New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-05


that resder stealing unpopular among the peo-
pie. We know that an snst-robbery party could
not do much at Washington. but 10 the country
it 10 different We beg gentlemen not to be too
obssr-perous till they snail 60 home and wast
the oulled edge Of their virtuous ssscept eilties
against tue grit of the undebsuched popular
seohDept What SHOULD we think OF fellow
wbo had thrust bis hand through the window Of
s jewelers. shop to clutch some temp ang di.-
mon6s and who, having it seized, inve'ghed
Justify sesipst the outrage upon his person.
8But lie. US be Understood We do not say that
every man wso voted for the Collins appropris
ton was bought up. or that such il the case with
tbore who d.cry tie exercise Of the veto power
on tbi. measure. We only 'sy that enough were
bought TO carry the measure. Look 1t the i'm
mortal committee OF n'pe that, at the It session,
Unanimously recommended the Withdrawing Of
the extra appropriation for this service. OF tia.
pDe, ta,es were found 10 oppose it still at this
The other si1 voted fer it, the other day. or
tured up missing. What wrought the mracu.
lous cbsrge
When man steps forward t, intercept the fol-
loving Of a righteous judgment upon piece Of
eiesn;ic Off cisl pecolstop, he canDo. be allowed
TO take the position Of al i'm nacuiate defender
Of just principle. The man VINO defends
bard Of ROBBERS. though hs be no rosber himsslf,
bas but little advantage of then in moral position.
The Collins appropriation was csused BY out
right corruption. Let no man defend it aud
cl,lm to wssh Dis bsnis of the stain. Ia lsw,
fraud viiiates q on9sct 10 legislation, corcup-
tioD should work similar cOusequsocs. A con-
tract carried through Congress By the purchase
OF votes, Of the purchase could be prored, which
in such cases. would always be the great diff
Guilty would doubtless be held to be invalid by
the Courts. The men who were corrupted in the
Collins ap ,roprist;ou and the sgents aged in the
work OF doing it, deserve the peni.entiary. Bat
We do bot stop here. If the principle OF law TO
Sbich we refer IL sound. then it is the duty Of
every uPreh: legislator to Withhold his vote from
eseJ measure which be knows, or has good rea-
to believe. ia aided by corrupt appliances 10
this way only can q stop be put to the intsm,.s
business Of bu,iog measures through Congress
The stigma of corruption would damn any BID if
the moral tore of our National Legislature we're
Whist it ought to be. We are not aware that,
tbrouehou all the discussions Of Congress upon
the various schemes of robbery before it at the
last and pre- sent session. any member has risen to
declare bis opposition to aey bill simply on the
erOuId that CORRUPTION W" an element In les sup
port DOubte,s many geDtlemeD may have felt it
ought to be done. and some may have given votes
under the promptiugs of sach a sentiment,
out the moral influence that such position
bs,dly and openly takes On the floor Of Congress
wOul1 have upon legislation, We believe has yet
TO be exerted We are quite aware toat tas
suggestion may be received with IN incretulous
snile among members Of Cor gress aud that they
will ipDoceBIy declare that such rule would
ir capacitate them from voting for most measures
whore appropriations are euac.rnsd. Wat sort
of an answer this would be the public mustjadge.
We 90 not know whether the corrupt practices
in regard TO legislation which have been rapidly
asinipg ground in Washington have risen to q
sUif cent big BIT to w.rk their owa cure. The de-
norszation is great, but it IS always long before
the coBs tltDenciss aw ale to the rascaliy Of the
Representatives. The men at W Arlington cal
sresl and plumber for long years without whisper
against their immaculate virtue reaching their
unsDspeciIng supporters. We know several cher
,btd plans OF future poli'ic,l success no ~ about
culnIrns ing that 'ud be awfully riddled at
home if the secrets of Washington could be un
yelled to the eyes Of the uninitiated masses.
We trust however, that the next Congress will
set its face sternly ssainst such practices have
disgrsced theone which was brought to close
yesterday. Let the infamous system Of bribery
ard corruption that has sienaized IL, beginning
with the Nebraska bill be indignantly spuroed by
the new men who have won their way to the Ma
tional L. gslsture. A radical change is necessary
to save the legislation of the country from utter
lOattscneness.