The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-27

made rich; nothing will grow out Of the mania
but universal ruin.
Corruption In Congress-Nnste OF Public
| Lands-G;igSntic speculations.
The present Congress, thus far, has not gather
! Cd many laurels. 1t has resembled primary as
| sembly, where there is hard scrambling for a
| petty Office, rather than dignifed legislature
looking to the honor and welfare of its consttu-
encies. We are not aware of any real good to
the country which has been derived from the pre-
sent session, but much that is evil. The conduct
with some honorable exceptions, has been SO bois
| ferrous, reckless and rude, that the people at
large seeing there is no shame left in the minds
of their representatives, are actually beginning
| to inquire whether we could not do without any
| Congress whatever, or, at least, whether if they
assemble but once in seven years, and were to be
called together only on imminent occasions, the
country would not be better off When the peo-
pie ask themselves these questions it is time to
take alarm. The truth is, there is deep seated
evil in this part of our national representative
system, and it is time it was exposed to the pub
lie eye
We do not hesitate to state our belief that cor
ruption most foul and infamous exists at Wash
ington, and that one half the clamor and noise
to divert the public attention from the actual
frauds that are perpetrated there.
During the present session of Congress about
ten million six hundred thousand acres of the
public lands have been voted away to about
dozen railway companies, and the public is hard
ly aware of the fact; and other similar land
schemes are before Congress which will absorb as
much more. And this is brought about in man
ner which prevents the possibility Of timely oppo-
sition and detection.
Let us trace the system from " the egg to the
apple" The city Of Washington was never more
crowded with adventures, Peculators and black
legs than it has been during this session. You
see them at the hotels and on the avenues, and
you may nose them in the lobby. Most Of them
are engaged in getting up Western railways the
success of the schemes of the Illinois Central hav
ing given them audacity and confidence. These
become the associates of members of Congress,
and the intimate friends Of those of them whose
services they most require. Every art is used to
familiarize these personages with the free and
easy manners which characterize their entertain
ers, and before he knows it many simple mind
ed, honest Congressman is corrupted by a process
SO gradual as scarcely to be Observed
First to endure then pity then embrace.
The next step is to "get hold of the committee
who may have charge Of the particular subject in
view If this is accomplished the main difficult
ties are obvated. And here we may as well OBJ
serve that the people at large are not aware, per-
haps, that the long and shameful delay in organ
izing the House of Representatives was nothing
more or less than the result Of struggle to
obtain possession of the committees, those which
would control the patronage Of the House, and
grants Of the public money. This was the cause,
and the only cause, why we we're so long without
an organized House. The spirit of plumber pre-
sided in that cabal.
The commlkee then, after having been pro-
perly approached reports bill to grant to
the Great Sandy Central and Interoceanic
Railway, or some other equally grandiloqucnt
corporation, five millions of acres of lind,
within certain distance along the line of the
road. No explanatory report is made, no rea-
sons are assigned for this munifcent grant,
nor are the names of the parties who applied for
it known. Not o single reason is given for this
waste of the public property The bill is placed
on the calendar. On some day devoted to hurry
ing private business through, it is called up and
passed, literally with railway speed, and no
one to ring the bell as the monster rolls along.
Should some honest blunderhead get up and in
quire into the matter-should he desire to know
why this immense tract of land is to be given
away so blindly and hastily-his mouth is shut by
the previous question, and he sits down. swearing
an oath or two in his sleeve at this mode of doing
business. The bill is passed, the innocents who
have not been let into the secret voting aye, or
not voting at all. 1t goes to the other house
with pile of Others, and the Senate, leaving all
the grants of moneys and all the public expendi-
lures to be originated in the House of Repre-
sentatives swallow it down,
Without winkng without blinking,
and the spectators make their fortunes
To be prominent member Of committee at
Washington is like hsing in our immaculate
Common Council. 1t assures great pecuniary
results to those who know the advantages of OPP
portunty: it is worse, in this, that are nation
alizing this rascality while here, after an alder
man or an official is gorgcd he becomes very
honest and capable, fit to be Mayor, or to occu-
by any local place of honor, without doing any
great damage to the Union. But the corruption
at Washington is more or less connected with
our national politics; our national honor, our