Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-23
Correspondence of the New York Couricr.l
WASHINGTON. Jan. 10

upon charges, Dotn vague ana Speclnc, OF
bribery aud corruption, will do good.
because it is a terror to evil doors Not
that supposed it will develop any actu-
al delinqucncies. because remember that
another one ordered some two years ago,
in relation to Colts patent, resulted in
nothing more than an apt quotation by
the Committee. and the very member.
Mr.. Ciingnan, of North Carolina, who
moved the enquiry, was found to have
participated in all the good things, a,mely,
the victuals and drink which tie Sappers
and Miners of Congressional integrity
were shown to have dispensed. be.
lieve the Vice President elect of the
United States, was likewise proved to
have filed me whiteness of his soul by an
occasional consumption of these creature
comforts. There are some members who
cannot understand that the amenities of
social intercourse can be carried furth-
er, than social drink at corner groee-
~, without abuse and sinister purpose.
How natural. how almost inevitable is
it, that Members of Congress, many of
them raised to sudden and Fictitious I'M
portancc by introduction to these immense
transactions, should be tempted to share
in the advantages which they perceive to
proceed from their votes. know of but
one way to remove these temptations. and
to eradicate corruption. 1t is TO get rid
of the surplus revenue by paying off al
the debts of the Government as fast as
possible as well as those which are rep
resented by the Public Stocks as those
which are included in yet unadmitted
/ claims
But while it is unleniabc that these
opportunities for corruption exist, con-
slider it due TO this Congress and 10 the
public men of these times. to show thai
it is not new thing, or that one party
or one section is more responsible for II
| than another We have had rumors and
charges against the integrity OF persons in
| p ilitical stations from the foundation Of
the Government. to 90 no further back
than 1924 when the honor Of Mr.. Calh TN
as Secretary of War was assai,ed b,
allegations of an improper connection with
great contract at Fortress Monroe
Daring part Of Gen Jac,s 5 and the
whole of Mr.. Van Buren's terms. the
country rang with the corruption of aJ-
ministrat;on officers and members OF
Congress relatives to the L. S. Bank and
the deposites in the pet banks. The i'm
pudent embellishments by Southern land
receivers aud Northern collectors, amoun-
ting to millions of olars, were matters
of notoriety, and it was charged that
members of both Houses shared in c
proceeds of the frauds.
In lS45 British exporters TO he United
States kept tItr salaried a euts at WASH
in5ton, keeping expensive parlors and
giving luxurious entertainments as VS.
known, and mun;fcentIy feeding FIRE
trade members of Congress, as was cur
rently asserted Nor will many who took
part in that contest forget the enormous
price assumed by some to have been paid
for one single vote. And so again. in the
passage Of the Illinois, Missouri. and
Arkansas land grants 10 railroads. and the
Texas debt bills, what piles of bribery and
corruption were alleged to have smoth-
cred the purity and virtue of botl Houses
The new Committee raised on the mo-
ton of Mr.. Kelsey will therefore have
abundant material to work upon, and if
the enquiry only he made extensive
enough We may have u memoir Of private
rapacity and public protligacy such as is
found in the history of every other nation
where wealth and property. are elements
of political power. The names of the
Committee are Mr.. Kelsey, of n Y.
Chairman; Mr.. Orr. S. c., Mr.. Ritchie
Pa; Mr.. Waper, Ga; II. Winter Davis,
Md
The Speaker has exhibited Judgment
and mpartality in the selection of that
Committee |, will no doubt make the
most of the facts within the scope of its
enquiry. INSPECTOR.
A BRIEF HIsT Dry OF CHIvA.-China
is the most popuous and ancient empire
in the world; it is $50 miles long and
l.030 wide. Population from 800, OO0,-
600 to 360, 100000 The capital is Pekin.
with l 900, 900 inhabitants next Nankin.
1000. 00a, and Canton 100000. Chi.
ma produces tea, 5O,000,O00 pounds. of
which are annually exported from Canton
the only place which fore gners are Above /
to visit, Silk, cotton, rice, gold, silver.
and all the necessaries of life are fund in
China. The arts and manufactures in
many branches are in high perfection, but
stationary, as Improvements are now pro
hibiled. The government is a dcspotic
monarchy. Revenue, 200, 600, 600 army
100000 men. The religion is similar to
Budh SIN, the chief god being Fob. The
Chinese ircule',e the morality of Con.
fucius, their great philosopher. who was
born $50 B. c. The great wall and canal
of China are amongst the highest works
ever achieved by man. The foreign
commerce of China amounts to $50. 900 :.
600 annually, the whole OF which is tran.
sacted with appointed agents ed
Hong m 'rchants.' Foreigners are allow
ed to live at certain stations. or factories
below Canton. The chief trade is with
England. The first American ship
reached China in 1871; now the annual
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