The Hillsborough recorder., 1859-05-25

ed tas modest sum oi S39 900 Tor ms geou
will ani patronage in the sale and braker {
age OF public contraets--was but the ether.
day owner and conductor Of the oshciai or.
gan Of the Government, and is even now,
We are told, public printer in fact. though
not in name.
Look now at the huge report made upon
ire onesatioas in the navy yards OF Phila-
5elphsa and Brooklyn--a document gigantic
IN its proportions. but yet more gigantic and
startling in the official iniquities i reveals.
I have neither the time nor the patience to
enter into the disgusting details of these
revelations. But one glaring and monstrous
fact appears from them all--the systematic
employment Of contracts for every variety of
work and materials in both Of those vast es-
Establishments, and with the direct approba-
baton Of the Government itself, to reward
partizaa services, and to debauch the suffra.
ges of the people.
There you will see contracts involving
large amounts OF the public money, directed
by the Government to be given, in open VI.
olation Of law. TO the highest, instead Of the
lowest bidder. from the sole consideration ut
the number Of Subsidized voters in the en-
plovment Of the preferred party, whose suf-
frages were required in the critical moment
of a contested election. So minutely and
Systematically was this policy carried ont in
one OF those establishment that Democratic
members Of Congress representing the ad.
Joining districts were formally constituted
by the Government its authorized agents for
making an equitable division Of the public
spoils among its supporters and in this
manner, the yard was filled to the number of
several thousand, with worthless and incom.
petent men. whose only claim TO employ
ment was founded on political service, and
among whom, in TIE language OF the report,
"idleness, theft, insubordination, fraud and
gross neglect ot duty, prevailed to an alarm.
ing extent"
The developments made, present the Go.
rernment as moving IN constant circle OF
corruption. First, the Government, with the
public money, corrupts the contractors and
their employees to vote for members of Con-
gress; then the contractors corrupt the
members Of Congress. with stipulated per
centage, to procure them other contracts !;
and finally. the members Of Congress, by one
species Of corruption or another. corrupt the
Government to bestow the contracts which
thew had stipulated to obtain.
But, fellow-citizens, ! cannot follow out
these revolving details; there they are upon
record, where YOU can examine them Tor
yourselves. and ponder on the mournful de-
generacy Of the public morals they disclose.
and upon your solemn duty, as men and pa.
triots, TO rebuke and correct the evil. have
referred to these things with the deepest hu.
initiation as an American citizen. | sin.
cerely wish, for the honor Of nv country,
that thew could be shown TO be party libeis.
But unfortunately, the facts are too notorious
the knowledge Of them is too widespread
and universal-to admit either Of denial or
suppression.
The whole air is flled With them. They are
propavated on the winds to the four corners
af the earth. What has made Washington,
a. the central seat OF the government the
public ofices-congress ITSELF byword
and reproach with the vet uncontaminated
mass Of the people, but the belief that cor
ruption Testers there, and is thence diffused
like a subtle poison, through every branch
of the public administration depending upon
N Have not Senators Of the dominant par.
ty-eleyated BY their character as well a.
their positiou-openly proclaimed in the se
nate chamber their solemn conviction that
The Government Of the United States, oi
which the form 4 part, us the most cor.
rupt now in the habitable globe I"
'rne time is come, then. when patriots and
good men of eli political denominations mus
seriously reflect upon the duties which the,
owe TO their country, Irrespective Of mert
marty considerations. II We mean 20 pre-
serve the noble heritage Of freedom whiet
our ancestors have transmitted 20 Us, now i
The time 10 make the effort. Public moral.
~ /. the only basis on which free insttu.
tions can stand. II this is once sapped. tn.
edifce itself must crumble to the ground.
have not been on inattentiye observer
fellow. citizens, Of what has passed in othei
countries. as well as our own, during tht
syenttul epoch IN which we live. | hag,
witnessed the downfall Of an ancient mon
srehv in Europe. | have seen a constitu
tionsi representative government establish.
ed upon is ruins; and in eighteen shor
wears have seen that government subvert
"a hv 1 revolution, 70 make way. after /
brief and coDyulsise period Of anarchy. FOL
4 military despotism.
What occasioned the premature downfall
r the Representative government u 7.ahee
IL vas political corruption undermining Il
al il. bsss. Louis Philippe and his rni'lis
tfgs. instead VI resting ~ the virtue and in.
teiIigehce II the counlr, tor suPpar;, sorgh'
"a rsle il by 40 open and shameless system
Of corruption. The elective franchise being
confined TO comparatively small portion oi
IL. lion, and that ffsctiea being ITSELF eor.
ragted b. the GoSernmert, he mass Ol the
people could right themselves only b. revo.
jgtIoa and the Government fell.
Itisa remarkable instance Of the certain.
~ viii which effects follow their causes in
,hs political world, thst u. De r'oeqBsyille,
zoe II The most profound political philoso
pliers 81 this or any other age. announced
from his place in the Chamber of Deputies,
while III seemed sure aud stable 10 the eve,
Of Tie Government, that the country was
sleeping upon q volcano, and that reyolu.
tien was al hand. And what was the grsund
Of his pfrdietioni There had then been nc
popular tumults--no public disorders. Hs
$3.50 .faoa a sLe danraxaftnt. ~ ,ke s,nh