The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-31

trust that on tho fourth Of March next We may
be able TO inform our readers that, owing to the
resolute, persevering honesty Of few Southern
members, the country he's been saved from much
of the vietmization intended to have been perpe-
tratcd upon it.
Whence comes it that our representatives at
Washington are SO VIGOROUSLY open to corrup-
ton? Whence this moral insanity" epidemic?
1t is one Of the effects of great commercial pros
persty. History il uniform in its teachings that
in all ages, where there has been an excess OF
wealth and prosperity there has been the least
public virtue; the lesson is true as regards this
country. The unexampled prosperity Of our
great commercial cities has led to extravaganza
and dissipation. Speculation has invaded all
classes OF society, has induced recklessness and
tsste for exravagant living, and has led directly
TO want of RETROSPECT and q disregard for
the virtues Of morality. Hence the enormous
frauds, forgeries and populations in commercial
hfe which the newspapers are daily called upon
o chronicle. Hence, too, the corruptions at
Washington which are bringing Us into
disgrace as nation, and which we,
as chroniclers Of the times, are constantly
holding up to public execration. The men
who are elected members Of Congress
are, for the most part, those who have sought the
position for the purpose of lettering their for
tunes in life. They go there, impelIed, no. by
the honorable motive of improving Legislation, or
commencing themselves by the faithful perform
ance Of their duties to the esteem and niration
Of their fellow citizens, but rather by the mean
and sordid desire of enriching themselves at the
expense Of the country and Of their own honor.
Generally speaking, they are poor men
and come from comparatively poor con-
stituencies but when they arrive at
Washington they find themselves exposed to
all sorts of temptations, and compelled to move
in circles where dissipation and extravaganza pre-
vail, even more than they do in the large cities
1t is not to be wondered at therefore, that elect
ed as they are, and impelled by such motives as
actuate them, large proportion of the members
of Congress should succumb to the influences that
surround them, and be found the easy tools of the
Jews that are allowed to desecrate the two
houses Of Congress in the shape of lobby agents.
STILL we would not allow the plea of moral insa-
nifty to be set up in their behalf but would visit
them with condign punishment.
We have said that this spoils system was inau-
gurated under the Fillmore administration, and
that it became intensified and received its highest
Development under the puerile and corrupt ad-
ministration of poor Pierce. We have firm
hope, however, and an abiding faith, that if we
can but ward off the evil for the next two months
We will then see an end Of it. We have conf
dence in Mr.. Buchanan-a pure and honorable
statesman Of the old school, unsullied, as we
hope, with the demoralizing influences of the
new school of corruption. He has not been ino-
culated with the virus of the new-fangled moral
insanity, and we hope aud believe, that by the
resoute exercise of the veto power, he will rem
der harmless all future Developments Of the dis
ease. We therefore call upon the few honest
members of Congress to exert all their powers to
defeat the dishonest projects Of this session. Let
them not abate an iota Of their watchfulness and
resoluteness animated by the conviction that, for
the next four years, at least, firm, upright and
virtuow executive will annul all the plumber acts
Of the spoilsmen.