The evening Argus., 1869-03-05

number Of the New Orleans PicdyuHe on
this subject, which, although suggested by
the condition of a locality, is of general ap.
plicstion, aud we transfer TO our columns
the following paragraphs, which with the
general subject, we commend to our voting
readers as worth their membrance when
they come to select representatives IN the
Legislature Of this State or in Congress:
1t is fact, unfortunately too patent for
denial, that corruption and bribery have, for
some time past, ceased to be rare and excep
nonal influences on legislative bodiesas was
the acknowledged condition Of things until
within the past ten years. Thoughtful and
candid men, free from the contamination Of
party obligations, and without interest in the
promotion Of the enactment OF private or
local laws, have to confess that in most in,
Stances, the chief mode resorted TO for Sc.
curing any object in view is the free use of
money,or the formation Of what, in the slang
Of the political msneuyerers Of the dsy, are
called rings, whereby q ombinatou Of findi.
vldual or local interests with public ones, is
80 ettectuaIIy formed as to unite the requisite
strength for overcoming all opposition to the
measure in hand. This, we think, may now
be set down as the present condition Of leg.
lsItlve morals and rules Of action not only in
the Federal Senate and House Of Represen.
tatiVes, but in the Legislatures ofthe greater
portion Of the States, and in no other State
does It now prevail so openly,or is maintain
ed with such barefaced etfrontery as in our
own,since we have been blessed with Legis.
lature organized under congressional recon.
struction. That bribery has been used for OBJ.
tanning the passage by ii Of laws for the ad.
vancement Of individual interests at the ex.
pense Of those of the public, and for the
creation OF monopolies designed to
enrich few, in derogaiiOn of
general right, no sensible man, or candid
one, doubts or questions. This acknowl.
edgment is very humiliating to every patrio.
tic man in Louisiana, who loves his country
regardless OF its actual government; but
Truth dictates that it should be made. r.
as some political writer's have asserted, the
laws OF country represent ts public opin.
ion at the time they we're made, then it fol
lows that at this moment the public opinion
Of Louisiana must be deprayed to a very
low degree and it also foliows as a neces
sary consequence, that public morality is
being sapped, and its existence endangered
by corrOding canker, which must destroy
it unless u timely application of caustic
remedies calculated to eat out the sloughiag
matter, is made. We have already reached
the point where we may say with philosophic
Cato, that
fWhpn pyil ,nau In.r sv,,.
The po'toi honor Is the private station"
All history of legislative bodies goes to
show that the most fruitful source Of cor
TuPton among them has been appeals made
to their cupidjty, or their passions, or preju
dces on private or local bills brought before
them and when it is remembered that in
nearly all the States of the Union, not even
excepting Massachusetts,, with all her boast.
ing Of high moral ideas, and the conserys.
tive influences Of her school system, the
majority Of the members Of the State Iegis.
latures are usually untitled by education or
experience for the proper discharge Of their
high functions, one can plainly and at once
! perceive, that they are ike plastic clay in
the hands Of shrewd LOBBYISTS, even should
they have conscIences sufficiently honest to
resist offers Of money for their votes. An
| examination Of the laws annually enacted
by these bodies would doubtless demonstrate
the fact that a large majority are passed
simply for local or personal objects.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
Taken at Poet Hospital, Rock Island Arsenal, for
the week ending Maroh 9Th, 1869.