The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-28
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1859.

what we call the Government are not as corrupt
as the letter-writers from Washington would have
us to believe certain it is, that Congress has, fol
some years past, never Investigated the rumors Of
official mafeasance, which the press has set afoat
without exposing some facts damaging to the
country, or discreditable to the character of the
politicians who rule it. The evidence taken be-
fore the Committee appointed by the last
Congress to examine into the charges OF
bribery and corruption, preferred in the
New York Times against sundry Congressman,
was full and direct enough-notwithstandin the
manifest tergiversations through which its results
were arrived alto have justified the expulsion of
several members of the House of Representatives.
The testimony collected in the Reports heretofore
submitted to the House, concerning the
sale of the Fort Smelling Reservation and
the purchase of Willett's Point, must, I'M
questionably, have produced a painful impress
sion, even upon those who are unwilling to
admit it, as conclusive proof of faithlessness or
fraud, on the part of some who still
occupy high public stations. But the Com
mittee lately appointed to inquire into al
legged abuses in connection with the Navy Depart
ment and Navy Yards, has just presented two Re
ports of q still graver character, which, coming
as it in the natural order of progressive cor
ruption, must startle even those who have
hitherto been the most reluctant to ad-
init the existence of such fearful abuses
That of the Minority, fatty charges upon the
PRESIDENT and SECRETARY of the NAVY the most
diSgraceful completely with the numerous spec,l-
lators, who under the guise of contractors or
agents, have been most unfairly made the recipi-
ents of the Governments bounty. Even
if we do not admit this conclusion in
report itself enough to show that the appoint
ment of the Committee was timely, and that its
laborS have not been in vain. 1t admits, in plain
language, the existence of glaring abuses in the
Brooklyn Navy Yard-the wholly inefficient and
grossly incompetent character of those in
whose hands the Government Coal Agency in
Philadelphia has for some time been-and then, by
sort of confession and avoidance plea, AYERS that
if the SECRETARY of the NAVY did contemplate any
favor to the party which he is said to have assist
ed, through q palpable violation of the law,
yet he did not design to bestow it to
the detrment of the Government. These results
at which the whole Committee has arrived
render it unnecessary to dwell further upon
the circumstantal details offered to support
them. Our readers have, doubtless, learned for
themselves how DR.. HUNTER-a practising physi-
clan in Reading, who probably had much less
knowledge of coal than of cautery-obtained
an agency for supplying the Navy with fuel upon
an express understanding and arrangement with
the PRESIDENT that the profits were to be
equally divided with two others, and
then handed over the business to some one else
and pocketed his unearned portion of the profits
In the same page too, they have read how Mr.
Pitt, of Philadelphia, introduced to the Govern
ment the gentleman who sold it stock of live
oak, which ! ad been once rejected, and then re-
manned on hand; and how Mr.. PL1rr, with the
PREslDENr's knowledge and appreciation, was to
receive ten per cent. on the gross amount of the
contracts. But lest they should not clearly under
stand why Messrs. MERRICK & Son, of Phladel-
phia received the contract TO build the machinery
for a sloop of war; and how the Hon. Mr..
FLORENCE was reelected, we quote the correspond
ence on the subject between Col. PATTERSON and
the PRESIDENT
"PmLADRLpHIA, September 10. 1858
DEAR SIR venture to suggest to you the import
awarding the contracts for the machinery of the
sloop now building at the Navy Yard this time and if
can be done without prejudice to the public service
Merrick Sons This is the only establishment in the
list District which employs large number mechanics:
ut this time, 800; when in full work, $50.
THE managing partners (Mr. NJ, Sem. being absent in
pad health are full of energy, stranng every
keep their force during this depression and in far
| know, the only Old Wings Of any influence in
Florence.
Il know from former experience the value of that in
uence and feel persuaded that is the interest of the
Democratic party to increase it.
The list District will, hope, be carried in any event.
but with that shop at work, full handed, weeks prior
to the election, the result would think, be placed be
ivy. c. PATTERSON"
"THE PRESIDENT"
This letter was sent TO the SECRETARY of the
NAVY by the PRESIDENT, with this Endorsement:
"sept. Is, 1858.
Navy. j BIZ
Who says that PENNSYLVANIA needs any
Tariff to protect the honest industry of her cit-
Gems? We will freely back PATTERSON, Pitt and
The PRESIDENT, against any schedules that merely
regard principles from the specific or ad
laloTem point of view.
There is, however, one other portion of this
document TO which we would advert, for although
It may be a less painful subject of comment than
Ire cases of individual delinquency, it is perhaps,
'f more general importance Having taken occa-
non to aude, heretofore, to the decay of genuine
in our country, it may not be amiss
o glance at the methods adopted, by the placement
who have usarped its prerogatives, to keep up
political parties in the absence of those grand in
erests and vital questions by which alone they
ought to be supported. The delegation from New
ork city and the neighborbood, it appears, de-
handed that the patronage of the Brooklyn Navy
ard should be divided equally among them, and
he natural consequences have followed the SEcRE-
FAIRY acquiescence in this preposterous request
dleness, INSTRUMENTATION, and the appointment
md retention of incompetent workmen, are con-
'eded to be among the existing evils. The mas
er-workmen levy contributions on the men, and
he men, we presume, well able to afford it, as
many of them answer simply to their names at
oll-call, and then Fleave the yard. 1t is true, the
Committee says these abuses have grown up dur
ng long series of years, and that no particular
administration should bear all the blame; but |
hey are not the less disgraceful on that account,
md nothing but their instant and energetic re-
'ression, now that they are exposed, can relieve |
he Government of to-day from an overwhelming
hare of culpability.
In discussing these matters we are tempted to |
SIX whether we have really fallen away from the
urer faith and practice of our fathers2 Has the /
Republic descended into more degenerate hands,
nd is its star declining towards the dark horizon
# do we only magnify the perils which are near,
nd dream that there were none but halcyon days |
n times of old, because the storms which dis
urbed them have subsidized and are forgotten
'hese are questions for us all to ponder, and
o answer as every one best may. Meanwhile,
ct us cling hopefully to the destinies of our
ountry. Let US trust that good and wise men
nay arise in the future who shall wipe ont the dis
race of this present hour, which has beheld cleo
ors encouraged and maintained by the distribu
ion of patry plumber, and elections carried by the
hives and billies that ruffians WELD so well.
SENIOR VALIENTE.