The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-03


our country, Of which we know comparatively
nothing as yet The attempt OF tie Caros,niaa
to trace the cepletion of the cid fogy watering
places to political feeling is absurd in the ex-
tTeme,
Jssti6s atarn 81 Bnboxy and Qagsupsion-
Mn~sl Obaiq ulsy OF a WSsssX faaIso.d
President.
Ia connection with the exposure in yester-
days HERALD of little piece Of prevar;caticn
p'sctised BY the confidence man of the lobby
organ za:ion at Washington, in bis Testimony
before the Corruption Committee of the House
Of Representatives, we had occasion to borrow
an extract from . pamphlet recently published
by Mr.. Byron Kilbourn, late President of the
La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company
This pamphlet is entitled, "Review fthe Repor.
made by the Committee of Investigation to the
Legislature Of Wisconsin relating to the land
grant" The particular portion of il which
came under our notice yesterday was para
graph wherein the author oonvicts the vote
broker referred to of having wilfully prevari-
Gated or suppressed the truth, in his evidence
before the committee of Congress, in regard to
the consideration which be received for his SER
vices in aid of the passage Of the Wisconsin
Land Grant bill-such consideration being a
contract regularly signed, sealed and executed.
under which this thimble rigger of the lobby
was to have received the munifcent prize of
four thousand acres of land estimated by him
self at $4,000.
A further and closer examination Of this
pamphlet, however, reveals the fact that aside
from its Developments in regard to the cores
pondent and part proprietor of the New York
Times, it is entitled to a considerable share of
public attention for some other very curious
portions of its contents. As its title indicates,
it is an effort on the part of the late President
of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Com
pany to vindicate the action of that company in
the course to which it resorted to procure from
the Legislature of Wisconsin grant of the very
lands which Simonton was supposed to have
had an influence in getting Congress to be-
stow upon the State. And how, our readers
will naturally ask, does this Mr. Byron Kill
bourn defend the company? Does he labor to
convince the public that the evidence taken be-
fore the Wisconsin Corruption Committee in
the early part of last summer was false, and
that the report founded thereon was consequent
ly not entitled to consideration? Does he deny
that Governor Bashford received bonds to the
amount of $4,000 for approving the bill, or
that the Lieutenant Governor received his
$4,000, or that the private secretary of the
Governor, the members of the Legislature, the
clerks and officers of the two houses and of the
Crcrocco Court tbo a1;tora ond raportors an1
everybody else connected in any way with the
fraud, received bonds to greater or less
amount, commensurate with the positions they
severally occupied? Not by any means. Even
if simple denial could have proved of any
avail to overthrow the evidence accumulated
BY the committee, this model of q Western rail
road president is not the man to stoop to such
a defence. He does not see that there is any
thing to be ashamed Of in the matter. His mo-
raj susceptibilities are not 30 acute a. to enable
him to look upon the act of corrupting the Exc
cutive, Judiciary and Legislature Of State in
any other light than as fair business transac-
ton. Lest il might be thought that we are mis-
representing this railroad morslist we will
make few quotations from his " Review
In my testimony before the commtaes-he says on
page Gin reference 10 the reasons Justying members
In receiving grasuty from the company, said, who
such argument would bear the strcest test Of
morality NOD for me TO determine" The more re-
fcct upon IL, however, The more clearly am satisfied
that there was nothing in hs chok proceeding rgndn
| to the srsdeS principles Of morally.
He had, at first, it would appear, some mis-.
givings lurking in an out-of thewsy corner Of
his conscience that it would be difficult for him
TO justify the giving or receiving of brides, or,
as be chooses to call them, % gratuities;" and
30 be did not care TO engage then in an ethical
disputation on the subject. But further retiec-
ton aided, we suppose, by n reference to the
best authorities on the point-satsfied him that
there was nothing in the whole proceeding
repugnant 10 the strictest principles Of morali-
ty." Where did this man learn the principles
Of morality that could produce such blossoms
as these? What church or college or institution
is responsible for sending out such disciple as
this railroad ex.president? Or does all our
boosted civilization and enlightenment and
Christianity only end in such libel on common
honesty as this, If this is the natural result Of
our educational system the sooner we unlearn
our knowledge the more fit we will be 10
occupy our place in the ranks Of nations.
But listen again to this La Crosse and Mil
waukie apostle Of morality. Not satisfied with
ayowing shamelessly and after due reflection
such an abominable heresy on truth and purity
and honor, he has the efIrontery to appeal to
the people of Milwaukee and of Wisconsin To
endorse the doctrine. Wequote from page 81
Suppose We had falcd and offered excuse that II
would have cost million dollars 70 have secured the
grant, while the same time BY tho expenditure OF mil
lion and half payable IN s stock the Chicago company
should secured the prize, uogtd MT every citizen and
c,xry acciAoidr hare udmod us for anpidIy Would
they tainted with the loss OF land worth ten
or twelve millions Would they NOT Justly have tainted
with the oes OF the business Of state and OF the
great Northwest worth hundreds Of millions And ell
WHAT For the paluy consideration OF one million
dollars able In ave years, within which time might
reasonably be expected The road would be nshed 70 IA
n-~.. ara fror canning. the fnl spnouni