The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-30

Of the United States, and determine them to bring
aoout great and certainly needfll ysform in the
Government. The great Augean stable is here,
at the capital of the country. Here are those
who control the EIGHTY MILLIONS or DOLLARS
annually expended Here are those who have the
giving out Of large contracts building of steamers
erecting public buildings In various parts of the
country; purchasing sites for these buildings;
selling military and other reservations, such as
that Of Fort Smelling for tenth part Of their real
value; making contracts for coal, iron, and hun,
dred other materials used 10 our navy yards,
armories, and on board of our public ships. 1t is
impossible to enumerate the various ways in
which, in the disbursing, well as in collecting
and keeping, revenue Of eighty millions Of dol
ars, the Administration can, with apparent hon
esty, throw money Into the hands of fayortes !;
and that this Is done-that partisans are thus
rewarded out of the public Treasury--no one hav-
ing opportunities of observation such as fall TO
the lot Of those living here, where SO much meets
the eye, can or do for moment doubt. We reli-
gousy believe that there is not government in
Europe more tainted with corruption than ours !;
and In no city in Christendom is official honesty
and integrity less estimated than here, by those
in power. Sat . ,}Has3 aa3 pig Il
"The good old rule the simple plan,
That he shall take who has the power
AA And he shall keep who can, " ,.issyg,
seems TO be the ethics of the "plunder party, =
and he who holds to or acts upon any other is
laughed at as greenhorn or an "old fogy."
Is this state of things to go on ad inJfpitum, or
will the people, some time other, take the sub
ject into their own hands, and have a reckoning
with the Democratic partys Whether they do or
not, thousands will have played their game out
successfully, pocketed their i'll gotten hundreds Of
thousands, and retired to enjoy for the rest of
their lives, what they have robbed Uncle Sam oil,
and the respect of their fellow men; for there Is
no denying that he who rolls in riches, no matter
how obtained commands the respect of those
around him, and is sure to be treated with a
Difference that is shown to no moral worth or
mental ability unsustained by wealth.
One of the minor organs of the party in this
city, we are glad to see, has preached this sub
ject, though 1t takes good care not to implicate
the party or the Administration. 1t has an ar
ticle headed, public PRISrlNG-PUBLIo PLUM
DER" in which it squints and hints at the Super
intendent of Public Printing, whose Office, with a
salary of $4,000 a year, has become one of the
most lucrative in the hands of the present occu-
pant Of any in the Government he best
can tell but somehow; and if the people would
know how, let committee of Congress inquire,
and they can easily find out. Let committee
also be appointed to ascertain how one man
Though he may have silent partners) can succeed
in making secret contract with the Government
by which he will pocket from half million to a
million of dollars! Let the Great Fort Smelling
Steele" be thoroughly investigated.