Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-19
yORCE S + Err.
DE0EMnEK 10. lsOa.


The inquiry referred to the senate Judicial
ry committee concerning senator Hale ct New
HAMPSHIRE carries with it r delicate and en-
barrassing duty. TO decide that he is guilty
OF conduct inconsistent with his duty as a
senator" is to condemn man whom nobody
believes to have knowingly committed a cor
rupt act. To acquit him entirely is to give
counienance to y practice which everybody
knows ought to be abolished altogether 1t
appears that Mr.. Hale's client was charged
with committing frauds upon the government.
Large sums of money were depending, and
Mr.. Hale was retained as his counsel. Com
ing to Washington, Mr.. Hale, through his in
fluence at the war department secured the
release of his client from confinement, aud
defended him at his trial before the military
court. Mr.. Hale himself had doubts as to
the proprety of his proceeding and took legal
advice, which in such case was very bad
advice indeed. If he had allowed his own
first impulse to decide for him, he would have
kept the esteem of many friends which may
be qualified hereafter,- with whatever plausi-
bic reasons the facts may be explained.
1t is precisely one of those cases which the
laws do not meet, and ought not to be judged
with reference to any legislation or absence
of legislation about it. For a prominent
and influential member of the govern
ment to be retained as counsel in
suits to which his government is
party-to take unusual and extraordinary
fees with the expectation of appearing against
his government, in cases where his influence
as lawyer and a senator can not possibly be
separated, appears to the unsophisticated an
act of obvious indelicacy. "THE ONLY ques-
tion," says Mr.. Reverdy johnson, confident
ly, ''that can arise is, is there any law pro-
hibiting it," Buff one may presume to say
NO when the ex-attorney general says YEs-an-
other question does rise in the face of it. Ev-
cry senator represents large part of the
country whose interests, welfare, and honor,
are measuraby trusted to his care. What
security would there be for either,
if every offender against it were able
to retain counsel among the especial re-
positories of its trust? The country has al
ready retained them; and it is difficult to see
how they can use any OF their influence
against it without playing double part
This is period, too, when too much eau
ton and delicacy in regard to official purity
is impossible. Mr.. Hale himself has seen how
corruption has stolen into public places with
out number, and has borne no gentle testi-
mony against it. Only the day before he was
called to defend himself, he charged that cor
rupt influences had been at work to prevent
his re-appointment as chairman of the
naval committee; and stoutly asserted
that corruption among his political
friends would have no favor which lie
withheld from his political enemies. That Is
very well. But the people do not like to see
their representatives, who are scrupulous
enough about some abnses, conserving to 9TH
ers, and profiting by them, even indirectly at
the expense of the country, whose burdens
are heavy enough, Heaven knows, even, if
every loyal man in it were disinterested and
honest.