Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-05-31

Lrls.-llrl Corruption u hat free passes
rrs T1r--fmusiHg Scenes ia the Sengtc-
Si7guiar appearance Of $50 5iii-Whdt
s..ii " bully toy' 10 trith IT.
ALBASv, May u, 1867.
Dear Free Press:
II Is very common remark in other State
Capitals that the headquarters Of Legislative
corruption are at Albany. l suppose this is
pretty generally understood to be true. Those
wh1 have real any leading newspaper Of this
S,-.c l-l the past four months, will appreciate
the importance which this topic-yiz, " Legisla-
tive corruption, has assumed here recently.
The attack upon the Legislature last winter
was commenced ty the New York Tribune.
Other papers joined in, and hue and cry was
raised, that perhaps never has been equslled
upon the same subject think it correct to
say that every paper IN the State except per-
hlps the Albany ECsRiag Journal has had its
thrust at the law makers. Some revelations
have been made, but most OF the evidence pro-
Iucel Is circumstantial only. | suppose there
are scores Of persons within a short distance Of
. where ! am writing, who must know the facts.
80 person Of intelligence can be familiar with
tl.- legislature from year to year, without
Stumbling incidentally upon occurrences that
must be conclusive TO his mind upon the Subject
/ As Z 'ook back upon ny own experience here, l
a.a convinced that this IS the case. Incidents
/ have rllen under M observation which may
uot constitute legal proof when taken separately,
. 5ut yet as nov look back upon them, pre-
c5iye ,hat taken together they form chain Of
evidence such as, Jury could not hesitate to de-
o'ls is sufficient 10 convict men Of corrupt prac-
tees. I remember in 'Gl as was about spend
iue Winter Tor the first time IN the New York
Assembly. q lawyer, then a resident Of this city,
warmed me to beware Of the corrupt influences
which prevailed he had himself been a mem
Der a few years before and he stated that in
ac,iug as attorney, in settling an account with
a fellow member for third party, his fellow
member had demanded that fifty dollars should
be reckonei in the account to his credit, because
Of the passage Of n certain bill, in which tn
Third party was interested. 1t was deemed 1
matter Of course that it should be reckoned il
a general account, ike any other charge. Their
was no attempt at cOncealment about it VIII;
the lawyer told me this it seemed to me incre 1
be, bat has distinguished reputation for intt'G
rity rendered it impossible for me to doubt.
couple Of years later than the date Ihsve nameC
became the accredited correspondent Of one {
the great dailies Of New York. which gave n
a prominent place in the Legislature. Here
had an opportunity to test the question Of col
ruution, or rather could not avoid co ming
! some knowledge Of its workings.
The members fear the lash Of the gre II dali
Of New York city as they do nothing else tn
can be brought to bear upon them. A word
, commentator in those newspapers is vel
= much valued by the honorable gentlemen hO'
! ever much they may desire to be indep endent
I. such influence. l recall now with VIVID rec'
: lection, the course of Obsequious pol iteness
which wss subjg;ted By several Eentiem'