Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-11
No LIMIT 10 RADICAL CORRUP-
TION.

NO IIMIT TO RADICAL COKRUP-
TION.
We learn that Alexander Ramsey,
United States Senator from Missis
sippi, is now in Paris as a special
envoy from our Postmaster General
to negotiate a new postal treaty
with the French government. The
New York Sun very properly asks:
"Will Mr.. Creswell be good enough
to inform the people who pay the
taxes, what right he has to spend
eight or ten thousand dollars of the
public funds. in order that an anna
BILE old gentleman like Mr.. Ramsey
may travel to Europe without cost
to himself?' 1t also says:
1--WE should address this inquiry to
Gen. Grant also, but while the war steam
~ Tallapoosa is lying off Long Branch as
his pleasure yacht, we feel that any guess
ton to him about other illegitimate and
illegal uses Of public cash would be su-
perfuous
We, too, should like to inquire
why this matter was not confded
to Mr.. Washburne, our Minister to
France, or if he is incompetent to
arrange matters of this Importance,
why he was ever sent to that coun-
try, and why he is now retained
there? Washburnc receives sixteen
thousand dollars salary 10 reside in
Paris, and to give his entire atten~
ton to just such treaties as these,
and the nation cannot afford TO pay
any one else, not even an old and
esteemed friend of Postmaster Gen
eral Creswell, TO perform our Min
ister's duty in that country. If
Washburne chooses to pass most Of
his time in Switzerland or at Baden,
although this may be very pleasing
to his countrymen who are visiting
Paris, instead of remaining at his
post of duty, is it proper that he
should draw all his salary, and some
one else be sent out at still further
expense to represent our interests!
Has Mr.. Creswell the right to
squander the public money, oven
for tie sake of gratifying an old
friend like Mr.. Ramsey?
We very much doubt whether
Washburne is capable of perform
ing a service of this nature with
credit to himself or his country, for
his total lack of education and his
ignorance of the amenities which
prevail among diplomatists render
him totally unfit for a service of
this nature, but there are Others who
can ill his position most satisfacto-
rily, and Washburne should be re-
called and one of these sent to re-
place him. 1t is the poorest excuse
in the world for mourning additional
expense TO say that Washburne is
incapable of attending to the matter
in question, for there are so many
others who are capable, and better
fitted in every respect, to do honor
to themselves and the nation as our
representatives to France, that he
need not be retained in that posi-
ton one day longer if the governs
ment was willing to remove him.
Although for a number of years
past the Radicals have been exceed
ingly lavish with the peoples
money, during the past few months
their excuses in this respect have
been unparalleled. In every part
of the country congressional com
mittees have been travelling at the
public expense and living more ex
travagantly than they ever have
before, ostensibly in the publ,
service and for the public benefit
but actually for the purpose of en-
loving themselves at the public ex
penses. Now an old gentleman
wishes to visit Europe, and, as he i
an intimate friend of a high official
his travelling expenses are no
only paid, but he receives larg
sum for the time which he spend
in enjoying himself. If corruption
can go much further than this W
are scarcely aware of it, and if ther
is much further limit to publ
patience that virtue must be al
gelic.