New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-14

The resolve Of the House OF Representatives to
investigate the alleged corruphons in the granting
of lands to Railroads, &C., with the appointment
Of an impartial and energetic Committee TO make
tie investigation, appears to have already exerted
salutary and purifying effect on the atmosphere OF
Washington The master-spirits Of the lobby wers
hastily packing up and departing, and it was
thought that few days more would at I'D dssolv-
ing views Of the expanded and hor zontal coat-tas
Of the rear guard of that interesting body. Should
there be a reasonable prospect OF this, it Is to be
hoped that the Committee will be in no hurry to
finish it's labors For, the moment the investigation
is closed, most of these gentlemen wll be hurrying
back; whereas so lorg it shall continue 10 pro-
eress, it is highly improbable that the metropolis
will again be rnamented BY their individual or col
ective presence 1t is to be hoped, therefore, that
the Committee will act with deLberation, in which
case its fittings will insure great public benefit
even though they should not result il any astound-
ing revelations.
1.-THE lobby il, so far as we are aware, one OF
the peculiar institutions Of this country. No
where else is it a reproach and e disgrace to be
known as the agent Of q Claimant against or sutton
to the legislative power Ga the contrary, London
gentleman of liberal education, signal ability and
unblemished character will hand you his card in
scribed with his pane, residence, and "P.rlia-
mentary Barrister" as his calling. This designa-
ton means exactly what it Enthusiastically that
be who ASSUMES it makes business OF appearing
before Parliamentary Committees as the advocate
and elucidstor of claims, applications for corporate
e, ,;lr "A to -
AZ it is not there presumed that corruption OF
bribery is involved in such Gains or grants, and as
there is manifest advantage TO all concerned in
having each application get forth BY some one who
understands the business and can set forth the
merits Of the case in the fewe,t aud ctarest words
there is no reason why he should be ashamed OF his
vocation or anxious to conceal it.
But the lobby" in Washington, and in some Of
our Legislatures, means something verJ different
from thia. Whether justly or uujustly, it is cur
renty reported and believed that the avenues to the
Capitol are infested by an affiliated gang of vul-
lures who e1dtavor, and generally contrive, to
make money out of everything which is presumed
capable Of yielding money that comes before Con-
grtss. Pretending to be leagued with, or to in-
fuence the votes Of certain Members Of Congress,
1.-The obby," i; is said, will not permit suitor f)r
Justice or grace from Congress to dispense with is
profiered seivces-he must pay for them or it viii
fight and defeat him. Thus two or three meas
ures before the present Congress a. its late session
were said to have been defeated beeause they re-
fused to pay tribute to the rapaciy of "the lobby"
How heavy are the e1actions Of the lObby. the
public has of course no means of knowing as
yet; il may be wiser at the close of the pending
investigation; but have an anecdote at second or
third hand which may serve to indicate it. One Of
the most distinguished Of our earlier Governors the
il ustrious Tompkins, died under the stigma Of de-
falcation to the Federal Treasury, growing out Of
his Efforts ard sacrifices in defending the country
durip. our last war with Great Britain. But Con-
gress at engtb, some six or eight years ago. ordered
sreyision and readustment Of his accounts, whereby
balance in his favor was struck and ordered to be
paid, amounting to 1000. Some time after
ward late Member Of Congress met one Of the
recipients of this tardy recompense and said 81
had good mild to vote against ysur BILL
"Wel, said tie beneficiary, " l almost wish you
had "Wby sol" Because, af.er paying all
The allowances and shrinkages, We had emily $4,000
o divide among u.s." This WAS some years ago;
We have not beard whether the lobby has become
more or less exacting since. We suspect however,
bat the cases are not in which the toll con-
ideraby exceeds the griss.
Whatever else may result from the pending In
estgaton, it is manifest that the power and profits
Of "ike lobby" will pretty surely be diminished BY it,
Miss Martineau once wrote an article for The
Westminster Rerisr I'VE think il was that entitled
the Martyr Age Of America. In il she recounted
~. ,.k.oh ,ha A Mat. mara