Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-12
.IThr CorruptIom Fund.n

Once in q great while, we get tolerabie
insight into certain transactions going on be-
hind the scenes at Washington, though to
what extent can only be cOnjectured At q
recent investigation, for instance, Of the al
fairs of the Middlesex Manufacturing Com
pany, it is reported to have been proved that
So, coo had been paid to secure the passage
of the tariff act Of 1857, while Lawrence,
Stone & Co. owed them 1907 900 No won
der they suspended. OF course, where this
company paid SS7 900, other companies
must have been called upon t. bleed some
what in proportion 10 the capital, and many
of them, no doubt, have done 90. 5000,
it may safely bo assumed, was under rather
than over the amount Of black mail thus Lc-
We'd for the protection of single lntereS; 10
a single bill.
Within year or tgo, these transactions
have been done 50 openly, that they have
leaked out into the papers, and provoked
some kind OF Investigation from Congress.
\ few names Of those more notorlou-ly aud
palpably thus engaged, we're brought oct
and properly disposed Of. But the impres-
sion is general, that SO vide spread Vas the
corruption, that it would have been attempt
ing what was impracticab!e to have gone
more deeply into Investigations OF this ma
ture, or to have reported more names.
The fact, however, is clear, that S0Rlcbody
gets enormous sums regularly levied by way
of black mail, regularly drawn from the pock-
cts of various companies, for special lesl=ia'
ton Railroads. aud manufacturing cJmpa-
MES especially, are tleeced handsOmc!y.-
Half or two.thiIGS may 70 10 lobby agents,
but the presumption is strong, from tFansnc-
tiJus which have come to light, that the rest
goes directly TO the purchase Of votes.
This is very expensive piece Of business.
To the companies it ought l. be rulnous.
Any set Of manufacturers ought to fail that
will pay SS1 GOO FOR special Legislation IN
their behalf. They pay ready money to cor.
ru.t the country. They employ men to
cheat for them, and no wonder t"at they get
themselves cheated in turn. They poison
the chalice, and by mist!k drink OF the poi.
soned bowl. Their retriJution is just. The
whole safety of the cOuntry depends on such
schemes being, 10 some way, destructive 10
their originators The moro money such
companies make the more bold as corrupt
ing agents, DO they become. Let alternate
sections of land be lObbied through the two
Houses Of Congress fer rotten Railroad
company one year, and they Will heg tor the
alternate section next. No, not bcJ, bat Grtbs
with the very wealth acquired by the hrst
success. Let particular article OF manu-
facture be thus specially protected by bought
votes, and it will only produce the prVtter VI
higher prices.
There are some members of Congress who
have become very rich some in sections Of
western lands, some in Railroad stocks, and
some even in ready cash. besides lat Jobs and
offices and appointments that others have Sc
cured. This mas been great source OF ruin
! to manufacturing COmpanIc- instead OF en-
ploYing their capital to lower the price OF
| production, they have used II y raise the
price Of the article through the tariff. This
} is one great reason that while Railroad
stocks have dropped 50 Suddenly. their ready
money and thair lands ana their stocks were
freely bestowed on members Of ClnGIe's.-
Ii would be the best wish for the country
that all such companies might De utterly
ruined and the whole thing understood to
be what it questonubly is, losing bust
ness.
But all Of this kind OF bribery ana cor
ruptiun is expensive, not only to the compa-
ny who bride, bat to the government thus
subvertcd. 1t is the nation that has 10 pay
for all the corruption and the profits made
on it by all tue parties implicated. We are
all taxed in tariff or 10 the absorption Of the
public lands, to corrupt and destroy our owu
governmental put in Office set Of men
who will as regularly barter away all our
dearest rights and liberties for money, as
Mexico has thus been sold time and again,
or as the old Roman government was sid to
the general who would bribG the soldiers
most argely.-PhHQ. L,Jqcr.