The Republican journal., 1870-02-17

| The conclusion to be drawn from this report is
that the Locating of the parties engaged in this spa
per credit business, If II could be accurately done.
would cover q pretty large territory, including
more towns and individuals and shades of politics
than are usually mixed in one transaction. Those
who sold the paper credits were grossly dis
honest, and they who bought them for their towns
must acknowledge that they knew they We're giving
their money for that which did not put men into
the army. They may rely that the popular senti-
ment in their towns sustained them in taking this
course to fill their quotas. and if this be considered
sufficient reason for what they did, it distributes
the iniquity of business pretty broadly over the
State. 10 mete out justice to both principals and
accessories would be an undertaking of large pro-
portions, and require more than human wisdom
and knowledge. kennebec Journal.
We fear that the above is but a foreshatlow-
ing of the report Of the committee of invcs-
tigation just formed. We fear that our proph-
ecy that the radicals will never look into tins
matter rs ii deserves to be looked into, will
prove to be true. That party is in curious
and most embarrassing dilemma in respect to
the matter. The demand from the people for
justice is so loud and persistent that it cannot
be ignored. The cntreatics from party leaders
and those who have been enriched by the pa
per credits stealings, tobe spared and to save
! the party, are most piteous. They don't dare
to investigate-thcy don't dare TO let it alone.
Between the devil and the deep sea- which
way shall they turn?
We have heard advanced q great many
reasons for failing to do undesirable duties.
Men are prone to invent excuses, and long
| practice makes them ingenious at the bust
ness. But when before, in all the annals of
the crcumlocution office, did the powers that
be decline to investigate alleged corruption
because there was too much of ii ? When did
ever a body having in charge the public
morals, shrink from the uncovering of evil
because it was too gross and widespread?
| Should not rather the argument be-If
there is SO much public corruption, let us
cleanse tiff there be knavery, let us punish
it-if there has been swindlng, let us aid in
restoration.
| There is not sound reasoning in the assump-
ton of the Journal that the agents of the
towns who bought paper credits necessarily
shared the guilt. There may have been some
instances in which that was the case, but they
were few. The dealers at the time professed
to sell men, and to fill quotas with men. It
was then known only to the select ring OF
knaves at Augusta who controlled the credits,
how the draft was to be averted
We beg leave to differ from the sentiment
Of the Journal that to do Justice in these
transactions will require "more than human
wisdom and knowledge" We object to this
taking an appeal to the day Of Judgment
That event will bring with it enough for thu
radicals to answer to. We want to see these
men made to answer now and here, without
the evidence of the recording angel.
4 If the suggestions of the State Paper fore
shadow Legislature action, we shall some day
have report from the Joint Select Commit
, tee, which will read something like this
Your Committee, having attended to the duty as
signed it, beg leave to Report
That, having investigated as far as dared to Zane
that wasn't very far we came to the conclusion tina
it will never do to uncover the transactions alluded
to. The men who managed the State House at tina
E time appear to have been engaged in the study 0
the conjugation of the verb to steal thus-I steal
you steal he steas-we steal you steal they steal
The further we went, the worse it smet. A
prudent men, we counter-marched and came back
All of which is respectfully submitted.
That would be the result Of the experienc,
of "human wisdom and knowledge" as ex
emplifed in the Legislature.
Some time ago we represented the steamer
Mahoning, of the revenue service, in ;
"pictur," as capturing fishermen for trifline
attractions of the revenue laws, or none a
all. We are now happy to say that this yes
sci is rendering genuine and valuable assist
ance to vessels on the coast in this severe
+ weather The banks S. B. Hale and Georg,
S. Hunt, with valuable cargoes, were towet
by her to Portland, in an almost disable,
condition from long battling with the wintr,
E storms. The Mahonng is fine vessel, and
Capt. Webster is said to have the heart of ;
! true sailor. We doubt not that his raids OF
fishermen. under orders, are As distasteiul IL
t him as they possibly can be,