Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-04-09
l1oItttruI.


MAN.
The Chicago (Illinois) Times. contains a
long editorial, written by one of its editors
Immediately after his return from Washing
ton city, where he had been recently on Wis
It, and spent five days as an outside "looker
on upon things particular and in general
Preliminary to fair understanding and due
appreciation Of this Western editors com.
mcnts, showing how his mind has become
changed, it may be proper to state that his
journal and himself, during the Presidential
canvass of 1856, did all in their power to-
wards the election of Mr.. Buchanan. and the
Inauguration Of system, now to this writer
40 reprehensible, resulting therefrom. The
paper in question has, until recently, been
recognized as the only true Democratic organ
in Chicago, obtaining the government patron
age, in full fellowship with Senator Douglas
and often toadying to the Administration
Out of their own mouths, therefore, shall they
be condemned, and letus hear what the editor
says. lie discourses thus
" Some ten days ago we went down TO
Washngton-to see old friends to talk over
politics and witness, as far as an outsider
could do SO, the extraordinary position of af-
fairs there at present. We staid in the great
city five days, and in that brief period we
saw enough to satisfy us that personal and
political depravity never had such harvest
as they are now reaping in the Federal city.
Offices are bought just as openly as the
butcher buys the beef intended for his custo-
mers. Office brokers have the run of the
Senate ante-chamber, Of the several depart
monts, and the executive mansion and the
actual sum of money to be paid for an office
is as publicly named by these brokers and
their clients as the prices of dry goods are
named between dealer in those articles ard
his customers. Corruption stalks through
the city, not in disguise, but with unblushing
front and exalted mien-the time for vice to
seek dark lanes and private places is gone by,
and now men are bought and Sold votes pur-
chased, and all the detestabe traffic in the
hopes weakness and sorrows of human nature
is carried on without shame The cause Of
this great change is plain to all. Fraud rules
the Cabinet and the Senate fraud-deep,
malicious, infamous fraud upon the people Of
the Union, upon Kansas, and especially upon
the Democratic party--is set up as an object
of worship. The Lecompton fraud has be-
come another molten calf, and those who have
set it up for worship have corrupted them
selves" This is the God which is worship
ped at Washington.
In half dozen places in the Capitol as
many Investigating committees" hold their
daily sessions. These committees are endeav-
oring to bring to light the crimes of days
gone by, and yet peculation and fraud march
through the halls of the Capitol, and arc
to be found in many of the Departments, and
boast of their daily operations. Investiga-
ton is blind to the enormities of the present
it is too busy hunting old robberes to be-
stow. either time or attention to the crime be-
fore its face.
But it has been said that even in the lowest
depths of hell there is lower stll-so in
Washington rascality has its favorite haunts.
Do you wish to see that man who in cold
blood shot down his neighbor, his country
man, without any other provocation than to
crafty party hatred and the brutal propensi-
ties engendered by habits of drunkenness p
Do you wish to see gang of men, of every
age from twenty-five to fifty, all old in tho
meaner habits of border life, and all mean in
the shameless deeds of depravityi Do you
wish to see men who boast of cold blooded
murders, of thieving forays, of fraudulent
elections, OF forged official papers. of bloated
faces and frames worn down by all excesses
common to men lost to self-respect and COM
mon deeency-if you wish to see these men,
go to Washington, and hunt up the delegates
to the Lecompton Constitutional Convention
and their followers Imagine to yourself
these desperadoes, bullies and outcasts, even
of Kansas, and your fancied picture will fall
short of the real living tableaux presented by
the "citizens of Kansas in Washington"
who, it is said, visited the President few
days ago, and assured him of the strong feel
ings of admiration they entertained for him.
One-half these cut -throats and ballot-box
suffers are awaiting their commissions as Of
tcers of the General Government. Land of
fees, Indian agencies, mail agencies, etc., are
to be bestowed upon these outcasts soon
as the Democratic party at the North shall be
defeated in every State in which the Lecomp-
ton fraud shall be endorsed"
All things in Washington are said by this
editor to be overshadowed and made to yield
to Lecompton. He represents that defaulter
was recently there, and the alternative was
offered him, five years in the penitentiary, un-
der the sub-Treasury law, for taking public
money, or an office and declaration in behalf
of Lecompton.
He, of course, chose the office, was shield
ed from the just retributiou of crime, and,
instead of being sent to prison, was not only
set at largo, but rewarded by lucrative Off
cial positon--and one of honor.
The IRISH DEMocRAoY.-The most sim
gular result, in party point Of veiw, of the
Lecompton blunder of the present admins
traton, is the alienation of an auxiliary that
never before wayered, the Irish Catholic De-
mocracy. The FreeD,aR's Journal Of New
York, which has always been considered the