Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-07-14
ENORMOUS ExTRAVAGANCE.

Never since the foundation ofthis Cover.
ment, says the New Orleans True Delta,
has so reckless, wasteful aud proAigate an
expenditure Ofthe public money been made
as by the present men in power ct Wash
ington, aided BY a corrupt and unprincipled
body Of cOufederates in Congress. Over
eighty millions Of dollars at time Of great
domestic difficulty and pecuniary distress,
have been appropriated to meet the cur
rent annual national expenditures, in = Pc
riod Of profound peace, and scarcely a
department or act Of administration since
the accession Of James Buchanan to power
which is not tainted by the fouIest aud
most revolving corruption. Had the object
of bis election been to give up the country
to spoilsmen and plunderers. it could not
have been more efectuslly accomplished; /;
for, from the higheat TO the lowest official,
in Congress, in the government. or in any
manner connected with public affairs, plum
der and robbery have been the rule, integ-
rity and honorable conduct the exceptions.
This is a deplorsble condition Of public
affairs, and yet, while the fact is proclaimed
poldly in the Senate Of the United States,
and acquiesced in without a protest 10 that
body, the very same men who affect to de.
plore it, are among the very first to sane
ton any and all disgraceful demands that
may be made upon them, 50 onnipoteut
has executive Influence become. so fallen
aud degraded has Senatorial dignity, man.
hood and independence proved itself to be.
The exposures Of the cisgracefu jobs Of
the War Department. and the completely
Of such men as Schel. the collector Of New
York in them, do not, it is clear, make
the least impression upon the minds Of
Senators, nor inspire one Of them with the
smallest particle of patriotic or honest fee.
ling. when the moment is propitious for
him to make denunciation heard, and ex.
posure of the general political turpitude
feared. No, all are ready to sacrifice the
interest of the people to their individual
cupidity and ambition, and no more respect
is paid to the wishes and command of the
people than if tue latter were Russian serfs
or African bondmen. This is truly la.
mentable condition of public affairs, and
should, if anything can, wake up the peo.
pie, ere it is too late, TO sense Of the uttel
worth!essnesS Of niue-.enths of the men
representing them in Congress, and the
State Legislatures, for it will be vain to ex
pect radical, lasting reformation, unless The
whole thinking population can be united ii
demanding it. The election of Mr. Blu
chanan, and old and efete, politician, nee
essarily alarmed all reflecling persons who
bad watched and observed the growing
coTuptions Ofpublic office; but the mos
depending mind could not have imagined
in its gloomiest moments that with, in one
year after his ascension to office eighty
millions of dollars would be required tC
discharge the ordinary obligations of gov
erment, or that treasury which lie found
groaning under the weight of its affluen
contents would now be bankrupt and de
pendent upon the most contemptible sxpe
dients for its replenishment. Yet such i,
the pitiable aud Notifying condition il
which we find ourselves at moment wher
we are iusulted abroad, and distract ted
divided and discnotented at home. What
is to be the end of all this must bs sub
jsct for good men to be per9lexed about
and where we are to seek suitable and ad
equAte remedies, If it be not too late tC
apply them, is worthy of the most seriou
consideration, seeing that any reliance upor
Congress is only leaning upon a broker
reed, as it is 10 its leading elements steepec
to the lip in ignorance, vaSssage aud cor
ruption. We are therefore constrained t.
fall back upon the counsel We volunteered
some months ago, and urge the discardinl
of all present party divisions among hon
est and intelligent men and q generou
union among all such for the salvation o
the country.-Federal, State and munici
pal administration has fallen into the mos
depraved and venal state, the loves
and most abandoned of the population
fill almost all public trusts;-drunkennes
debauchery and ignorance hold high revel
where sobriety, moarlity aud inteligenc,
formerly had sway; aud i is clear thai
unless an abnegation full ahd complete o
mere partissnship can be accomplished
the fall of our republican system must b
witnessed before distant day. We know
the difficulties that stand in the way of th
union we advise, the apathy. reluctanc
and positive aversion men Of business anC
professional occupations cannot but enter
tain at the idea of embarking in poitica
struggles; but the necessity is urgent ant
momentous, and we cannot doubt, tha
being understood. the willingness Of th
men to whom we allude to make the sacri
fee required by their country in this gres
emergency,