New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-24
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE-MINNE-
SOTA-OREGON-KAN


WASHINGTON Feb. %, 1857.
The Report Of the Investigating Committee is
the universal topic of conversation. There his been
some Of the hardest KIND Of e1colpatory swearing,
a. nay be readily seen BY all who read the tess-
mony. The volume tbst embraces the ~hoie mat
ter 10 in great demand, and 1t is difficult to even get
one for perusL as there were ne spare copies, bu:
oply one for each msInber.
That the report does not mplicate all the parties
concerned in dscreditsble practices 10 Congress is
admitted Certain leads were uncovered By pecu-
liar circumstances, and these were folio we'd up
vigorously. Others there were which perhaps
might have led to still sigD fcant results that
remain updisclosed. The feeling thus exists that
only partial exposure having been made, it s
hard Gaze that few must bear the entire brunt of
the public denuncision Of Congressional deiin.
quency This feeling seems 10 have led TO another
which is that the accused parties should not be
summary condemned simply on the presentment
of the Committee but should be allowed time and
opportunity to at least Tighten the blow that the
Committee would in1ict, or to exculpate them
selves, if possible, altogether.
In addition TO this, the opinion prevails in many
minds that the testimony upon which the indictment
has been found is in several and very important
particulars wholly unreliable and insufficient. Aud
30 far as opposition has been manifested to the
Judgment Of the Committee, it rests on this ground
Members who have carefully analysed the testi-
mCny complain Of the sweeping deductions made
tberefrom, and claim TO find intrinsic evidence that
certain important witnesses ought not to be be-
leved. 1t is from this strong disposition to temper
Justice with mercy, and to afford protection ag ,nst
false swearing, ard 10 condemn no man until after
he fullest hearing and until he shall have been a.
low ed to secure to himself all the guards and
tons of solemn Judicial proceedings, that We may
look for divided vote in the House III regard to
the action OF the Committee
The fact that the investigation lodges culpability
mostly on one tide of the House, is one Of great
significance and very general remark. That poht-
cal vice resides altogether outside the Democratic
ranks is a proposition little too bold for general
acceptance especially if our vision be extended as
far as the State of New-York, which furnishes most
Of the parties concerned in the present case. 1t il
not, probably, going too far to say, that New-York
politics, from the days of the Albany Regency down
ward have widely borne the reputation of being
prominently vicious. In the school Of that an
Gent Democratic regime, what lessons have been
learpedby Others 1t is easier to guess than to prove
But from what cause soever, the fact undoubtedly
exists that venality, in the varied forms OF admins
tratve and legislative abuse, has been more gener
ally charged upon New-York than upon any other
State. But that it has been confined to one party
more than another therein, has not been charged
~. nj. Den dunin MI
traten of its City Government for several years. to
60 no further would to be conclusive, at least
on the point that the party in Congress which has
so wonderfully escaped the claws Of the Inyestiga
ting Committee has no special ground upon which
to claim monopoly Of administrative virtue. The
causes of the unenvisblc prominence Of New-fork
in this respect may be such, however, as to exon
crate it's citizens from being on the average worse
than those Of any other State. For il cannot be
for moment forgotten that New-York is the
greatest State in the Union, and has the greatest
city on the continent within its limits. SO that it
is fair to conclude that if that State has more vice,
it has also more virtue than any other Yet, how
ever vrtuous it may be, that does not diminish the
influence of its vices And that they have Invaded
and cslOred the character of Congressional legisa
be mpotent to deny. But she subject is one which
it seems to be nyidious 70 treat Of and from which
We gladly turn.
But whatever the source Of Congressional cor
ruptioD that corruption wherever it can be found,
should be unceremoniously and swiftly purged
from the halls Of legislation The thing itself can
not be wnked at, lightly treated OF, or apologized
for, without ncurriDg completely in its guilt. 1t
should be resisted with the sternest and most un-
qualified condemnation; and if there be not virtue
enough in Congress to do it, and do it thoroughly,
We are ss a nation rotten before We are ripe. Po-
liically, we are already demoralzed and debauched
to an slamiDg degree. If 10 this condition be added
that Of the degradation and corruption which
avsrice works then s our situation pitiabe indeed.
There is no star above the horizon promising
light to guide" the Republican party but that Of
strict integrity. That party upholds the principles
Of Freedom; il is the special hampton Of the Right
in government, and of the rights OF man. Ia the
discharge of their legislative functions, it's repre-
sentatiyes should be above suspicion. Ii they be
Otherwise, the moral force of the principles of the
party, which is it's great sgency for the redemption
Of this nation is Lost, aud the party sinks into
tempt. OF all parties in the Union, the Republi-
cans can least afford 10 trfe with this high duty.
hey must maintain a lofty standard Of legislative
integrity and independence: they must insist upon
upIigtiness, and purity, aud economy, in legislation
and III admin stration; and they must discard all
representatives and all leaders Who fail to recognize
this standard Of political action, or the waters of