The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-13


Coffee continued firm and quiel Fre'ghts to Liverpool
and London contn nod dull and engagements moderate
There were engagements for Copenhagen, Hamburg
and Bremen, while 70 Hsvrs rates unchanged and
engagements light
The Washington Lobby I'm a New Field Of
Action.
The press and The country generally have fall
len into the habit of assocatng the idea of lobby
members at Washington solely and exclusively
with their operations in the two houses of Con-
gTess. II is an error, however, to suppose that
these omnipresent and omnipotent gentlemen &C.
cupy 20 restricted a field of action. The letters
of the Washington correspondents, which we pub
lish to-day, afford a glance at the operations of
these gentry in totally different though some
what analogous sphere; they show that after the
adjournment of Congress large deputation of the
lobby members remains in Washington, whose
business it is to attend to the consummation of
the jobs initiated in and passed through Congress.
Many of the claims pressed through under the
influence Of the lobby and by the general reck-
lessness OF members, within the last few nights
preceding the adjournment are legalized in the
form Of Instructions to the Secretary of State, of
the Interior, of the Treasury, of the
Navy, Of War, the Postmaster General or
some other head of department to
examine, ascertain and audit the same
If, therefore, an honest secretary, comptroller or
auditor were left to himself and uninfuenced by
one or more members of the lobby, be would be
very likely, on examisng most of these claims,
to declare that nothing whatever was due upon
them by the government of the United States
1t is this which creates the necessity for corps
Of the army of lobby members to be permanent
ly stationed in Washington. The letters of our
core pondens show how they generally manage
that branch Of their business
There is great deal Of injury aud wrong to
the public interests to be apprehended from this
source of corruption. We have seen, as our cor
respondent refers to- the enormous hauls made
upon the treasury under the Galphin and Card
ner claims claims founded altogether on the
grossest deception and the latter one supported
by the crimes of forgery aud perjury. But, after
all, the loss in money is Of small consequence
compared with the evil effects on the public mo-
rality of permitting fraudulent claims to be SO
easily aud impudently imposed upon Congress
and the executive Departmental No doubt every
administration, on its first introduction into
Office, enters upon its career with the best inten-
tons possible The secretaries to whom the
various departments are entrusted are generally
men Of high character and ability; but they are
Of course wholly unacquainted with the details
of their Office, and must, at first rely more or
less on the ability and integrity of the comp.
trolers auditors, chief clerks, or other heads OF
bureaus. These officers are, II seems, the object
Of the cares and attentions Of the permanent
branch of the lobby; and hence it liz very
usual and not very difficult matter to get claims
audited and paid on the incoming of a new ad-
ninistration which have been rejected by prior
administrations, and which would hardly be
allowed II the Secretary bad only time to make
himself conversant with its history. instead Of
relying implicitly on the representations Of his
subordinstes
Mr. Buchanan is himself one Of the purest
men OF whom the country can boast There are
very few OF our leading public men who can
present such clean record in point Of purity of
character as be can. In a public life of forty
years be presents himself in the White House
without stain. All his Cabinet Ministers en-
joy a like character for integrity, honor
and purity. They are all men OF iEde-
pendent fortunes and Of upright and houora-
BILE character. II Is not TO be presumed that any
one OF them can be personally affected by the
communicating influences Of the lobby. Bat they
are still subject to be operated upon through their
principal subOrdiDates, who really have the ma
nagement Of the departments more or less in
their own hands. IL is there that the danger
lies. These chiefs Of bureaus are not all 20 indie
pendent Of the allurements Of the lobby as the
interests entrusted to their care demand. Such
should he promptly removed and replaced by
competent and honest men, selected from the
rank and file Of the clerks, many Of whom sire
excellent, honorable and talented men. But ho-
lest and Efficient officers should not be supplant-
90 by mere politicians, who have generally as
little ability as honesty. Mr.. whitlesey, for in
stance, refuses 10 certify the account Of Culon.
Clerk Of the House Of Representatives, for those
SlsZ,OOO worth Of books which the republicans
and kno" NO,hings Of the last House dishonesty
voted themselves, until he (Cullom) produces tire
vouchers fof the same The vouchers are not
lo''hcomipg' aud never could be, unless obtained
~ collision. All the acquisitions sre therefore
Withdrawn, and arc rot to be presented until Mr..
"n.'u'sey is replaced, next month, by more
laclie aud less exacting official So much Tor 70
moving faithful officers.
1t y against danger from such quarter that
Mr. Buchenan and bis Cabinet sbouIs mt
jealousy guard. They should equally avoid the
error OF removing capable aud tru,tportbv
officers, and Of retaining in office men Who
ability ard integrity ate not above ouo,.ior