Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-12

and the heads of departments also. The
independence of members of Congress can
not be maintained when they have to put
themselves under obligations for the an
pointment of their friends to office, and the
Independence Of the heads OF Departments
cannot be maintained when they are liable
TO be assailed by the members unless they
show them fayors in the way of appoint
Inents to Office. 1t is no unusual thing.
even in this body, for appointments to have
been made, at least such things have oc-
CURED in former times.
l think there is abroad general impress
sion that there is great corruption in the
public service. The late exposures In New
York have awakened public sentiment on
this subject throughout the nation, but how
was i possible for Tanlmany to perpetrate
those frauds? Ii never would have been
possible except upon this principle of parti-
sanship in Official positions. Do Won sup
pose that the men who have been arrested
for robbing the people of New York of so
many millions of dollars have got those
millions? doubt not they have a consid-
cradle portion, but1 believe that they have
had to spend many of those millions TO
keep themselves in power yeaI after year.
The money has been paid to persons of DO
litical "infuence'--paid for the packing of
conventions and the carrying of elections
by ballot-stuffing. Let us separate the Fed
eral Government from any such use of its
patronage. Let US have higher state Of
morals among its officials. Let us elevate
both official integrity and public authority
by insisting that the public patronage of the
country shall no more be used for selfish
and partizan purposes than the public mon
les IN the Treasury. Let us do this and
with the Government purified, republican
institutions may be continued; but unless
we can have purity in the administration of
the Government, the prediction of CLAW,
that the Republic weuld go down in des-
potism worse than that of Constantinople,
must sooner orlateI be fulfilled.
The Administration ReiOInder.
Mr.. Edmunds thought the question not
whether it is necessary to purify the public
service, but what is the wisest and most eff
fectiVe way of doing it. The Senators and
members of the House owed their position
to their political status. and it had been at
tained by some service done their party.
The Senator had said he did not object to
certain important offices being filed by par
ty men, but he had not stated where he
would draw the line. 1t was reasonable to
presume, however, that he would have to
go pretty far down in the scale of public Of
ticials before he coul6trust to having a pol
icy faithfully and efficiently carried out by
those who were opposed to it. Laughter
He (Edmunds) was sorry to hear Senator
Trumbull say that the President had stated
in his message that the civil service was
demOralized, because the President had not
said so. He merely said that it would ad-
NIT Of improvement. So far from having
become demoralized under this adminstra-
ton the civil service had been raised from
state of real decentralization in which it
was during President Johnson's term. Ey-
ell the New York custom house, though
situated in an atmosphere reeking with cor
ruptiOn, had been to great extent reform
ed, and the records showed that the much
abused Thomas Murphy had been more eff
ficient and successful than any of bis pre-
decessors.
AT three O'Clock Edmunds gave way for a
motion TO go into Elective session, which
was carried, and the Senate soon after ad-
iOurned.