The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-09-01
[From the National Intelligencer,]
Congressional Extravaganza and
"a! - Corruption,


Congressional Extravaganza and
- Corruption,
When the record of tho acts of the
present Congress comes to be shown, it'll
will be found to have surpassed any con-
ception of plain honest men in wasteful
extravagsnce. in fostering startling frauds,
aud promoting corrupt schemes Of spe-
cial legislation for the benefit of few
favored individuals at the public expense
While making loud pretensions of econ
omy in small things, it has been unstin-
ted in lavishing extraordinary appropri-
ations upon simple partisan projects, and
in giving subsidies and endowments with
princely generosity to various schemes of
private and individual speculation. As
yet, since the beginning Of the Fortieth
Congress, mot one single measure has been
perfected for the public benefit. Ell Of
its acts have been exclusively devoted to
partisan or special legislation. While
protesting great concern for the interest
Of the working classes of the people, is
has imposed upon the labor Of the coun.
try enormously increased burthens for
the benefit Of the capitalists and bond
holders. While refusing the poor pit
tance of twenty per cent. increase of pay
to the department employees, it has near
ly doubled the pay Of its own members
and the salaries of its own particular ser
wants. While, for the sake of seeming
to be economical, it cuts down the regu-
lar and indispensable appropriations so
as to render unavoidable hereafter tire.
mendous deficiency bill in every depart
ment of the Government, it is squander-
ing hundreds of millions in aid of private
speculations, in the way Of subsidies, and
land grants, and special privileges, where
BY a few favorite individuals are enabled
to realize almost fabulous fortunes at the
expense of the Government and the tax
burthened people.
1t used to be that the manipulation Of
such schemes Of private profit was con-
fined to the lobby, and that they we're wa
rily brought forward, and at long inter-
walls. Now it appears that these specu-
lations upon special Congressional legis.
lation are unblushingly presented by hun
dreds, and it is said that the quondamI
business Of the lobby has been transfer
red to the floors Of the two Houses. 4
The number of railroad and steamship
enterprises of this character, demanding
enormous subsidies in Government bonds
and land grants, at moment when the
life of the nation itself is in imminent
peril, and when the people are absolutely
staggering under the fearful load of debt,
is incredible. Among these there are
enumerated over twenty railroad bills
comforting unprecedented privileges and
extravagant bonuses. One of the latter
has already passed the house of Repre-
sentatives, giving to hypothetical New
York company, that has not dollar Of
capital paid up, nor single stick aAoat,
an enormous bonus, together with the ex-
elusive monopoly of the transportation of
all our foreign mails. This immense
project Of private speculation, 80 unjust
to all our existing steamship lines, and
so wildly extravagant in imposing addi.
tional burthens of public debt upon the
masses of the people, is, We believe, still
pending in the Senate, awaiting favor
able opportunity to be pressed through
that body. This scheme of public plum
der has never been approached in extrav-
agance and exclusiveness since the expo
sition and wiping out by Democratic
administration and Democratic Con-
gress of the great Collins subsidy for
similar purposes.
II is due to the people that their atteu-
ton should be called to these transactions
in Congress, and that :heir outrageous
character should be mercilessly exposed.