Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-03-06
THE AK LAID AT THE ROOT REFORMATION
BEGUN IN EARNEST.

Ii. '
Chairman of said Meeting
THE AK LAID AT THE R00T-REFoRMAfloN
BEGUN IN EARNEST.
Heretofore. we have had little faith in
these Committees of Investigation. They
have always been one-sided, sipgle-eyed
and with view to elevate one party by
destroying the other. We begin to be
lieve that the investigation into the con-
duct Of high officers, now in progress at
Madison. wears double edge, will cut
both ways and can see the mote IN the
eyes of all men and parties. Some Of the
conduct of the present Legislature appears
to u. at this distance as black as pitch, and
damning as the conduct Of Pharaohs dark
hosts of Egypt. We may be mistaken
accident or neglect may account for the er-
rors that seemed to lis crimes. The works
of holy men often seem the reverse OF
right and reason heaven itself is a stun
bling block to the wise. We therefore
suspend our opinion of the past and await
future revelations before final judge
ment.
At the opening of the present leglsla-
ture, there was spontaneous outburst Tor
Investigation. The counter current at
tempted. by guilty Republicans was sas
feeble as the protest of a''crimlnal at the
gallows; the Democrat Sc members as one
man at first, under the regency of Barstow
and Kilbourn, opposed, choked and chilled
every motion to overhaul the conduct of
high officers. Upon the offer from the
Republican side of the house of a fair dem
ocratic representation on the Investigating
Committee, enough Democratic mem
bors yielded to carry the act for radical
and general investigation. The commit
tees were appointed, composed of members
Of both. parties; by agreement of com
mittees, no favor is shown to high or low,
Ropublican-or Democrat. The Supreme
Court has already decided that the logis.
lature has the power TO call witnesses and
compel them to testify all they know
This is the second time the SupremeCourt
has decided for the people and against
conspirators.
Seeing that there is firm determine
ton to drive the investigation TO the very
bottom, instead of skimming over the sur
face, we hope the public mind will stand
by and uphold the legislaturs-alIowing
the members time plenty to do their
work.
We see that even Ex-Gov. Basiford, in
whom we had the faith of Moses, is
strongly suspected of corruption. Above
all men, let him be overhauled, even more
critically than any other man. Especially,
let the committee try Republicans by the
seyerest tests, seven fold severer than
Democrats. Nobody expects integrity Of
a Barstow, or of Democratic office holders
in general. All have faith in Republican
integrity generally, and there is no way to
uphold that faith but by applying the Sc
verest tests. Let Bashford and every sus
pected Republican be tried as by fire and
by every means that Col has leased tc
man. Whatever effect may follow, let the
magazine be fred, even though innocent
men suffer. The public welfare requires
sacrifices, even of innocence. Washington
and Adams risked their lives, fortunes ant
regulations for their country. Who ther
can refuse to suffer for the public good.
NEELEY GRAY.-The numerous ole
friends of this gentleman in Grant County
will rejoice to learn that he has been un-
animously nominated by the Republican
of Madison for Mayor While residen
of Grant County he was universally re-
spected, and his unanimous nomination q
Madison where he has been in business
many years, shows that he is as highly re
spected there. Whether elected or not
the nomination is high compliment
His party is in minority at Madison, ST
that his election is improbable. His op
pouent is George Brass Smith, whom tn,
bricklayer DEMO threshed at Plattevill,
over year ago. ~
From the Daily Sentinel
Mr., A. N ArrI No