Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-10

was short of the truth. 1t is sickening to wade
through the reports ofthe numerous investigating
committees. and to see how kuavery has pervaded
every department of the Government. From
the highest to the lowest, there is scarcely one
official who escapes untainted. Not to speak of
transactions very well known, but which it would
be indecorous to mention, let the reader recall
the charges made by Republicans themselves
against the Treasury and War Departments, of
tempering with the news so as to speculate in
stocks; against the Administration generally of
delaying to take Vicksburg so as to benefit the
Northern railroads; against the Navy Depart
ment of favoritism in chartering and building
vessels; and then generally against every one
who has had anything to do with spending the
money or purchasing the supplies of the Govern
ment. and he can not but be appalled,. This
gangrene is literally eating away our national
life, aud il we can not cut it out before many
years have passed, we are lost A wise
thinker has said, America will never srbside
before a despot, while her public men maintain
the honor and integrity of those who founded her
Constitution, and while the people have virtue
enough to exactit from their elected governors"
That time would seem to have forever passed
away, when we read such paragraphs as the fol-
lowing from the Philadelphia Inquirer. a Repub-
lican print, the first from its Washington CORES
pondent, and the other from a Harrisburg letter:
1.-THE War Department are about to institute a
thorough investigation into the immense frauds
which we're connived at by the State authorities
a Har-s1hnr. min ~ tho raid II "a m
ported that the State troops we're in almost a
starving condition while one heavy operator in a
single week cleared half a million Of dollars"
Considerable excitement has been created
here Harrisburg by the discovery of enormous
frauds upon the United States Government
during the recent army movements in
this region consequent upon the rebel raid. The
amounts are stated at millions Of dollars. A
number of prominent State politicians have been
placed under arrest, and the subject will receive
the most searching Investigation by the War De-
partment. The most corrupt practices have pre-
vailed in horse contracts and in clothing and sub
sistence supplies. They throw the "shoddy"
operators at Harrisburg in the summer of 1861
entirely into the shade. Many of the same par
ties are implicated, and the gangs which have in
tested The State Capital in the winter have reaped
a rich summer harvest.
1t is IA sad commentary, that while thousands
of brave men rushed to arms to defend the State
from invasion. and while the Governor was tick
ling them with hOnied words. his minions and
followers were permitted, like harpies. to deprive
them of food, and to compel them to make long
and weary marches without even the poor luxury
of crackers and pork. 1t is a matter of record
that, while these contractors were receiving enor-
nous sums, the gallant Philadelphia soldiers
were placed on AN allowance of a cracker a day
for several days together, thanks to the neglect
and corruption of the Executive Department of
the State of Pennsylvania.