The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-30

National Dirty Linen In Coz gress.
According TO . we'll informed Washington
Correspondent We have not yet como to u
esa of the wonderful investigating committees
which are raised by Congress with great deal
of facility, but not easily got rid Of The Co
vo6s Committee, we are told, will again sum
mon Robert J. Walker to the stand, and they
are believed TO have evidence tending to prove
the corruption of several members OF tho last
Congress. So We may be prepared for moro
astonishing revelations In few days, or g soon
as the Charleston Convention IL over.
The investigations which have attracted the
attention Of the country, and gained for the
model republic large number of left handed
compliments in foreign parts, have been made
by two committed one eeIect committee
raieed on motion of Mr., John Covode, and the
other stsndipg committee of the House, Of
which Mr.. Aaskin is chairman.
The idea of the Investigating Committee for
The manufacture of p oliticsl cspital IL not new.
The business is carried little further now
That is the only difference. In the last Con-
gress the democratic party were In the ascen-
dant. and they, through investigating commit
tses, exposed the corruptions in the republican
party. They found fine old bundle Of dirty
linen, among which was Nattesons famous
league of members who pledged themselves
not to vote for any bid unless they were paid for
60 doing; Thuriow Weeds Eve thousand dollar
speculation in free wool, and that mysterious
Fort Des Moines draft which Greeley carried
tor so long in his brooches pocket. Thus tho
democrats exploited the corruptions Of one Of
the great parties, but kept their own foul linen
packed away out of sight. When the repubii-
cans gained control over the House, they i'm.
mediately engineered the two committees we
have alluded to above. They have succeeded,
not only in proving that their opponents are
corrupt, but that the republican party is getting
worse than ever. They bave proved that both
parties are utterly demoralized, and that our
politicians are more corrupt than any others
on The face of the earth.
The Haskin Committee confined Its attention
to the printing job, and had before it men like
Wendell, Bowman, Defrees and Tom Ford
They testified to what everybody knew before
that the public printing was q political job;
that the printer charged fifty per cent over
fair price, and divided the profits among people
who helped him to his place. Thus We
have no doubt that Wendell bought votes
outright, and operated in congressman a.
he would in fancy stocks. Tom Ford,
it appears, has agreed to give part of the pro.
Cts of the job this year, to help in the election
of the republican candidate for the Presidency,
and doubtless to assist in the return of those
members who voted for him. A political edi.
tor said in evidence that party papers were mis-
cradle property, unless they got subsidies from
the government, and showed that they are mis-
cradle things, living from hand to mouth, and
doing what they are told by the lobby, with
ont moments hesitation, and in mortal fear
for their bread and butter.
So it is all buying and selling, and intriguing
and lying, and washing the dirty linen Of dir
tier politicians and dirtiest parties, and bargain
ing and corruption of all kinds at Washington
continually.
While the Haskin Committee was dealing
with the small fry, poking its nose into the
printing Hesbpots, and smacking its TIPS over
the savory odor which they gave out, the Covode
Committee was flying at higher game. These
philosophers obtained from the House rowing
commission to inquire into the condition Of the
national linen, high and low, and they attained
degree of importance which the others could
only sigh for long way OF, by obtaining the
evidence of such exalted politicians as ex- Cover
nor Walker, Of Kansas, and others of the same
elevated character. Then it was ascer-
tanned that all the cbicanery and cor
ruption was not confined to one depart
ment Of the government. Then suspicion was
thrown upon very high persopsges, and more
dirty linen was washed before the world. II
was great time for the Covodes when they
pointed to their immense wash. The dirty
linen came from the top and the bottom.
from Governors, and Senator's and Repre-.
tentatives, down to chevaliers like Tom
Ford, All parties, all branches Of the govern
ment, were implicated; nor were the constitu
tional ad viseIs Of the President without an nc
cuser. Cnriously enough, however, the Of
| fetal parsonage at when the Covode resolution.
was especially levelled-the President of the
United States comes out Of the affair with.
out stain upon his political or pri-
vate character. Although surrounded BY
corrupt and INSCRIPTIONS politicians, all
of whom were exerting themselves to hum
bug, cheat and deceive him, the President
pursued the even tenor of his way, carrying
on his part of The government calmly. quietly
and conscientiously. The pure morality, high
character and practical experience of Mr..
Buchanan stood him in good stead during all the
turmoil which be has passed through. In some
minor matters the President may have been mo-
meDtarily deceived BY those in whom, from their
position, he was compelled to place confidence
1t would be remarkable, with go much lying
and intriguing about him, If this had not hap