, 1863-12-25
Senatorial Service for SxEtndIers and
AgatnAt the Government.

The more the case of Senator Hale, as de-
yelopcd in the United States Senate last week,
is considered, tue worse it appears. For q
Senator to permit himself to be tempted for
money to prostitute his Senatorial influence
to shelter wretches that have robbed the Coy
eminent, is disgraceful, and ought to be made
a penal offence. The particulars Of the case
are thus set forth:
Senator Hale, according to his own state
mcnt, has received more than three thousand
dollars as fee for his services In the cases Of
two persons who were prisoners under arrest
bT the War Department. One of these, DIR,
Bliss, was charged with malteasance as IN
officer Of Government hospital The other,
Hunt, is mixed up With the steamboat frauds
in connection with Quartermaster Belger.
recently convicted Of faud, and dismissed
from the service. Bliss was parolcd, and
afterwards tried and acquitted, Senator Hale
acting Us his counsel. Hunt had been In
prison ut Washington. He WAS parolcd by
the Secretary Of War upon special appll-
cation Of Senator Hale, but the trial has not
set taken place: Hale received fec in Bliss's
cdsc, the amount Of which is not stated. He
received from the friends Of Hunt two thou
sand dollars as 4 retainer, and ono thousand
after the prisoner IVES put upon parole for his
further services. judging from the fat fees
paid by the latter, Bliss must have been re-
1iEfEu u AI 1E&et NuE l4uutAQu UQlkaE3 QT
This lawyer Senator, and at that rate the Doc
tor got off very cheaply, The amount
Of tic services in Bhss's case cannot be
ascertained from Senator Hale's state-
mcnt, but in the case OF Hunt, thus
far, 1t seems to have not gone much further
than solicitation addressed to the Secretary
ofWar. Senator Hale, 1t seems, consulted a
couple Of New Hampshire lawyers as to the
propriety Of his taking these cases.. They
looked upon tho matter rs ii they considered
that stcyerything is lawful which pays"
Senator Reyerdy johnson, whose practicc for
and against the Government is only regulated
by the question Of prior engagement, as
IS proof Of which he told him fi1At he
(Johnson) had been acting as counsel against
the Government every week. The opinion
OF these three persons seems to hare been re-
lied upon By Mr. Hale asconclusivc, as although
from his propounding any inquiries to them
feel altogether easy In his own conscience.
But the people, in considering this matter,
will be inclined to go further than Senator
Hale and the referees Of his own selection.
Does any one believe that the discharge Of
Bliss and Hunt upon parole conld have been
procured by any lawyer, however distin-
guished his talent, as easily as it WAS procur-
cd by Senator Hales Would there not have
been difficulty at the War Office? Would not
the solicitor have been forced to undergo de-
lays, and to 1laye run the risk OF being snub-
bed or turned coldly away by the Secretary?
Could any unof1ciai lawyer hare had as ready
an access to the priynte ear Of Mr.. Stanton as
Mr. Ha1ee Its not possible. The presnmp-
ton ia not understandable, that the parties
who paid Mr. Hale about four thousand dol
lars for services which many respectable
lawyer would been glad to have performed
for four hundred dollars or less, intended to
purchase his eBtcidl influence with his profess
sional services. Nj. johnson said, In bis de-
Tense Of Nr. uaie, "Senators do not cease to
be lawyers or doctors, when called upon for
professional services, either medical or 1egal.''
This may be true as an abstract proposition,
but 1t cannot be carried out to an unlimited
extent. 4 lawyer having taken up the cause
Of one client cannot with Justice accept re-
tainer from the opposite side. Mr. Hale was
bo1nd to support the Government Of the
United States, m officer Of which he was. It
would be something like taking fee from
the other side to accept pay for services
against the Government.
The matter has been referred to the COM
mittee upon the Judiciary. Whether TINT
body Composed entirely Of 1awyers) will take
the low estimate Of legal purity commended
for by Messrs Hale and johnson, or whether
they WIN insist that an officer Of the Govern
ment is bound to sustain 1t In private actions
as well as in his public conduct, fs question
that should excite more than ordinary In
tereSt,