Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-30


party could have been pure that had such char
acters in its ranks.--Lynch6urg Virginian.
CORRUPTION, OFFICIAL AND LEGIs.
LATIVE.
We cut the following article out of one Of oul
exchange papers without noticing at the time
what paper it was, and we do not, therefore
know t, whom it should be credited, The re-
marks are truthful and just; we are becoming
base, corrupt people. For years past, the
corruption at Albany, New York, Harrisburg,
Columbus (Ohio) Indianapolis, Ind, has been
notorious and proverbial, but the gangrene did
not reach this city until recently; now, how
ever, we have reason to believe that Washing.
ton is but little, if any, behind the places we
have named How can 1t be otherwise, when
political parties contend against each other
chiefly, if not exclusively for the mere "spoils
\ Of Office when their objects are mercenary
and debasing and they are animated by no
high principle, no lofty motiyes Mercenary
motives are incompatible with elevation ofprin-
ciple and purpose, with integrity, purity, and
greatness.
"We know that mankind improve in the
arts and sciences-but do they also improve in
honesty, integrity, virtue and patriotism
Judging by the conduct Of the present genera
ton compared with that of their forefathers,
we incline to the opinion that there has been
no improvement in these particulars. Legisla-
tors in former times, whether local or national,
never decended to the meanness of accepting
brides to perform their duties, or to carry mea-
sures of any description. But now, bribery
appears 10 be required as necessary accom-
paniment of legislation. In Congress, three
members were last year expelled for this Of
fence-and now there is to be another investi-
cation for a similar crime. In former times,
men appointed by corporate authorities to give
out contracts, never thought Of STIMULATING for
share in the profits Of such contracts. Now
it is said to be common practice in New York,
for members Of the City Council to sell their
votes and influence upon all occasions. These
disgraceful acts have been subjects Of investi-
gatio,, but still they are said to be continued
and that corruption has swelled the taxes upon
the citizens to an extraordinary degree.
"Men who want contracts by which they
expect to make fortunes, will be always willing
to strike bargain with those who have the
power to confer the benefit upon them--and it
is no doubt true, as has been alledged in some
of the public prints, that many measures are
lobbied through Congress by corrupt means.
1t has been even suggested that the printer APP
pointed by Congress has been compelled to
grant certain interests in the contract to MEM
bers of Congress, whose patriotism is confined
to their breech,s pockets. We presume that
most of the Railroad Companies, upon whom
the public lands have been profusely squander-
ed, have heen compelled to "fork over" to
members who aided them in procuring the
grants In fact general system of corrup-
ton appears to prevail, reaching from the low
est to the highest Money is the God of the
present day, whom most men worship, and
there are representatives of the people who are
not over scrupulous as to the means which
they employ to procure it
at is duty incumbent upon the honest
portion of the representatives to purge their
bodies of all the corrupt members whenever
discovered-and hence we are glad to see that
the House Of Representatives has resolved to
have a committee appointed to investigate GER
tain bribing transactions which are said to
have taken place between large manufactu-
ring establishment at the East and certain
members Of Congress, whose names have not
been disclosed. One ofthe expelled members
of the last session, now sits in the House Of
Representatives This we consider reflection
upon the whole house; for, If his conduct was
such last year as to merit expulsion for Grim
inal offence, we can see no just reason for per-
hitting him to resume his seat during the pre-
sent session--thus affording him an opportu-
nifty to repeat his offence.
"A reform in these matters is highly desira-
BILE; but we hardly suppose that it " i'll be
made, as the evil appears to be too deeply root
ed to be eradicated. If the people will elect
dishonest men, they must expect to be plum