Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-07
MARKS OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION.

The New York Observer, a religious journal,
expresses the opinion that it is "no exaggeration
to say that the cost of the war thus far has been
one quarter more than it would have been had not
the country been cheated by its own agents" ALI
that fraud, which has been advantageous to the
enemy and depicting and injurious to the Govern
ment, is now, it adds, as prevalent as ever ono
great example has been made Of any swindler or
thief The majesty of defrauded Government
has not been vindicated. When will it be 7"
Induced to make this painful reflection by the
charges of fraud and corruption under which GER
tain officials of the Government in New York and
elsewhere have been recently arrested and put on
trial, our contemporary proceeds to comment on
this species of guilt at the present time as fol-
lows
There is one fact that makes the recent developments
peculiarly disgusting to every right mind and invests the
crime punderiug the Goveroment with an atrocy of
wckedness having parallel in the past history of
suffering country.
1--WE are straining every nerve to put down gigantic
rebellion The cost Of the in money is the least of
the expense tut this cost is enormous, ghtfu and in
creasng at the rate of two three four millions every
day 1t has reached snch load already that the nation
saRgers under it, At such time this it the duty
and the privilege of every citizen to give his time
Government We do not pretend say that men
should not receive proper for their services
The soldier in the field The Senator the President the
agent is entitled TO his lawful pay and do not expect
10 Washington again who will decline his salary
while ssrvng in the army. But lawful pay s thing
and cheating the country is another.
1.-THE point we make, and on which we wish to fasten
the attention of tbs mats is this to take money from
the Government uDusty at such time is crime second
in baseness only to that which has made Judas Iscarot
infamous forever Th, country needs every dollar it
ha pIa 49,,
The burden is only beginning to be felt 1t is to be il
creased for years to come The Government has conflict
on hand lard money is the snews of Every cent
taken urjusty from it is much direct help to the enemy
il weakens the hands Of the Governments ii strengthens
the rebellion The pho cheats the Government om ofa
dollar is re traitor We would not take the hand of
hand Of Floyd or Davis Avarice is bad enough 1t ia
base passion always, and lives in noble minds. But
when it has become rank and strong that it converts
Drawing patriot loud pretended friend of the Govern
ment man who has denounced bis neghbors as traitors
and sought distinction for bis special and ardent support of
the war-Wbep ayarce converts such into thief,
mans adherence Of vilany and there no punish
ment known to common law sufficiently isnoninous 10
mark tho opinion which virtue entertans of such hypo
critic"
1t requires but little observation or reading in
the natural history of the creatures spawned by
revolutionary epoch to prepare the mind for just
such disgusting speotacles as are described by our
contemporary. And it is always safe to assume
that man who makes an ostentatious parade of
his "oyalty" in such times, or who is perpetually
INDUCING in "railing accusations" at his neigh
bors, is political Pharisce who has stolen the
livery Of virtue only the better to hide his venaiy
and corruption. True loyalty does not need to
make broad its phylarteries and has no DISCUSSES to
rroor boca,.o n yoad;taLes M frauds IN +bo Gov
eminent and is too wise well too just to think
of purchasing for itself good degree by the cheap
resorts of SANDER and defamation.