Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-01-21
Corruption in the Capitol

OF the importance Of purity in legislation,
and the iniquity of influencing its course by
corrupt appliances, by under-handed means
known only to the political sharks who infest
the committee rooms and lobbics, we need not
speak, as they are universally acknowledged
in theory even by those whose practice bellies
them. The great mass Of the people Of this
Stats are totally ignorant, however, Of the cor
rupt influences which pcrvade the halls Of
the Capitol during a legislative session-in.
fuences sometimes unseen, but always active
and powerful. We do not now allude to those
varied considerations Of friendship, prejudice,
reciprocal assistance, past services rendered,
future aid promised, &C., which too frequently
operate upon and control legislators. as upon
other men, but the more gross and dcpravcd
form Of corruption which consists in the d.
rect use Of money to influence legislation
We do not say that the reception of pccuni.
airy largess by legislator with the under.
standing that it is 10 influence his official &C.
ton, is a common occurrence, nor do we be-
lieve that Of late years it has been so unusual
as to excite much establishment whenever
there was good reason to suspect that case
had TRANSFERRED. Good, wcllmeaning men of
tried integrity, may be imposed upon by art
ful and INSCRIPTIONS knaves, in whose hon
esty they have unboundcd faith, and innocent
ly vote for the most obnoxious and swndliug
bills.
The greatest nuisance Of this description,
which has steadily progressed in cnormty,
until it has become quite uncomfortable, is the
crowd Of vcnal and worthless lobby agents
which infrst every avenue to legislation Sac
ramento is filled with them and the members
are bored to death by them. We do not say
that it is improper or indicate for persons
who arc interested in any subject pending be.
fore the Senate or Assembly to attend at the
Capitol, and make proper explanations and
communicate facts and arguments to Senators
and Asscmblymen. This is all right, is &C
ceptable to honest legislators and contributes
to correct results. But the class to whom we
alude have no interest in matters Of lcgisla-
ton, except to levy taxes upon and extort
"black mail from those who are interested.
They are public prostitutes Of the worst char
actcr. They let their services to all projects
which will pay for them, and the most iniqui.
tous ones, it is we'll known, pay the best
| They embarrass bills for which their assist.
, ancc has not been retained, and aim to com.
Eel their friends to employ their Advocacy
They catch an unsophsticated country gen
tlcman and threaten to defeat measure in
which he is interested, unless he pays them
hush money. They not only conspirc with
each other in suggesting to applicants for leg
/ iSlation the indispensable necessity Of engage.
, ing the influence Of such and such of their
confcderates, but they conspire and share their
plumber with the subordinate officers of the
legislative bodies to delay, defeat, expedite or
pass particular bills. They resort to all kinds
, Of tricks and contrivances to influence the &C
ton Of Senators and members upon particular
, bills, without having it understood that they
feel any particular interest in them, and claim
the credit Of every vote cast for them. They
getinto conversation upon thOm as ifby chance,
the merest accident, they make suggestions
which seem to be merely the impulse Of the
moment, they kindly offer to communicate in
, formation, for which the unsuspicious lcgis
lator, defining them disinterested, feels under
obligations. Indeed that Senator or member
who has not spent more than one winter at
the Capital, is man Of extraordinary shrewd-
, ness, if he escapes occasionally being bitten
by these smooth, slcek-looking sharks, which
constantly are on the watch for him. They
are generally good judges Of character and al
ways eagerly seek an introduction to "coun.
try members" with whom they soon become
quite intimate and communicative and somc-
times liberal. Plausible, nsinuating, afFable
and obliging, they employ every means to
create favorable impression, and ususpicious
men are seldom proof against the polite atten-
tons and delicate batteries Of gentlemen OF
supposed wealth, influence and character.
This occupation Of general lobby agent is
sometimes rcsorted to by men who have hith-
crto been respectable, who have filled impor-
tant positions, and who do not seem to appre-
ciate to what a depth Of meanness they are
sinking themselves. 1t not unfrequenty hap
pens, as many know, that ex-members of the
Legislature make public prostitution Of their
experience in this market and ex .subordinate
officers very often fish in these dirty waters.
They are always on hand at the opening of n
session, in the market for any disreputablc
job. The present Legislature, we hope, will
dispense with their advice and services. Sen.
ators and members can easily fix their mark
on these harpies. They should utterly refuse
to countenance them in any mode, and very
soon make it suspicious to be seen in their
company. Will they do tP
E CURIous PEBBLE. Mr.. J. C. Cooper, Of Pow
erty Bar, says the San Andreas Independent,
has shown US pebble which will weigh per-
haps half pound, on which, standing out in