The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-05

There is no denial Of the truth that to-day
the United States Senate is the focus of all the
great rings which have combined for the
wholesale plumber ofthe national wealth. We
recognize this, however, as the very natural
result Of the gigantic struggle through which it
has been our destiny to pass. Before the war
was sprung upon US we were the representa-
tives Of single magnificent impulse q civili-
zation working in thoroughly legitimate
direction. We scarcely had . government
and hardly needed one. Our people looked
for position, for profits, for honors in the
development of the country. If there existed
few government contractors they were so
few that they were lost upon the Indian
frontier or in the din Of commerce and manu-
features. The war came /; our progress was
turned back upon itself, or was, by the force Of
events, shaped into warlike channels. Many
of the keen brains that had aided in conduct
| ing us to civilization became demoralized, and,
losing sight of their former efforts, trained
their powers upon the United States Treasury;
for it was in this Treasury that the whole
wealth, the whole strength and sinew of
the people was poured as the most potent
force for the preservation of an intact
nationality. The Treasury, therefore, repre-
sented vast contribution of the profits of
civilization from those who had been laboring
to produce it in the Northern States. From
this almost inexhaustible storehouse vast
sums were to be expended for national preser-
vation Those who have but one principle in
business life, and that 'to 60 as near Sing Sing
as possible and miss it, Immediately grasped
at the splendid prize, and grasped it, too,
through the United States Congress. Con-
tracts for arms, munitions of war, ships and
supplies were generously dealt out in true po-
litical style to the constituents Of those mem
bers of Congress who depended for position
more upon financial influence or personal cor
ruption than upon native genius. And SO the
war continued Every day the corruption in
creased until ring after ring was formed, each
circlng about a hundred minor rings and all
enclosed within the one great circle, the United
States Congress, and especially its Senatorial
branch.
At length the war closed, but it left behind
it the most gigantic fabric of swindling that
the world has seen. 1t pervaded every depart
ment of our government and threw its shadow
over every Congressional act Under the gilt
tering plea of reconstruction the people were
entertained four years, while the leeches upon
the public purse chung not only to the Trea-
sury, but to the Congress through which they
thrived
The power has now changed. Formerly the
Congress controlled the rings but these have
grown to magnificent proportions, and now in
turn show their power over those who gave
them being. How far this ring influence ex-
tends is now clearly marked. Under the lash Of
the Hon. Ben Butler the line has been drawn,
and the Tenure Of Office bill marks the division
The House of Representatives has placed itself
in opposition to the existing ring system, and
by its vote has shown to the people who is and
who is not in favor Of supporting the corrup-
tions of war.
We have now to deal with the Senate-the
great ring which is described about all the
others; the ring which has conferred all ap-
pointments and keeps them confirmed; the
ring that has almost ruined the country by
trying to absorb the whole power of the gov
eminent, and the ring which now shows an
unbroken front, and apparently stands pledged
to sustain with oil its resistive force the
attack which it foresees the coming admins
tration will make upon it. Here, then,
the issue is boldly drawn, and we may
at once prepare for an encounter between
the public plunderers through the United
States Senate and the Executive branch of the
government. The Senate in the contest will
represent the amount Of plumber which has
been gathered in the last seven years, while
General Grant will represent the wish of the
people for return to economical and careful
administration Of the public property, treasure
and civil positions. The former will doubtless
make very desperate struggle, but the people,
suffering to the last extreme to maintain the
host of thieves who now fatten upon the ma
tional misery, will support Grant. There is
but one way for the Senate to set itself right
before the country, and that is by following the
lead Of the House Of Representatives in the
revocation of the Tenure Of Office law. The
United States Senate is not bound to protect
thieves, no matter how unfortunate 1t has been
in falling into their hands. Better break loose
from them at once, or the people, under the
coming administration, win tumble the whole
Senatorial fabric to the ground and reorganize
that body after the model set by the founders
of the government
OBsTRUcTING THE STREETS. An interesting
decision involving this subject was given in