, 1864-01-13
CLEAN OUT THE PUBLIC ROB-
HERSs

Hon. Fernando WOOD h1msel1, the most
corrupt and upprincipled* man In Congress,
Offered for adoption a string OF whereases
charging all kinds of corruption and iueapaei- !
ts on tic administration, and wound up with |
resolution asking for "thc appointment of
a committee to ascertain the foundation of |
these accusations" On motion, tho propo-
eition WAS tabled; yeas Il, nays GS. We Pre-
sumo the reason for rejecting the motion was
that 1t is intended to appoint committee Of
nyestisation, to whom ill snch allegations
shnn be referred, az 1las been done in the
Senate. We hope that Wood will be made a
member of it. VIC protest asainst the COW
ering up process, or any attempt to screen
pcculators and swindlers from the fullest ex-
posnre and scyerest punishment Honestly is
the best policy In politics as well as In NOR
ads. We have no doubt that there are scores
ard hundreds Of corrupt rascals in Federal
employment, who are engaged IL swiadling
the Government Let them be fcrrettcd out
and exposed. 4 large majority Of them will
turn cut to be copperheads, as past expert
elce proves. But 10 matter II every one Of
the rotten wrctchcs shall CLAIM to be Re-
publican, let tho work Of publication go on.
The party will be strengthened, not weaken
ed, by bringing the frauds to light and stop
ping the leaks on the treasury. There have
been dishonest officials and contractors in NIL
nges. A certain PER- cent of mankind is In
couigibly given to knaycry, and many OF this
class always manage to get into Office and to
secure Government coatracts:- They have
peculiar Eankering nftcr treasury pap, and
| their moral obliqulty Is such that thcy hard
| ly deem 1t wrong to cheat or rob the Govern
ment.
In great war like ours, the opportunities
for swindling arc greatly increased. The
/ temptations to be dishonest are multiplied,
and the innate rascality in The community Is
irresIstibly attracted towards the disburse-
| ments Of FedeInl treasure, Where the car
case is there will the vultures gather. While
the expehd ditures Of the Government continue
to be two millions day, and places are open
to tens Of thousands Of persons as contfac-
tors and Office holders. large per cent Of
bold and oily rascals will manage to secure
them. The only efficient defence against
| those unprfncipled men is unsparing expo
| sure. MIKE it big h crime to swInlle the
Government, and I'LL mp the pepItentiary with
these evil birds, where they may have chance
to coeitatc over their dishonest ways, and form
good resolutions to behave better when they
get out again. We fully indorsc the advice
Of our New York namesake:
Let there be no covering up Of any ones
faults OF sparing OF any ones feelings, but let
Tie whole truth come out II there is cor
rurtion, Its exposure will relieve honest men
from unjust suspicion, and dissipatc the vul-
gar presumption that the Government con-
nives at or leniently regards the malyersations
Of its subUrdinates- Go right to tho root Of
1 the matter. Messrs. Lincoln and Chasel and
let the whole truth come before the public ut
the earliest moment compatible with the
ends Of justice. No honest official viii be
harmed by the fullest and c1earcst exposure
Of rnscality In the public service, whether in
high places or in low. Let there be light!