, 1869-08-27
ACCEPTING PRESENTS.
TFrun The PhiladsIphIl Ags.l

Inauguration Day, when the palm of the
President ofthe United States closed on Mr.
A. T. Stewards check for S65, 900 in pay
ment for q house that is worth $40, 900; up
on which ensued Ne appointment of Mr..
Stewart As Secretary of the Treasury, aud q
message ssking Congress TO repeal the law
against interested parties holding thatolhce.
Il is 10 this sort Of spectacle that we owe
much of the unblushing venality Of the day.
Cougressmen advertise the public patronage
for sale and Now York journal, comment
ing on it, thinks Congressmen may accept
pecuniary favors as we'll as men in higher
Office. But it is wrong throughout, and
should be promptly curbed by law, if law eau
curb the principal offenders. The reception
of gifts or presents or gratuities by any off
Ger Of the Government ought to be positive
ly prohibited without any indulgence to th'
alleged motive or purpose of the gift. 1t il
notorious 10 England, where bribery 10 cleo
tiOOs is strictly prohibited, that the practice
is almost universal the price of borough
can be named to a shilling, and there is in
finite ingenuity shown in giving the money
to the freerholder for something else than hb
vote. There is not law in the United
States that if any person shall promise Or
give any money, present or reward to am
person holding any place of trust, or dis
charging any official function under or ia
connection with any department Of the Gov
ernment Of the United States, with intent t.
influence his vote or decision on any ques
ton, matter, cause or proceeding which ma,
be brought before him 10 his official capaci
ty-the person giving and the person accept
ing shall be guilty of high crime and mis-
demeanor; and of the latter and greater Grim
inal, part of the punishment shall be for.
feiture Of his Office and disqualification eve,
to hold another.
There are many cases in which the corrupt
intent is wanting, and in all cases it will be
difficult of proof Human nature is weak in
high and low Offices. Many gallant soldiers
are now in places of profit and trust; we
wish more of them were. To them, too,
gifts may be offered under a plausible pre-
text that is only tardy arrears of public or
private gratitude; and when the officer has
been prOpitiated BY the gift and the compli.
ment. then the doner will prefer his requests.
1t needs little knowledge Of human nature to
see what abuses will flow from the loose and
new example set in high quarters. For it
is new example. Can any man conceive OF
Alexander Hamilton amounting the palm Of
Washington with large sum of money, and
Immediately thereupon receive the appoint
ment Of Secretary Of the Treasury? The
mere thought of such a thing seems absurd
and mOnstrous. The present system began
with Mr.. Lincoln, or we should rather say
Mrs. Lincoln, and though notorious enough
in official circles, it did not till after his death
cause public scandal Andrew johnson,
though not man of extraordinary re6nel
ment, resolutely set his face against the
practice positively refusing the smallest
present. 1t was well he did for though for
a while it would have been defended and
applauded as it is now by the radicals, yet
the time came when in raking the whole land
for something against him they would have
hailed with delight the proof that he had
taken gifts from men 10 whom he afterward
gave offices. But Mr.. johnson and Gen.
George H. Thomas, and many others only
maintain the high tone that was universal 10
civil aud military life, before radcalism be.
gau to corrupt and demoraliEe every depart>
partment of the Government. We find 10
the memoirs of one eminent soldier, how he
responded to offers of presents. The tone
of the following letter is that which can not
be too soon revived among us, unless we
wish to see, with other beauties of despotism
that universal venality which the traveller
finds in Turkey, where every official holds
out his hands for gift
From the Dispatches and Correspondence oi
the Duke of Wellington.
ORDSAScE OFFICE, February 23d, 1924.