Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1859-02-23
Look at it Fellow Citizens.

Look at II Fellow Citizens
Perhaps. in the history Of this General Gov
eminent there has never been much eorrup
ton among those Who ell official stations. az
nov. The motto Of high and low officers ap
pears II be- rob the Tressrry-aet dishonest
ly-stesl Tn. historian Who writes The po
litieal history % thi- country. will place the
4 ADMINISTRATION Of james Buchanan above all
competition for laxity IN principle AID cor
rup,ion q Office. The expenses Of this Ofs
.ral Government will reach perhaps tiOo.
900 coo per annum during bis entire term oil
office Even members OF bis Cabinet are mol
exempt from peeula:ions dishonorsble ADD
corrupt Hls appointees seem 10 desire place
only that they may pat their hands, both ei
them. up 10 the elbows, IN the public erio.-
While the people are grooming beneath an uo
rarallslcd load Of taxe~. all over the country
appotntees to place and men filing ofiici 20
siiiops. are getting rich They officers
paw no regard to the law prescribing their OF
fetal duties-viols'e every trust. and seek
protection. behind that sbeld that has pro
tec;ed scoundrels before--the 1gis, Demoers
ev There is not sublimated seoundrei IN
the whole country bat who looks 10 the Dem
oeratic party for protec;ion--and generally
fods il. Rome in the days OF Catalina had
notary more official thieves within her walls
than has this country now at the Federal cap
ital and ramifed throughout the length aud
breadth Of the land
In this State impressed with the be
lief that official corruption has reached i's
acfne--found it. eliminating point Can
there by possibility be Tonnd higher in this
infamou. ladder. where corruption can ind a
foothold? Can individual perfdy aud col
lective dishonesty hope 10 accomplish more 7
II has long been a mystery what goes with
the large sums annually paid into our Treasu
~. The people pay their taxes like patriots.
and vet there j. a continued cry for more
During the year 1855 the State Of Indiana
through Governor Willard aud his minions
increased the public debt about half a
million. aud il was then announced the Urea
susv was empty. The charitable institutions
ofths State we're closed for the want Of means
to defray their expenses Three hundred
thousand dolla.s were borrowed to pay the
interest on our public debt. which Of course
has to be replaced by the taxes collected of
the people 1t now however turns out, that
during all this time there should have been
enough money in the public Treasury TO have
met ali the demands it, from whatever
quarter.
Mr. Hamilton Smith. active member Of
the Committee II Ways and Means, to whom
was especially assigned the duty Of investiga
ting. personally. the management and condi
tion Of affairs Of the State Treasury. made a
speech to his constituents in Perry county
during the recent legislative interim. in
which be made some startling staiements.-
lie said AZ the date when the loan wat made
last summer for money to pay the July inter
est. there ought to have been. according to the
books. the sum Of fire handred and three thoas
and dollars in cash in the public Treasury :
enough to have paid the July and January in
terests and TO have borne all the expenses Of
the State for the current year. without brow
ing taking dollar from the people by tax
alton. Instead of containing the large bal
ance which the books exhibited, the Treasury
was a. that time empty.
This saormous sum Of free hundred and three
hssssad dollars. has been SPIRITED away from
the public Treasury What has become Of it,
it is nov perhaps impossible to tell. Blu, that
il IL gore. We suppose there Is no doubt. OF.
fcials in every portion Of the State Iuxuri-
ating upon the advantages derived from this
robbery.
Since the Inauguration ofthe willard mas.
~ n this State those things have been com
mon. Aud how can il be otherw,sef what
more can be expected when the State Is cursed
by drunkard for a Governor, lie ~ho
should be the chief guardian Of the public in.
trrest and the public Treasury. guards only
bin cups and feels interest only in his bsc-
ehanallan revels Will the people ever get
theiT eyes open to these thing-f Look how
this reeklessness Of official obligations and Of
fetal integrity. has extended 10 every portion
Of the S,ste--reaching down TO the most triv-
ial petty officers and like poison virus in
fecting The whole squad. IL was too. the ia
suguraiion Of period when inefficient men
crswlei into office. when men without char.
actor or brains felt the pride OF place. vigo
county has not escaped directly the influence
Of such examples and Of such policy. Terre
Houte feels row the influence OF this incom.
potency. corruption and reeklessness II is
time thst,he people should be sroessd. Vile
men--thOse ~ho disregard the law. their oashs
and Individual iatesrity have under peculiar
circumstances found their way into Office and
the peoples Treasury a. the same time. aud
they must be hurled lherefrom. and the doors
OF the Treasury closed 10 them. or the State
government and ali subordinate governments
viii become bankrupt
FLfcrtoS Iaw.-Ihe Senate Yesterday Ia.
LII NJ ls-..r...,. III E ~. 49,