New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-03
he should bave better Office than DIS oegear'
San Francisco clerkship.
-E1it Duer!
TuR LArBsr Robbery.

Marine Corps at Washir tor, fer large amount
Of public Money, excites no surprise whatever.
Tic il the ION of Joel d. Sutherland, formerly
member of Congress from Philadelphia and was
promoted to the Place from which be has recently
been cashiertd sesinst the circumstances OF those
who knew bis reckless habits. Political influence
controlled the appointment, AID the result is now
before the public. Other and more worthy men
were ignored, because they were unwilling to corr
NV with the bumiiating FRACTIONS imposed by the
Presid Mt. The extravaganza, dissipation, and
defiant conduct of Suther and, have been notorious
| at Washington for more than year past, night
under the eyes of the Old Public FupctOnary who
appointed him, and with the knowledge of the
Secretary Of the Navy. They were the subject OF
common remark, as we are crediby informed, and
everybody expected what has happened. In fact,
we have good reason to believe that the confused
state Of bis accounts was known long ago, even
| before the three months sioce when he was vlrtu
oily Suspended for the purpose Of allowing him
time to restore the Incorporated thousands. 1t
| was only when he concluded not to pay back, that
| the President struck bis name from the roll.
We see 10 this conduct Of the Administration the
| same completely with fraud and rascality which
was dscl sed when Foalers sys ematic robberies,
extending through the whole term of Buchanan, aud
o, pe back into that of Pierce, were only imper-
| fectly brought to light. We say imPerfectly, be-
cau.e to this day the exact extent Of his default ID
net known. The question may well be asked, why
was not Sutherland removed from office, and
| turned over TO the District Attorney for prosecu
ton, under the Sub Treasury act, the instant his
crime was detectedi The organs of the Admins
traton will find it difficult to answer satisfactorily
for they know the President and Cabinet are COM
plicsted by his retention. The Postmaster at New
Orleans has also walked off with some S55, 000 so
far az acknov iedged but the defalcation is prob
| ably twice as large. With the loose mode of &C
| countabty which prevails at Washington, and the
large discretionary power exercised by Postmasters
in the great cities it is wholly impossible to ascer
| tain how much any big defauter may have stolen,
| becau.e considerable part Of the cash revenues
| depends entirely upon their honesty and that of
| few susordinates, with whom col usion is easy.
Developments of this sort may be constantly
| expec,ed until the exodus of the Administration,
|
| can pet at the records and loosen tongues which
| are now sienced by fear. Tie whole concern is
| rotten from top to bottom. The President and
| members of bis Cabine. have been convicted,
| through Congressional Committees, and by tosti-
moDy reluctantly extorted from their conlederates
| and cOp6dants, of offenses which ought to
eypel them from all decent society, aud sub.
L 10 imi mol finn hoy
| have used the public patronage cOrrnptly,
| 10 buy political legislation through Congress,
| 10 control elections. to subsidize the press,
I ard to influence party con, entiOns. The Presi.
| dent has personally superintended and directed
| these disHaceful proceedings. Members of bis
| Cabinet have been ariagned, and the proof of
their guilt established for dispensing jobs and con-
| tracts to fayorite. who adeanced them large
| of money under the pretepse of loans-an admit
ted fact which ought of itself to consigu any man
occupying such position to last Dg iniamy. 1t is
in possible to read the revelations in the sales of
Fort suelling, Willett's Point, and New Bedford,
without shudder at the degradation and corrup-
ton there exposed, directly and palpaby criminal
ing member of the Cabinet. And equally gross
and overwhelming were the exposures OF the coal
sgepcy ard the contracts for machinery at Phla
| dtlphia in which near connection of the Score.
tary of the Navy and other pets figured so Lotto.
| riously.
With the President and Cabinet fayoring such
barefaced spoliation Of the Treasury, how was it
| fossible to expect the subordinates who enjoyed
| their confidence, and who were compelled to know
Of many of these transactions, " be upright
Many We're contaminated by the example, aud
others who were disposed to punue the same
course without beiIg thus melted, found in it an
excuse for their native roeuery. We make no
sweeping charges sganst the Officeholders as q
class, but the fact is well ku own everywhere that
| there are favored clerks in the Departments at
Washington, particularly in the War and Navy,
| who, with limited salaries not exceeding $1,000
per annum, spend twice thot gum every year, have
made large purchases of property, and maintain
| style wholly inconsistent with their pay. They
were poor, and glad TO get employment or promo
| ton when this corrupt Adm nstratiOn came in,
and at the end Of four years they will 90 out rich
| and insOlent upon their stealngs 1t is not
| necessary to point them out specially, for public
! opinion has already marked them. Their connec-
ton with the contractors for transportation, ma.
cbioery, supplies, guns, pistols and the like who
| have complete possession Of the War and Navy
offices to the exclusion Of the great publ C, il per.
fecty understood, and in it may be found the true
explanation Of these sudden acquisitions The
Government has been converted into den of
thieves, and We rejoice that the day is near at