The New York herald., 1867-12-03

the pscf the only witness cognizant Of the fact thas
bribery has commrtst; tor NO ore OF ordinary
understanding will youn.arIy testify ~ crimnason of
TO obtain proof sufficiently clear aud reliable
to convics Of thar crime and the consequence
ice. Il n notorious that neither the glvers
Of brioes nor those VINO received them are now pun
ishsd. Our present laws aaord perfect immunity to
both No one cad doubt that il would be better TO
empt part than the whole, especially ~ view OF the
fact that Il wo1ll effective mems OF supprossing
the altogether. ihe cornmitlse are aware that
both tbs parties concerned In an act OF bribery are
gsy q a.rsn wrong eut .hey noa ,ha. na .hs me ss
NAV propsrlv exempt him from punishment for tfe
sake OF sappessDs ne evil through tho conviction and
punishment OF tho more guilty public officer VINO re-
ceives the brbs They regard this as the Oily gronn0
which his exemption be JnstiAed and
his crimnary Is far lees than that Of the
cornrt Official II sometimes happens that incumbents
Of once wl not without private perform act de.
anded alike by olcal duty and the public good
lu such pubic spirited citizens private In
terest IN the matter msy prompled 10 give the
demanded for the sake OF promoting the public welfare
In doing ihs they comnn bribery but they scarcely
be regarded guilty OF crime or the ac, be criminal y
has bui small share OF The turptudo OF that committed
by Tho recipient Again, II often occurs thas measures
beneficial botn TO the pubic and 70 individual interests
aud IN all respects unobjecnoDabe can be Obtained
from the proper officials by corups purchase. TINS,
again. bribery. but wnltmaintan that in such
receiver But, take III worst cases OF bribery, in
which money II psd TO officials for the purpose Of IN
pubic, for the exclusive benefit Of the brber We lind
that in such extreme ofcia be tho
guilty OF the fwo addition his crim
nasty participant ia the act Of bribery for tho sakc
Of illesitmate gam, 10 Is also guilty Of violating
his Official oath ana sacred public trust con.
only OF tue crime OF ebery, while tho receiver
Is guilty OF bribery. perjury and the breach OF tho
pubic trust. consiu utug together = crime against
socieiy, which should be regarded ms second only to
treason IA in,smy. He perpslrates bis threeiod crme
despite the protection atorjed hun the dignity, the
honor the enhanced self respect incident 10 public
station Breaking throush strong safeguards like these.
OF whc the gver OF bribs Is destitute. manifssts
proueness 10 evil on the part Of corrupt officials which
asgravates their go u IN receiving briUe,
For thess It clear o. ths COMMITTEES that
the required exemption OF punishment should apply
70 the gver of bribc as the less culpsble party,
put put 70 the end wa, "a. moral offence - gross
may may r,tSs NO. ss prosecuted With mplnty, they
snail be punished WITH the rig0F the act OF
ceiving brbs. Inis will leave the Official upon whom
the atemp; made INDEPENDENT witness Of the fact
which will enable the pro. ecuting officer 10 furnish the
proof necessary for believed that this
provision with also have saIuary effect in detsrring
corrupt lobby agents from imporuning members Of
legislative body 20 for improper measures II can
scarcely fail 10 render the vocation both hazardous and
bribery and through them The suppression Of Official
ption not altogether sufficient the COM
cnsrsed with RECEIVING brbe or with onerng bribe
uat is rejected may be compelled TO testify against
constitution The State and the common. Law now
affords all persons charged with crime. II is believed
dangerous character OF this wing evil which
tnreaens destroy DO pubic and private virtue and
20 bring our institutions merited reproach. fully
rants innovation. 1t Is but placing this class OF Of
tenders level WITH all er.oDs charged With crime In
.ontnenil Europe i is there regarded as an effective
aency detection or grlt aud the vindcation OF
ipuocence. There is reason why " should not
oro equally ecanou and ssluiary here In trials for
bribery fact, merely step Ia approach TO the
principle which are assured divine justice u ad-
minsiered.
The fourth hfth sections OF the article define the
duties The Judges Of the Supreme Court aud district
attorneys charges OF berry made TO
them. II IL The mpre Of many tnat criminal
authorities have manifested sufficient vgi
Ncs OF effort in the prosecution Of this
cr,miual charges The mako their re-
spect,ve duties specific and the sixth section provides
any OF niciiy in the performance OF these.
duiies shall renner guiiy OF misdemeanor and
liable ed from Office by the Governor. Suchs
in brief, tho lead rg provisions and purposes
OF the article herewith submitted In framing
the committee have aimed al practical results.
Their earnest desire has been to devise plan that
would cfiectually accomplish the object they were
appointed to Consider the suppression OF bribery They
have aimed that end not by prescribing harsh
unusual punishment for such Offenders but by max
ing their detection, convection ana punishment 50 cer-
tain that IL will deter incumbents OF Office from tho
com ssion OF such crimes. They briieve that In
moral diseases, in physical prevention Is better than
cure, and they firmly persuaded that the plan they
propose II adopted VIII at least the spread Of this
moral lsprosv they venture to hope that u will
entirely eradicate II fro.n the boiv polite
GEORGE OPDYKE, Chairman.