The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-04-11
A Singular Confession,

Our attention was called fs days ago
to what purported to be the proceedings Is
of Democratic meeting, held at Allen.
town, Lehigh county, to denoance the
course of the Hon. Mr.. Schiniein voting
for the bill CON uting the tonnage tax on
the Pennsylvania Railroad aud 10 the
same connection. to an editorial article
in the Allentown Democrat. in which the
editor confessed that be had recei'ed a
large sum Of money" for sustaining the
vote of the Senator. Here is an extract
from the article.
"One OF the hired lacqueys of the Penn
sylvsDia Railroad Company came on to
beset the press and bold out with an un-
sparing hand the temptation of luore.-
We we're offered large sum OF money to
sustain Mr. Schindel; WE TOOK THE MO-
NEY."
The IN ost singular part Of this confes
,ion is shown 10 the fact that after having
= TOOK THE MONEY a. payment. OF
course. for "su-tainrng" Mr. s.. follows a
homily on morality, interpreted with
abuse of the Seuator that would put to
shame the veriest Maw-worm that ever
rxisted. How a man who openly con
fesses that be took 6rt6e, can as openly
censure another whom be charges. at
least, BY Implication. with the same thing.
is a species of ethics that We confess We
cannot underrtaud. This confession dis
closes certainly a new phase to this tom
maze tax business, while it st the same
time lays bare depth of degradation to
which we bad no idea any man connect
ed with the press was capable of sinking
1t Is couceded that the bill could not
pass without the vote Of Mr. SchinGel iu
Seuate. 1t is also understood that
Mr. Scbiudel had expressed himself 10 ia
vor Of its passage; but could not vote for
it tccau-e the press and the people of bis
district were opposed to it. Now. if this
editor would have preserved bis honor.
when the offrr of ''lucre' was presented
him. what was his duty! Would any
honest nsn have besitatedl Instead Of
spurDius it, while still ciutcLing the dol
lars. be sat down aud wrote letter to
Mr.. Schindel, which was read 10 the Sen
ate " hilc the vote was being taken, IN SUBJ
stance as fellows:
'HOn J. ScbindeL.' | have examined
Bill No. -. can see no objection to its
passage, and if you vote for it, will sus.
tain you" Signed. &c.
God knows our government i, tecon,
ing corrupt enough Legislators are
freely charged with being duly mindful
Of their pocket~;-but what is to become
Of our liberties, if the controllers of the
press will accept bribcs. make boast oi
their shame. and then turn round and
charge dishonor upon their victimsi II
the Allentown editor TOOK THE MONEY,
what agreement did be IL axe in return I
Did be not make pilgrimage to Phil
adelphia to see brother editor, then in
that city, TO induce him to join in aus
aiming Mr. Schindell Did be not write
the above letter to that gentle uan before
the passage of that billl These are ques
tions that deeply interest bis honor and
the honor of the press Of Pennsylvania.
Whatever may be our views of the mer
it's or deuerits of this bin (for it has both
If the Allentown nan dee ed it so iBiqui
tious, be bad the power to prevent its pas
sage, by simply turning his face toward
Harri burg (iustead of Philadelpbia) and
di,clo-e the. whole thing to the Senate
But did be do that, Alas 90. He pock
eted the bribe-be TOOK THE MONEY,
and thsn proclaims bis shame to the pub
lie Luzerne Union.
The Hon aDa Rev. Jeremiah Schiudel
atove named, ana the editor of the Al
lentown Democrat, are both members,
of the Democratic party.