New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-28
PARTIES AND PLUMBER.

particles AND PbstNDEsss
"These exposures of Shoddy, Horse and
other contract frauds on the Government,
"must seriously damage tho Republican party
remarked personal friend of dubious politics
the other evening. Let us think of this:
Whether there will, or will not be any
Republican party in future years, we DO not
ask nor care. Our ardent wish il that this
war may so end that there will be no need OF,
no work for one, but that the public attention
may he at once concentrated on the sorely-
needed retrenchmen, Of our National Expendl.
turec.
TIE frauds on the Treasury during the last
year were enormous. Any one familiar with
public affairs must know that this result was
inevitable, whatever the party in power. Here
was an immense Army ard powerful Navy
TO be created in hurry; here were five hun
dred regiments to b. raised, clothed, armed,
equipped, ard transported to the seat OF var;
here we're cannon to cast small AIMS to pur
chase, to rife or otherwise adept to use; here
were transports to hire b the score, ammunition
to provide by the milrous' WORTH and everything
ese entirely out Of the line Of our Naticna!
experience to be effected with more re'erenc,
to celebrity than economy. Meantime, our Cap
ital was beleagusred, and for time isolated by
tr ,tOrs, wto swarmed in every department oil
the public service aud who have been enabled
10 Md immensely to the expensiyeness OF the
Grand Arfny by a partial blockade OF the Po-
tomae. TO suppose that a gigantic war sprung
upon q nation under snch circumstances would
not afford 10 jobbers aud peculatcrs safe
opportunities for stealing aud swindliDg. If to
be simply absurd Had George " ashinetoo
been President surrounded by the ablest aud
most upright men this country has yet pro-
duced, there would doubtless have been eHten-
ave peculations and robberies. No possible
conjunction Of transcendent ability win STAN
less integrity in high places could have "hoil!
avoided them.
The Republican party will not he s"riou''y
blamed for the fgaiious robberies which have
b,eo pcrpetrated, aud which We fear viii sill,
be perpetratcd, by men Of all parties, and no
principles who crowd the ante. chambcrs Of
secrotnrie. and Heads OF BureanX IN eager
quest Of contracts ard job' unless it 10 made
con.en'ing party 10 those frauds through the
compliance or misplaced leniiy Of its Rep
rescntatiyes in Congress. Let the Grand To-
Quest OF the Nation deal sosrchingly and
.,ernly with all public robbers and leecfes,
Whether Of high or low degree, and no one
need fear that tAe People Will not prove dis
corning aud Just Not the corruptions and
abuses that n party drag. to LIGHT, but those j.
cover. mp. are calculated to prove it's ruin.
Copgre. has been prompt, fearless, and
thorough IN the rhisirga and in the doings Of
investigating Committees. So far az We can
ascertain, these Committees have delycd and
probcd wltbou; tue smallest respect 10 persons
aud what they have learned they have faith.
fully set forth. Never was exposure 10 public
repr"bn'ion more uur,serycd and inexorah..
What now remoins to be done IS 10 pas
judgment on the culprts and their Official &C.
conl lices, and, wh,re possible, command exc
cuticn. Let It be- seen that the condemnation
Of Congress is no vague, barren formula, but
leading firth to deserved punishment. What.
ever is right and honest, that let Coucres, do
whether by way Of vindicating an upright
public servant unJustly assaed, or reprobating
one who has pandered to private greed ri tn"
expense OF the Nation. Let no violence OF
popular camor, no impairment plcadngs Of
personal or party afiinities, no fear or favor,
swerve Members one hair from the strict and
straight line of justice. Right wrongs no
man." and Congress should scruly and stead
fasty walk the narrow pnth of Duty.