The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-11-11
Harrisburg Correspondence.

yention, to amend the Cons tituton Of
the Commonwealth: and the serious
consideration of this important ques.
tion excites general attention, because
every one feels that the machinery of
the Government has got out of order,
and that instead of working smoothly
and effectively as was formerly the
case, its crazy action indicates breakage
or disorder in some of its principal
parts.
Now, as the Legislature is the great
balance wheel, in the machinery of q
representative government, it follows
that the attention of the people is prin-
cipally directed to the stupendous cor
ruptions which have, of late years, pol
luted our legislative halls, perverting
in most astonishing manner, the lie.
gitimate ends Of popular representa-.
ton. Hence the people are inclined to
attribute all the political Ills they suffer,
to legislative corruption and, therefore,
lends willing ear to any plausible
proposition, having in view the puri-
fication of the legislative bIanch of their
government.
For my part, although l freely admit
the existence of the demoralizing con-
sequences, resulting from legislative
corruption, 1 am not one of those who
believe that all the political and social
disorders, under which we suffer, are to
be attributed solely to the misdeeds of
our legislature. There is no doubt that
the venality and corruption of but too
many of our Representatives are
curse upon the people. But l insist
that it is "A curse they have brought up
on themselves, and that its continuance
can only be averted, under existing
circumstances, by the adoption of "Me
free cote" giving to all the people '.free
elections" and "d just representation"
The idea of transferring any powers
from the legislature to other elective
public bodies, equally liable to corrup-
ton, isin my opinion political fallacy,
more apt to aggravate the evils COM
planned of, than to cure them. If no
constitutional means can be devised,
by which the people may elect honest
men to make their laws, then the great
experiment of self government is Ia
mentable failure, and all the constitu-
tional experiments to supply the place
of public Uirtue will prove abortive and
will only tend to accelerate the down
fall of constitutional freedom!
But, unfortunately, corruption is not
confined within the limits of our legis.
lative halls. 1t has gradually found its
Shiny way into too many of our judi
cial courts, where legal decisions are
warped from the direct line of justice,
into the terrible channels of political
expediency and partizan hate! Who,
that frequents these courts or reads their
proceedings. will deny the truth of this
assertion? 1t is true that most of the
senior members of the profession, faith
full to the traditions of the past, have,
down to the present day, by precept
and example,, partially succeeded in
upholding those high sentiments of
professional honor and probity, insepa-
rably from the impartial admins
tration of the law. But, those ven
cradle men are, in the order of nature,
fast passing away and, ere long, the few
of them left, will be impotent to stay
the demoralizing tide, which now
threatens to sweep away those great
beacons which whilom pointed the
course of impartial Justice
1t is but few days since, at the late
election, that you, Mr.. Editor, saw, in
n neighboring judicial district, one of
the brightest lights of the legal profes-
sion of Pennsylvania, rudely thrust
aside, to make room for mere intrigu-
ing politician. Thus, by this recent
verdict Of the people of that district, it
appears that, the majority at least, care
very little about the pure, impartial ad.
ministration of justice, which might,
perhaps, prove inconvenient to many
OF them, but attach infinitely more im-
portance to the social qualities of their
President Judge; and that decision
upon a sample OF choice whiskey, deliv-
cred before u party of experts, will com
mand their admiration, in much high
Ell degree than any elaborate legal opin-
ion drawn from Il pile of musty law
books
From this appalling exhibition Of this
prostitution of the popular vote, the
apprehension is forced upon us, that the
character OF our courts of justice will
gradually fall to the level of infamy
which now eXcites the indignation of
the people against the moral turpitude
of their Legislative Representatives.
This is sad picture! But there is still
worse behind.
The great bribes brought into the
Legislature, for the purchase of exorbi.
tant privileges, not only corrupted the
Representatives of the people, hut slim
ulated them to use part of their ILL
gotten gains to secure reelection, in
order to continue their unholy trafic
in the Legislature. Hence, it soon be.
came apparent that, but in too many
cases, nominations ,Cere bought, and that
the primary nominating conventions
had been innoculated with the moral
pestilence which first broke out in the
halls of legislation This, and the daily
spectacle offered to the people, of the
hagrant violations of public and of pri-
vate rights, by the very official bodies
instituted, by the Constitution, to sup.
portland conservethoserights, justly ex
cited public indignation then disgust,
and finally lethargic indifference. Wit
ness the astonishing fact, that 81 900 vo-
tiers of the city of Philadelphia, stayed
away from the poll at the last election
This abandonment, by so large mum.
ber Of citizens, of any participation in
governmental affairs, either national
State or local, is of fominous import land
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