Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-13
CORRUPTION In HIGB PLACES
CAN 1T BE CHECKED?


CAN 1T BE CHECKED
Corruption in the distribution of
Federal Offices, and the disburse-
ment of the public monies, is the
great evil of the times. 1t is not too
much to say that it is the prolific
parent of all the other evils which
affiict the country; that the lust of
Office and lucre instigated and pro
longed the late civil war that it
prompted the encrOachment on the
executive powers and privileges
madein the tenure of-office act; that
it fosters and feeds the lobby sharks;
that it favors what is known in the
political slang fthe day, as rings;
that it squanders the public funds
in bounties and subsidies; that it
promotes partial legislation for the
benefit Of favorites that it democrat
ICES public officials and makes the
administration of government a
seething pool of peculation and dis
honesty. 1t does even more. I'm
der the influence of the powerful
monopolies which grow and flourish
under such a system, the control of
public affairs is gradually being
wrested from the people, and given
over to the chief placemen in this
mammoth organization of cOrrup-
ton. ....
1t is perhaps not possible to re-
strain wholly this tendency to loose
and INSCRIPTIONS chaffering in the
public offices and treasures but it
is high time that a vigorous effort
in that direction was being made.
Our organic law is defective in this
respect, and while the amending
process is being SO frequently ap-
piled, it might be wholesomely used
in framing some bulwarks against
this flood tide Of venality.
The constitution of the Con
federate States (''so-calIed," if you
please contained several provisions
not found in the Federal constitu-
ton, which were inserted with the
view of remedying this mischief;
for it was no small one so long as
ten years ago, though nothing com
parable to the vast and alien
bracing system it has since grown
to be. Suggestions to be found in
that paper are not sought after by
those in authority, but the truth is
truth wherever found; and we do
not hesitate to say they would be
wise and judicious amendments TO
the constitution.
For instance: Subsection fifth of
Art. 2 says:
AMY judicial or other federal officer,
resident and acting solely within the
limits Of any State, may be impeached
by vote of two-thirds of both branches
of the legislature thereof
This leaves the trial TO the Fede-
raj Senate, but enables the repre-
sentative in the community special
ly concerned in the character and
conduct of the officer, to bring him
to account, and to that extent makes
his responsibility more direct.
Subsection sixth of the same Ar
ticle says
Congress may by law grant to the
principal officer in euch of the Exetu
tive Departments seat upon the floor of
either House, with the privilege Of dis
cussing any measures pertaining to his
Department"
This provision makes the relation
between the executive secretaries
who disburse monies, and the APP
propriating power, more intimate,
and could be made the means of
exposing lobby schemes by the
catechism to which they might be
subjected.
Subsection seventh in the same
Article, says:
"The President may approve any AZ"
preparation and disapprove any ether
appropriation in the same bill.
This is a grand provision for the
prevention ofrascality. tits through
the appropriation bills that these
monsrous raids are made upon the
Treasury. A packed committee
with the lobbyists at every mem
bcr's elbow, get these special appro-
priations appended to bills which
are absolutely necessary for the
maintenance of government, and
which the majority and the Presi-
dent are compelled to take as a
whole. This executive prerogra
tive ofrcjectiOn wonld subject every
questionable feature to a two-thirds
vote of both houses and frequently
ensure their defeat.
Subsection eighth, says:
"No clause of the constitution shall be