The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-06-22
A Nice Lot.

Some one has said that if the Government does not
take possession Of the railroads the railroads will take
possession of the Government And this seems true.
There is so little of honesty il Congress, Or IN the
State Legislatures, that member who does not put
bis vote up for sale to the highest bidder is looked
upon as a spooney-a spiritess fellow who had better
be at home raising pumpkins and potatoes than !eSiS
lating for this glorious country The Radical party
claims much credit to itself for being progressive
party fors0oth and has really succeeded III impress
ing the idea upon the minds Of many Democrats IN the
South who, deceived by this false glitter, would JOIN
the party tomorrow but for the odum that otherwise
attaches to it, Now, if this progressive spirit that
animates the minds OF the Radicals be analysed, twill
be found that it has origin in corruption. brilliant
scheme Of internal improvement Is mapped out oy
some such man as Fremont with more impudence than
honesty or money and he goes to work to engineer 1t
through Congress or State Legislature, as the case
may be- At least fifty per cent of the appropriation
asked for is apportioned out among the members-to
one is given Ave talents to another two, and to third
one scaling them down according to their influence
The bill, appropriatng millions of the peoples money
is passed trumphantly, and then follows beating OF
pans over klE pIpSiF'7IfV Si'itA' VI VIII
party.
Nor has this system OF legislation had birth in the
corruption engendered by the war; though its growth
has been simulated wondrOusly by it, bill was I'M
der discussion in Congress just prior TO the war; APP
propriatiDg over S30000,000 to certain railroad,
and its passage would have been certainassured by
the promise Of S1 900 900 of the amount to different
members of Congress. Not only were the votes of
Northern men bought up, but, we mortified to re-
cord, those Of some Southern members were also Sc
cured BY liberal douceurs. The coming of the
defeated this scheme.
Hebert, the Washington correspondent Of the Plea
yunc, lifts the lid and gives brief glance into the
legislative caudron at the capitol, seetb0g with cor
ruption--a peous spectacle Of human fralty and
nalty He thus writes:
Your internal improvements, your Pacific railroads,
your levees, are becoming matter OF mlrth Each
sheep that claims represent you wants lions share
Of the rich profits which the development of your
sources promise, and bray in their own behalf like
herd of asses. I can mention no representative of
your people who makes their interest, in Congress,
paramount to his own. Having bought their places
once they sell themselves every day two. Now
Fremont three DAYS since blatant in an opposition in
terest, tomorrow cursing WarmOth for not signing
the !e7ee bill, and IN few days applaudIng HIM Tor
Withholding bis signature. Their stock in trade is
small and they believe in the principle Of quick sales
and small profits
There are two Of your delegation who seem to work
for the interest of the State slightly paramount to
their own I feel it my duty to withhold their names
lest their constituents should regardthem fools
Hebert, though doubtless giving true picture, con
tradicts himself, in first saying 81 can mention no
representative of your people who makes their inter
est, in Congress- paramount to his own" and after
wards referring to two Of delegation who seem to
work for the interest of the State slightly paramount
to their own. How does he explain this?
It appears to that road running from Vicksburg
to San Diego, on the SD parallel in other words
" our road possesses so many advantages any
other proposed route for a southern Pacific road that
congressman and capitalists would not hesitate a mo-
ment in the choice But with such a Congress the
present one, nothing stands upon its merits Every
thing bends to the largest moneyed influence, and
hence we have seen that it has dragged through
y its friends in constant doubt as to wbetherit would
be a success or a failure.