Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-25
Exposure of Corruption and
SyVind ling.

During the Presidential canvass Of 1861 the
party now in power profuse in their profes
sious of honesty and intense in their condemna-
ton Of the extravaganza in public expenditures
which they charged upon the Administration Of
Mr.. BUCHANAN At the Chicago Republican
Convention which nominated Mr.. LINCOLN, the
following resolution was made one OF the promi
nent planks in its platform:
That the people Justly view with alarm the
reckless extravagaDce which pervades every de-
partment of the Federal Government; that re-
turn to rigid economy and accountability IS in
dspensable arrest the systematic plumber of the
public treasury by favored partisans; while the
recent startling developments of frauds and cor
ruptions at the Federal metropolis show that an
entire change of administration is imperatively
demanded
On the 4th of March. 1861, entire change
of administration took place. The government
was placed under Republican rule. And wha
has been the resultl Corruption and robbery
have run riot in every branch of the government.
Thievery has been the rule and honesty the ex
ception, since the cormorants who now have the
control of the government came into power. In
to-day's paper We publish statements, mostly
from Republican sources, of some of the rob.
berries by public officers, which have been
Gently exposed Aud these rascaIities are but a
triae when compared with the vast frauds which
have been practiced under the LINCOLN dynasty.
From the report of the Senate proceedings
which we copy from the New York Times, Re
publican. it will be noticed that prominent Re-
publican Senator and Chairman of the Naval
Committee, introduced resolution charging
enormous frauds in the Navy Department,
and asking for the power to send for
persons and papers necessary to institute a
thorough investigation. That Senator charges
that some one hundred and seventy millions of
dollars had been almost uselessly dsbursed ana he
felt constrained state that "a feeling of despair
comes ever the people on account of naval move
ments."
The Cincinnati Gazette. of late date. in COM
mentng upon the late astounding developments
OF gross frauds in various branches of the public
service, expresses the following sentiment:
II is our conviction and it Is the popular belief
to day, that the Government Is 10 more danger
from corruption among It's officials, than from the
power of the rebels Rasctlites committed by
officials not only discourage the people. but have
demoralizng effect upon society. This is so
apparent that we need not argue the point.
What astounding confession is this. Saysa
leading Republican organ. "the government is in
more danger Of corruption among its officials
than from the power of the rebels" In the Ian
guage of the Chicago platform, we inquire. do
not "the recent startling developments of frauds
and corruptions at the Federal Metropolis (and
elsewhere) show that entire change of admin
istration is imperatively demandei"i To say
nothing Of the immense frauds and robberies
that have been committed upon the public treas
dry under the present administration It's reckless
extravagsnce has no parallel in the history of
the nation. Senator HALE says that in one de
partment of the service zone hundred and seventy
millions have been almost nselessly SPENT" and
KequaI, if not greater. mal-administrstion has
characterized all others.
With such evidences Of incompetency to sue
cessfully and honestly administer the affairs of
the government. and startling developments of
frauds and corruptions which have almost para
lyzed the public mind with their very enormly.
the country IS called upon to continue the present
Administration in power There must be respon.
sibility somewhere for the reckless extravagance
which ?ervades every department of the govern
ment What claim have those who have thus
administered public affairs upon the confidence OF
the country7 Are not those who administer the
government solely responsible '.for the systematic
pIunder Of the public treasury by favored parti-
sans 7 That the public treasury has been so
piundered, and to extent that has had psrc
alleI, Is admitted by the leading members Of the
party in power-couuptions among its officials
more dangerous to the government than the
power Of the rebels. says leading Republican
organ-yet the men who have wnked at this
systematic plunder Of the public treasury, ask
the people to continue them in power Ard
the very persons who denounce these frauds
and corruptions as calculated to demoralize the
country and endanger iis liberties. advocating
the reelection Of Mr.. LrscoLs and continuing
pover in the hands OF the very officials who,
either through Ignorance or venalty. have per-
mttted these robberies Of the public treasury.
We ask the Republicans who honestly supported
Mr. LsscoLs in is6n because they thooght a
rssoiusion ~ss necessary TO restore purity and
economy N the sdminiserztion of the govern
ment. IN view Of the Astounding developments
which have already been made OF the reckless
sxtr@vsgance, gross frasds and corruptons which
have characterissd every department of tue pub
lie service since the advent Of the Republican