True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-18
w The AstabuIa Sentinel contains

dn Rrucle on TOltlcdl COETupuuu, III
Congress, which is of the most humilia-
ling character. We give it below.
But we would call attention to the cor
ruptions which stalked unrebuked in both
Houses of Congress, when to carry out
the slaveholding policy, they sought TO
take ten million dollars from the laboring
people of the nation. and pay it over to
the Shareholders Of Texas.
Texas bonds were then sold in the mar
ket from sixteen to eighteen cents on the
dollar. If the proposed bill should pass
they would be worth seventy-fve: and
by taking this money from the people Of
the United States, net speculation Of
nearly eight million dollars could be
shared by the holders of those bonds and
those who should pass the bill.
All that was necessary was fer the
member to take, say hundred thousand
dollars in Texas bonds, giving his note
for twenty thousand, payable when the
bill should become a law. If the bill
passed, the member would then make a
net profit Of fifty thousand dollars, and
would incur no loss if it failed, as his
note would be due only when the bill had
become law.
This mode of obtaining votes was moi
less corrupt than the paymentof the four.
teen thousand dollars which Sweeny rep
resents Gilbert as receiving. on the pas.
sage of the law in favor of Triplet's book
They were precisely parallel cases ; yet
we hesitate not in saying that scores o.
members Of Congress took Texas bond;
on these terms and we think very few
who were opposed 10 the bill failed to re-
ceve offers of stock on these terms.-In
deed they were hawked about the Hall oI
Representatives openly and publicly, ant
members were publicly solicited 10 take
them. The party in power, and many
who had personally opposed Them, uni
ted in this general corruption; which
left but minority Of members uncorrup
ted. These things were proclaimed or
the floor of Congress, and through the
public press but so general was the gull
that no official exposure could be made.
When Mr.. Webster was invited 10 {
chair in Mr.. Fillmore's Cabinet, he in
formed the Boston merchants that the
compensation was too small. They, with
some from New York, agreed 10 contrib
ute fifty thousand dollars to induce him tc
go into the Cabinet. Scarcely had he
become warm in his seat, before he gave
a Boston banker the benefits of paying
the installment which would not come
due short of two years, and although 9th
ers were anxious to take it on conditions
which would have saved the United
States at least one hundred thousand dol
lars, he let those have it, who were believed
to have contributed, few weeks pre-
viously, the fifty thousand dollars fol
his benefit. But this was a closing W
of Mexican war, connected with {
plan Of extending slavery. And wher
Charles Allen, name which will Ions
be honored by the American people, stool
up boldly in the House Of Representa-
tives, and. proclaimed these facts, and of
fered TO prove them, and demanded
committee for that purpose, he was as
sailed, viliied, and overwhelmed will
vituperation. The party then in powe
dared not permit the facts to be off
ciaIly made known. =.
Who does not recollect the scenes o
1854, when the Kansas Nebraska bill
was pending. Northern Democrats hes
italed, feared the people, dared not vot'
for it. The Washington Union speak
ing the sentiments of the administra
ton, day after day, and week afte
week, endeavored 10 stimulate member
to come up to the work ; but still the,
Galtered. Finally it came out shame
essly and unblushingly, assuring mem
bers that if their constituents rejecle'
them, the President would give then
better offices.
The executive thus went openly int
the market and advertised for slaves t.
do that nefarious work. The peopl
could not compete with him, and b.
his open, undisgulsed corruption til
measure was carried.
Well do we recollcct that a distir
guisfed member from our own Stat
declared himself opposed to the bill
He even called meeting of the demo
cratic members from Ohio, and in thf
meeting avowed his opposition to tn
bill. The meeting adjourned to met
a few days subsequently,, when tn
same member was declared to be in fs
vor of the bill. He had been CONVEX
ted suddenly. and the inquiry wei
forth what consideration was he [
receive! {! The answer was then
once publicly given. 1t was stated tllt
his son was to be placed in a Wester
land Office. The member accordingl
gave his vote and influence for II
bill, and the son was appointed and y,
remains in Office. These matters we
publicly known, publicly proclaimed
but the party in power could not
provoked to institute an official expo
ure.
The River.
pYrro Morcb "A D;va, ,,ot;ono,