The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-25


The excitement caused by the news of the
robbery of the Indian Trust bonds at Wash
ington was intense yesterday all through the
city. For the time people seemed to forget the
secession movement altogether, and the furor
was considerably increased by the arrest Of
Mr.. w. H. Russell as one of the parties impli-
Gated in some way in the transaction, and his
conveyance to the federal capital. Mr. Russell.
who, it may be remembered was the con-
tractor for the army of Utah during the Nor
mon rebellion, his contract covering several
millions of dollars, is now the head of the
Overland Pony Express, is extensively en-
gagged in the contracting business, and usually
commands alarge amount of capital and poii.i
cal influence.
The corruption into which all political parties
have fallen has literally demoralized all our
governing bodies to such a degree that hardly
a week passes without bringing to light some
gross fraud, swindle or defalcation Of the pub
lie moneys. Between the corrupt course Of
the republicans in the State Legislatures. SELL
ing their votes for gold, and backing up every
lobby job, the defalcation Of State Treasurers,
frauds now and then developing themselves
among the democratic officials Of the federal
government, political parties Of all compilations
have come 10 be burning shame and sc andal
to the country. But this last affair, in the In
terror Department at Washington, is the most
gigantic discovery of fraud which has yet taken
place since the organization of the govern
lii. "a n -
Cabinet officers, millionaires in New York and
out West, and mammoth contractors, amount
ing to a sum OF from eight hundred thossand
to three millions Of dollars--for the exact
amount rluDdcred is not yet known.
Tie possession Of power in these days Of
spoils and plunder demoralizes every party
organization, and thus we see that
when one party is about to withdraw
and give place 10 new one. all at once
the community is startled by the discovery Of
dcfalcations and frauds and robberies in public
places. When Jackson was retiring. collectors,
postmasiers and other federal officers all over
the country were found to be in default, and II
was so also at the termination Of Van Buren's
regime: and now that the dem cratic party OF
this day is about to lose It's crap OF power. 70
lose it, too, by tie very force o. its corruption
and dishonesty, which have broken 1t to pieces,
we see the very same scenes re enacted, and
on a larger scale. When the republicans are
installed in power We may expect. from their an
teccdents in the S'alcs where they hold Office. th<
the corruption and plumber will be still greater
than Hose OF their predecessor. The democrats
are as 1t were 20 ged wi the sp,ils of eight
unbroken years accumulation; but tie repub-
leans are coming fresh and hungry into the
ield 10 fatten upon The sweets of the Treasury,
whereof they have not yet tasleI
With regard to the disposal Of the Indian
Trust Fund bopds stoler from TIE apartment Of
he Interior, nothing definite has vet been as
ccr'aired: but il was remarked about the time
Of the election that great quantity Of bonds Of
he same character were thrown into Val
street, where. a. tie supply wa, much grea,er
han The demand, they OF course a preca.cd.
and ere sill low--and now the cause is dis
closed. II was though, nj the time that ihsy
were Iut mo tie market for tn spec fc pur-
rose OF ,,preciating II: bn, that was absurd,
'or there was ground enough for depression in
he poli'iosl condition OF the times after the
election Of Lincoln.
In TIE face a. this astounding discovery, II
would b. well for Congrc5e to overhaul all the
public Departments before the republican par
y cone into office. and end.svcr, If possible,
"a - reconstruct them ~ 70 pu, some cheek
uyon fraud rid swiDiliup. II they 40 nct,
here vIll be no limit 10 IN corruption Of tho
next four years and particularly in these revo-
lu'iorrIy times, when everything like law snd
order ard decebcy appear 70 b. thrown TO ne
winds All the facts ascerts.ned up TO tbs
tine VII be found in Cur money article to-day.
ia eur law report, and IN our Geographic de-
spatches from Warrington