Walpolc to those of
Pierce. He buys political revolution, and
paws for il in duros-in hard dollars Wings
and Democrats have bought revolution, and
paid for Il in that which brought dollars-oflcc
and patronage. The difference has been, not
in principle, but in the medium of payment
II is therefore that the Union opposes, with
such indecent violence, the only party which
rndeavors TO sustain the most obnoxious act OF
the administration. That journal is vast gas
house, and its inhammatory productions are
pipcd of to illuminate the chief journals of the
Union, and 10 flicker in offensive obscurity in
the obscure columns Of the village papers.
n 1. &c att
to stayc off investigation. Hence their rabid
hostility to every movement which threatens
exposure.
But the American party owes duty TO il.
self and to the country. 1t has charged upon
the past parties Of the country mbecility and
corruption. Let, then, a committee Of uvcs-
tigation be appointed by Congress, among its
first acts, charged to examine into the charges
Of fraud against the Crawfords and the
Corwins, and the allegations that certain high
functonaries have received professional fees
FOR attention to questions which might come
under their official consideration We have
heard, also, strange stories of contracts given
and cancelled; of defalcations suppressed and
concealed Of public officers despatched to in
terfere in local elections. Let us then, have
an old-fashioned investigation; let it be thor
ough, without respect to parties or persons.
Let us see whether the people are right in or.
ganiziDg an American party TO expose the
frauds of other parties. We apprehend that
when such committee shall report, we will
not hear quite so much about the dark.lantcrn
and prescription.
We hope tho American party will, upon the
meeting Of Congress, vindicatc themselves
from all aspersions, by proving that these
charges about the rottenness Of the old parties
we're founded in truth. Let us have an inycsti-
cation committee, by all means
Colonel Stockton, Of Fayette County, Virginia,
has recently sold 10000 acres Of land in that
county, TO DR.. Salisbury, Of one of the Northern
states, for 100000, the money to be paid some
AZ. az.