Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-02-17
WASHINGTON, Sunday Feb. 6.


rapidly, and bringing out facts that reflect
great discredit upon the Administration
from the highest to the lowest. Already
sufficient has been ELECTED to fasten corrup-
tion in high places, while among subordi-
mates there would seem to have been very
general copying of the example set by their
supcriors.
The system inaugurated in the Brook
lyn Navy-yard under the present Admins
tration, -giving to members of Congress
the appointment Of the Master Mechanics,
is shown to have resulted in doubling and
trebling the cost of everything to the Gov
eminent. Theft and swindling of all sorts
appears to have been the rule instead of
the exception.
In one case it is shown that a large
quantity Of paint, belonging to the Gov
eminent, was used to paint the dwelling
house of Mr.. Soaring. member of Con-
gress-the labor also being contributed by
the Maryland. Ofcourse this could by no
possibility have been honestly done--but we
are yet without Mr.. Searing's explanation
of the affair, and it remains to be shown
whether he was aware of the fraud upon
the Government, or was himself imposed
upon.
But the most extensive rascality seems
to have been carried on under cover of con-
tracts. The contract for the purchase of
paint may serve as sample. w. ID.
Kennedy, one of the Tammany Sachcms,
somehow has secured this contract for some
time past. 1t seems that in putting in his
bids he would offer large quantities of GER
tain articles at ridiculously low prices,
much less. indeed, than they could pos
sibly be purchased for. In this way, he
was enabled to put it on steep in many 9TH
er articles. and yet have the aggregate or
the average lower than that of any other
bidder, and secure the contract. The thing
upon the face of course looks very fairly;
but upon examination we find that of the
articles offered at nominal prices, the mas
ter painter never wanted pound; while
those-p put in at high rates, the Government
was sure to need heavy supply. OF
course this is all to be attributed to Mr..
Kenncdy's luck.--and not a bit of it 20
collision between himself and the Master
Painter; but one way or another, Uncle
Sam between the two has been squeezed
most gracelessly.
A system quite as bold has been pursued
in the coal, timber and machinery con-
tracts, in relation to which only a part OF
the evidence is yet out.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.
The Democracy is evidently dividing
into three distinct parties on the Tariff
question. One is headed by Cobb. and
proposes a moderate elevation of the Tar
iff for revenue purposes. Another, and
the most powerful, is the Hunter party,
who oppose both the Secretary Of the
Treasury and the President, and repudi-
ate any and every proposition for Tariff
revision, insisting upon dwarfing the OPP
erations of the Government to the dimin-
ishcl revenues, and if that cannot be done.
prefering an increase of tho public debt to
tampering with the revenue system. The
third faction and the smallest of them all,
comprises Mr. Buchanan and the Pennsyl-
vania delegation, who will accept nothing
short of specific duty on iron. Two of
these factions must yield to the third, or
they can accomplish nothing; and the dan
ger therefore is, that nothing will be ac-
complishcd for the relief of the Treasury
The Hunter men are not likely to yield.
for they intend to mount the Virginia SEN
ator upon the rctrenchment hobby, and
ride him into the Charleston Convention
as successful candidate for the Presidcn-
tial nomination. They will probably
make strong demonstration, too, for Mr..
Hunter is not likely to damage his own
cause by excess of zeal. He will prune
the proposition for retrenchments, doubt
less, of all attempts to violate or repudi-
ate contracts; and having escaped that
rock. his movement will give him most
formidable strength with the Southern De-
mocracy.
On tho other hand the Pennsylvania
delegation will not yield, although the
President may, and doubtless will in the
end. The Cobb party. under the able
leadership Of Mr.. Phelps, will maintain the
medium between Buchanan's specifics and
Hunters extreme anti-tariff policy. They
will stand firm until beaten, and then lie
left each to exclaim, "Whcre shall go?'
without being well able to answer this inn
portant question. In short, the whole af-
fair is particularly and Intimately mixed:
and don't believe q Philadelpia lawyer
can begin to see the way out Of the iaby-
rinth into which the Administration Par
Ity finds itself involved Just Sew on the
financial question. The chances are deci-
dedly against any Tariffrevision. any loan,
o: any te-issuc Of Treasury notes.