The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-04-04
Yrom yhe InManapsus Jourzaf.I
Sd1s Grapes and SIsn1er.

ing ne aEeatcr portion Of the late ses-
sion OF the Legislature, and was mixed
up with 3dAse fat jobs which were at.
tempted, unsuccessfully, to be forced |
through. The failure Of himself and
the little kno. Of honest spectators /
with whom he vas associted, has shaken |
his faith in the honesty OF all mankind. |
saving and excepting himself and asso- |
ciates, and ON his return to New Albany |
exhibited his skill as slauderer, in the |
following malicious TRADE against the
J whole body Of the General Assembly,: |
"a list Of the acts passed by the Leg
islature Of Indiana. which has recently
adjouaned, is published, and fulsome
! eul0gies are pronounced upon that assem-
blage, in which we are expected to join
Truth. decency and justice compel rs to
say that we believe more corrupt and
venal assembly never gathered together
at Indianapolis than that which has,
Heaven be thanked, just dispersed.
Money could do anything with it, and
did much Prominent men, of both par
ties, were openly in the market, and dali
ly, sold themselves to the support of
this or that measure for lucre. There
was Republican ring" and Demo
cratic ring" composed of prominent
men, who divided the spoils and parcel
ed out legislation to the highest bidder.
Important acts were passed, and impor-
tant measures and reports suppressed.
solely by the power of money. While
there were many honest and good men
in the Legislature who earnestly desired
to serve their constituents and promote
the interests of the State, the talking
men, the busy men, the controlling men,
were corrupt ard sold themselves for
| money almost daily The spectacle pre-
sented to one favored with an inside
view was most humiliating. Little do the
honest masses know of the conduct of
their representative. Did the people of
| Indiana fully understand the doings of
the Legislature which has just adjourned
we doubt much if another would ever be
convened. 1t is not profitable to say
this, but it is neither honesty nor good
policy to suppress it.
''Men who went to oar last Legislature
with an earnest desire and honest inten-
! ton to work for the interests of their
constituents, found themselves. before
the session half passed, involved in the
meshes of corruption, and compelled,
as they thought, to support measures,
/ or vote for the suppression of repo rts,
/ contrary to their sense Of justice. We
| do not particularize, but can, if neces-
, sary. God save Indiana from another
such Legislature, made up of aspiring
and yenal politicians, old party hacks,
bargainers in corruption, tools of veal
thy corporations, vassals, labelled and
yoked, of rich companies. The Repub
lican party has seen its glory and is fast
passing to the tomb of all parties, which
first become powerful aud then corrupt,
when it puts forth as its representative a
Legislature composed OF mercenary and
mediocre men who peddie out legislation
shamelessly and asowelly to the highest
bidder 3e-l
This language, from the conductor of
professedly Republican newspaper, is
simply Infamous. If the author knows
of any instances of corruption on the
part of individual m embers of the Leg
islature; if he had ian inside VIEW
and can name men who "sold themselves
almost daily for money if he can
specify what ''important acts were pass
ed, and important measures and reports
we're suppressed by the power of mon
ey," it is his duty to give the facts, and
all men would commend him for doing
! so; but the general charge of corrup-
ton he brings against the Legislature, as
body, is sneaking and cowardly, and
I exhibits more of desire to injure the
Republican party than to expose the con
| duct of individuals whom he pretends
j to know were guilty of selling their
, votes. General charges amount to moth
! ing in the way of exposure or reforma-
ton, and only tend to iniure the ''honest
and good men" Of whom the CONNER
cial generously comedies there were
many i'm the late Legislature
If this accuser of his political friends
was favored with an .'inside view of cor
ruption among our legislators, he had an
excellent opportunity to expose the gull
ty parties by testifying before the special
committee of which Mr.. Dunn, of Law
renee, was chairman. and which was rails
ed for the specific purpose OF determin-
ing the truth concerning rumors akin to
I. the subsequent charge of the CONNER
cial. That committee was in session
several days. summoned and examined
nume witnesses, and after exhaust
ing all known sources of information, re
ported to the House that it had not been
able to obtain evidence implicating any
one of that body. Did the virtuous editor
ofthe Commercial appear as witness be
fore that committee? If so, did he then
know what he afterwards protested to
know, and If he had knowledge that
members Of the House ''sol'i them selves
almost daily for money did he give tn
committee the benefit of that knowied &c?
| II he did not volunteer his testimony be
| fore the committee, if he withheld from
it and the hon est members of the House
the knowledge he now says he posses sed
how can he excuse himself for conceal
ing the evidence of guilt at time when
the House was using the only means in
its power to vindicate Its integrity and
to expose its venal and corrupt members,
if any such there were
We do not believe that the CONNER
cial can make good its accusations by
naming even one member of the Legis-
isture who was guilty of the corruption
it charges, but if it can. that man should
be singled out and inside an example of,