New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-21
coRnUprros AT WASHINGTON.

CORRUPTION AT WASHINGTON.
Ills time we had reform in affairs at WASH
ipeton. Every day, by correspondence Pr'7s'e
and ,ublic. by oral testimony, BY association with
III sorts Of men, We are impressed with the con-
yiction that Congress is wallowipg IN a m're OF
corruption. Measures Of great moment are car
ried through both branches by means of un.tinted
snpl cations of money. Bribery is becoming
regular agency ir making lava. Ofsuch chafac-
ter we believe to be the Collius line appro3rla
lion. The sum involved il enorD Gus, the ihiid-
eDce that swsys it, single and unbroken. mus
this scheme, Of all others, il the most tri1m-
phsutly carried over the broken and oeluged III
teprity Of TIE National Legislature. Inc gams
of corruption can be played with exceeling
boldpe,s for the sum at stake lie counted by mil
lions. The approach to Congress is ide 10 the
form of simple bargain "Giye US eight hun
&" bred spd fifty thousand dollars year, aud take
"wbat shsre you like for yourselves. we must
d" have the money from the Treasury, and we Will
" divide the plumber 10 just such proportions {"
.syou s.y." Substantially, this is the mode
adopted in procuring this appropriation. The ap-
plicapts can afford to make a liberal offer, Tor
what they get ID clear gain. If it takes one hun
dred thousand or half million dJllsrs - carry
the measure through, it is oil the same. Inc
cheaper il can be accomplished the better OF
course. but whatever the cost, the JOB must De
done.
We scken with modification and disgust at
this spectacle. We would shut our eyes to such
evidences of tie fact rise before usif we could
u mna
somersets in Congress on this appropriation.
Men who bave voted against il and spoken against
it, now openly advocate or silently support IL.
Former me nbers Of both Houses, Senators and
Repre- sentatives, thrODg the Hobbies; borers OF
every name and degree, cOnsort with willing
members end strike hands over the prodlgal heaps
of p,uuder which the ~ss:."a &c The msssnre nm
locks 70 their Eager t,uch. Newspaper Editors
and newspaper correspondents present one front
of Uniform approval for the monster scheme.
Hardly anywhere is seen word Of exposure or
a word of denul citation but all over the vast ex-
panse Of journalism quiet, gentle, favoriog
zepbyrs fan along the project. We are bewil
dertd in an attempt to count the fabulous sums
that dribble through various channels from this
enc opulent source of corruption. Then, too,
the fact everywhere stands out that this is no
job of mere party plumber. Everybody is in it,
Upon Wings, Democratic, Free Sellers, Old Fo.
eies, Young America the tempting mint drops
rain 1t is money to the luxurious, porridge to
the fasting, clothing t. the naked, soup To the
furnishing. EveIybOdy's dish is right side up,
aid carried high in air, with outstretched hands,
so that in the general st over of golden opportani
ties nothing may be lost.
We have in times past, had good word to say
in favor Of liberal grants from the Treasury in
support Of the Collins line, during it's infancy.
We have wished well, and do wish we'll to the
enterprise But this floating it along on river
of gold, t'mptiDg the cupidity, and debauchiug
the morals Of National Legislature by a pervad-
ing iystem of bribery and corruption. we do not
approve or agree to. On the contrary, We On
denim and deDounce it, and hold il up to the in
dignatOn Of the country. The authors and
agents of it should feel the public scorn aud exc
cratitn. Such rotteness is Infamous. 1t pOr-
tends condition Of things in Congress whose in
huences are frightful to contemplate. Itis open
ing railroad avenue to the Treasury by which
whole car .loads Of treasure are to be abstracted
ard enptied into the gaping pockets of needy ad-
venturers. The worst Of all IL, that scandal and
eventual political ruin must come upon some of
those whom we and northern constituencies have
relied On TO uphold the right in existing aud
coming contests of great principles. The faint
is falling upon men of whom freedom demands
that they shall keep their ves.ments free of stain
If mans integrity is preached in one quarter
the whole line of his moral defenses is exposed
to ruin. No one can tell where is the limit of
his deprivation, nor how soon i! will be utterly
complete. Our confidence in the Presidents
essential virtue was wholly undermined by his
conduct on the Nebraska bill. We could make
no appeals to him, if we,would, to stay the prog
ress of corruption q. Washington. But he has
facility in vetoes Let us zee il he will exert
his authority in way which will havea tendency
to check the enormous demoralz alton which now
threatens, not merely to inundate, but to over
whelm the Capitol