New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-19

While We have never supposed Congress to be
very yirtuOus and have thought it our duty from
time TO time to say sundry plain and perhaps un-
paaable things having reference to the sharp prac
tees aid pecuniary peccadlloes Of honorable men,
bers; viii we have regretted that it cost more to
get Justice from the Government than 1t was worth
in dollars and cents after it was obtained; while we
have been panied at the spectacle of bad measures
forced through by arts which wOald i'll bear expo
sure and of good measures lost simply because their
promoters were too honorable, perhaps too poor,
to back them with brides, we have never thought
that the National Legislature was outside the pale
Of that fair dealing, without which, between man
snd man, society would become intOlerable. II
the press exercises a gigantic influence, 1t
has commensurate responsibilities; and wan
ton exhibition Of its force, a cold. blooded and
malignant peryersion of its authority, only dimin-
hes its usefulness and brings upon it general dis
trust. Members of Congress are still human
beings, and ought not to be lbeed ought not to be
attacked for the fun of the thing ought not to be
used simply to create sensation and sell newsPi-
peIs. Still less should ole instance of corruption
and CRY, nobody hsloOs more vOciferously than the
petty larc.rous person who is 10 possession OF the
distracted pocket book; and We must say that
when journals make e1pic charges, there is no
reason in the world why they should not If posi-
Bile, sustain them By explicit proof.
The new doctrine of moral conviction seems
to us net only unjust but likely to prove exceedingly
~ b.ua q
tions " about our neghbOrs but then we do not
publish them. moral conviction" in such cases
amounts simply TO distIust, and does not rise above
the dignity OF suspicion; and whoever undertakes
the business Of posting and placarding his fellOE-
creatures upon suspicion, will probably find himself
in the hottest kind of water before be gets through
with the fascinating recreation. He might even
discover himself to be defendant in sundry libel
aud SANDER suis and he might also be subjected 10
a ruder and more summary retribution.
When Mr. Simonton, the Washington CORE
spondent Of The Times, charged corruption in that
paper, upon Members Of Congress, We were much
gratifed by such an exhibition of public virtue and
Of Roman Indignation; and when the leading col
umns of that journal joined in the protest, saw
before us millennium of political integrity, sus-
pension of lobbying and an end of all suspicious
precedents in the Capitol These worthy gentle
"men,' we said, have merited well of toe Re-
public; BY tier unusual and edifying sagacity
"they have smelt out the largest rat Of modern
times; and although Marshall may rave and
'Brenton sneer aud Lewis d. Campbell talk Of
manufactured rags and lampblack, yet we are
"now going 10 know, to oar solid satisfaction, who
"has sn itching palm and BY what titillatiOns the
compliant is alayed.' Judge Of our disappoint
ment when We found Mr.. Simonton, the ready
writer not at all q swift witness, and even his
superior, the editor of the paper himself dumb
ike lamb in the hands of the high priest;
when We were left in harassing doubt IS to
whether they did or did not know anything; when
We found that they had been writing, not upon
the basis Of facts, but simply upon moral conyic
ton" and that they were in exactly the condition
of the NEEDY knife grinder" and had no story
whatever TO tell ~ the Committee Really 1t does
appear TO US that this is lame and most impotent
conclusion. If, in the management Of journal, it
becomes necessary TO proclaim any man to be a
.windkr, il Is no less duty 10 be ready with
proofs Of specific acts of sSindling; but for
our part We do not expect, when We come into
Court in such case, TO be allowed ~ say that We
wrote upon moral cOnvieIion;" and on such
plea We should make sure TO be snubbed BY the
righteous msjesty Of the law. The retcence Of
the correspondent and Of the editor seems 10 have
reused the indignation Of the Committee, aud there
is even a talk Of sending anew for the editor and
imprisoniDg him for contempt When We recall
the importance attached in the course Of recent
debate, to the august position Of Lieutenant
Governor lately occupied by that gentleman,
our blood curdles in our veins st the thought
of the indgnity to which il is now proposed
TO subject him. Where are we 10 stop If Lieu
tenant Governors can be sent TO the calaboose for
contempt, even that great and virtuOus man, Mayor
Wood, may not be safe from personal outrage; and,
as Grace Peabody says in the farce, " there viii
be an end Ct everything"
If We have spoken with some lshtness Of the r.
diculOus turn which affairs have taken in Washing
ton. il has been in no lightness Of spirit We are
ueIpretsibly panied to witres' farce Ike this,
snd could almost weep over il, as Sheridan is said
TO have wept over CuDberland's comedies. What
began in title tattle Grounded, Of course, upon
moral conviction y seems likely 70 eOd in tom
foolery. Heaven only knows how many monstrOu,
bills may be smugg,ed through the smoke OF this
rec.cus inyestiga,ion; OF how many rascalisies