The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-05-05
legislative Bodies Generally, and Pennsylva-
+ s. MIA Legislature sSpecially,

this country, running from one end TO the
other like aimalignant epidemic. The last
session of Congress was the scene of an
exposure, showing how the members Of
that body, always supposed 10 be pure and
dignified, were brought and sold and bar.
gained and battered for, like any other mar.
ketable commodity. The disclosure was
received as nothing new; it was a well
known fact that corruption existed, and the
only real interest attached TO the Transaction
was in the detection of some of the crimi-
nails. The corruption itself startled no one,
because the fact YVES not a novelty. The
Legislatures of many of our States ex-
hibit the same rottenness. New York as
well as Pennsylvania is afflicted with venal
Legislators. The buying and selling of votes
has got TO be a business, Just like the buy.
ing and selling of fat cattle. class of
brokers act as the negotiators, and stand
between the seller and consumer 10 adjust
the price and fix all the prelimiharies, so
that the transaction is accomplished fairly,
satisfactorily and honorably.
We may regret that this is the case; we
may see in it the greatest danger 10 our
representative system of government, but
we cannot shut our eyes to its truth. The
barter and sale of votes is looked upon with
far to5'much leniency. Many honest peo.
pie, aware of the traffic, regard it az a me-
cessary evil, and become reconciled TO it as
an established system Others, who are
seeking Legislation for Legitimate purposes,
find their attempts to obtain hearing una
vailing, and are finally compelled to pay
tribute, and thereby encourage the corrupt
system, or fail entirely in their object.
These remarks have general application
to our representative bodies, and particu.
lar application 10 the Legislature of Penn
sylvania. When the last session commeh-
ced we hoped better things of it, and that it
would escape the prevailing disease which
ruined the charaoaer of some of its prede.
cessors. But we don't see that its average
honesty was above theirs. II was equally
the tool of the corrupt men and designing
spectators who assemble al the Capitol
every year, Tor the purpose of filling and
fattening at the expense of the State. Of
cousse we speak collectively, and individu-
ally.
But not withstanding this truth, we have
some reason TO congratulate the people, and
hope for better things in the future not be.
cause we have any very bright anticipations
OF seeing higher class of men elected TO
the next Legislature, but solely and entirely
because the State owns no more public
property which can be put up at a mock
auction and transferred to the credit of the
hungry adventurers who have been accus-
toned, year after year, to take possession
of the Legislature. There is nothing left TO
sell. The board has been swept clean
The last party devoured all the public prop.
erty which the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany had the magnanimity or modesty to
spare. This fact alone leads US to hope
that in future the Legislature of Pennsylva-
mia, not being exposed to great temptation,
will be comparatively honest and untain,ed
by corruption.
If the sale of the public works should be
productive of this happy reformation, we
will be disposed to overlook the means that
has produced an end so devoutly to be
wished for. One of the standing arguments
used at the session just closed, and the one
preceding it, for the sale of the public
works, was the corrupting influences that
their public management exered upon the
people. The Canal Commissioners, Collec.
tors, Supervisors, agents and multitude of
persons engaged in one capacity or another
upon the public works, were denounced as
an organized band of robbers, who preyed
upon the State, growing fat and rich on the
plunder extorted from the victimized tax.
payers. This charge had no doubt some
truth in it. But the sale of these same pub
lie works has been attended with conseuuen-
ces fully as deplorable as their management.
1t has corrupted and debased members, and
disgraced the character of the Legislature.
The sale of the Main Line 10 the Pennsyl.
vania Railroad Company, and the sale of
the remaining Canals to the Sunbury and
Erie Railroad Company, have tempted,
prostituted and ruined more public men than
their management by the State ever has
done. The Commonwealth has been divor-
ced from her public improvements al afear.
ful cost 10 public morality. Corruption has
been implanted'so strong and deep. by these
transactions that it will be difficult to eradi-
cate. Nothing but a determination on the
part of the people to send representatives
Of established honesty to the Legislature,
can ever restore the tarnish integrity of that
body. II is poor consolation to think that
future Legislatures must perforce be honest
because the State owns nothing that can be
sold or given away; but it is better than
none, and we gladly accept it, in the alb.
sence of any we'll grounded belief that the
next Legislature will be purer body of
men than the last-Harrisburg Union.
Low ?RicEs AT THE VISTA correspon-