The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-11-03

would seem 10 be an act Of legislative folly or cor
ruPtion- We know--everybody knows the means
and appliances brought to bear on Legislative bodies
whenever applications are made for bank charters,
and, indeed, every species of corporations, whose
object is exclusively pecuniary. Lobby members
set at work to dog the legislators at every step,
and seize them by the button they go inand out
of their halls-men who make corruptiona profes.
sion at work day and night lsbering in their
cation to deceive the mBuspecting aud seduce
those who are perhaps just struggling betwixt
wind and water ready 10 fall but not yet fallen and
legislators are assailed by temptations often too
strong for their integrity. We deal in no libels
Ask any experienced, observing man-77we don't
care who he isif the case not as We have repre-
sented and if he does not expressly assent he viii
answer with significant smile, not of increduliy,
but acquiescence. ~ Na
Is it not the duty of every citizen who values the
| prosperity, happiness, and freedom Of his country
and who cannot but know that the corruption of our
legislative bodies will be fatal to them ALL to de-
nounce system which directly and inevitably leads
to these consequences? If these institutions are as
| it would seem, beyond the control of the laws,
too potent for the virtue of lawmakers, the only
source left is to bring them before the grand inquest
of the people, and, if they cannot be otherwise
rected, mako them ashamed of themselves.
If The caamties periodically inflicted on the whole
people of the United States scarcely one of whom is
exempt from them in greater lesser degree, can
be distinctly traced home to the banks is it neces-
sary or proper to speak in measured lackadaisca
terms of system ffaught with such injurious
quences? And if these consequences are the result
of ignorance, wilful acknowledgement, grasping
pidity, shall not "call spade spade, but treat
the delinquents with respectful Difference because
their number is legion and their position in society
| renders their example only the more dangerous.
| That there are many highlninded, upright mon con-
cerned in the management of banks, have not the
slightest doubt But they belong to body corporate,
| and must partake in its fate. They have already
privileges beyond their fellow-ctizens, but among
these we believe, is not an exemption from personal
censure on the ground of act of incorporation.
They must take the consequences of being found in
bad company. .r..' ..t ..
Such is our view of the subject. We have treated
tho banks and their managers precisely we would
citizen who had been convicted ofsimar offences.
We see no difference in this respect between the most
| humble individual who is obliged to submit to the
laws and the most powerful corporation which holds
them at Defiance Or, if anything, feel it more i'm
perative duty to pursue the digned delinquent
with unreentng severity We have spoken of the
conduct of the banks as we thought they deserved,
and have labored to bring them up to Judgment be-
fore tho last great tribunal of the people who have
so often been their victims We have spoken frank
ly, fearlessy, and believe truly. We have
nothing extenuated nor set down aught in malice"
and have spurned the idea of sprinking the rotten
carcass with rose water to make it smell sweet