Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-20

Since the commencement of the present
session of Congress our readers have been
informed from day to day, by dispatches
from Washington, of an excited debate on the
subject of reform in the public service,
which has been in progress in the Senate,
and is yet unfinished. The issue is no new
one, for frauds in the public service have
been so numerous and glazing that the at
tcntion not only Of the nation, but the
whole civilized world has been directed to
them, and our reputation as a people has
suffered through them in the eyes of other
nations. Still, while Radical officials rev.
eled in fraud and fattened on corruption,
their organs throughout the country groanel
at what they were pleased to term "the de-
prayity of the Democracy" as exemplified
by few knaves calling themselves
Democrats, who ruled a single city.
Their Pharisaical cant was unsparing,
and they called for swift retribution on
The New York Tammanyites who bad
been plundering the city. With prompti-
iude which showed that the Democracy of
New Y ork were honest at heart and desir-
Gus of purging their party Of the corrupt
Tammany element, they at once waged re-
lentless warfare on the robbers, ard at the
ballot box, and in the hall of justice have
proved the honesty and purity of their mo-
tives. During all this time, however, frauds
and peculltions BY Radicals were reported
from all parts Of the country. Hardly a
city or town where a Radical official could
be found was without a plunderer, yet the
organs Of the p rty that sounded the slogan
for the onset on Tammany, following the
example If their imperial master at the
White House, held Il cir peace, Or attempted
the Radical style of defence and replied
"you're anorher." Until the opening of Con-
gress flese Radical populations went on
uncheckej, bu. Al leog.h the war against
Grants NATIONAL Tsmm luy has been opened
in earnest, and is being prosecuted with
vicor in the Seuae at Washington. The
struggle thus far has shownthc remarkable
act that lose who were loudest in their
Outcries against Tammany corruption are
now the mos anxious to evade an investi-
CATION int the TObberies committed 10y
members Of their own party. In tho be-
ginning of the fight they were SUGGEST Il to
a certain extent, and voted down Mr..
Trrmbulrs resolution providing fIr The ap-
pointment of an investigating committee.
Commenting On q is action Of the Radical
majority in the Senate, the New York
Tribune is homes enough to say:
'.The defeat of the Trumbull resolution
in the Senate is one of those unfortunate
errors with which superserviceable frienGs
oontinualy damage the best ri causes. 1t
is a great mistake, because it places the ad-
minisiration in fllse position before the
C0UntIy-a position IN which it seems TO
lide from examination, when everybody
knows it cannot afford 10 be placed in any
such predicament. We once more protest
against this suicidal policy, and we appeal
10 the President to lose no time in relieving
himself from the fatally false position in
which, whether mistaken Cr wiilfully, his
.SIecial friends have placed not only him
:. II, but great patty"
Since the above was published we have bad
some further evidence of the avowed purity
and honesty of the Radical party. Il would
never do to let it 90 forth to the nation that
they dreaded an investigation of the public
service. On Monday last, therefore, Mr..
Conkling offered resolution for the ap-
pointment of an investigation committee,
and Mr. Anthony offered a list Of seven
Senators to compose the committee, six Of
whom we. Radicals who had only three
o. four ia; previously voted against any
Investigation a all. The resolution at once
r.used 4 renewal of the debate on the
frauds in the public service, and before the
Senate rose in the afternoon, the Demo
cratic Senators with the small minority of
honest Republicans who were opposed to
thieying, even when committed by Radi-
Gals, had 50 far gained their point as to have
Mr.. CasseIly, a Democrat, added to the
committee. The friends Of reform objected
to the Dodge resoIted to by the Radical
majority, Of appointing TO the committee
Senators who were opposed to any investi-
cation into the alleged frauds. The resolu-
ton has passed, however, though three
conscientious Radicals abstained from vOt-
ing, and the committee appointed
under it will be regarded by the
people as mere whitewashiug concern.
Special dispatches to number of in
iuential journals throughout the
country, Radical as well as Democratic,
state that the President has been requested
bv the honest Radicals in both Houses to
come before Congress and demand full,
free and impartial investigation into his
conduct as the Executive of the nation, and
into the management of the public service,
but that he has refused to comply. No
dcuht he knows whether to adopt such a
cou Sc or not. His refusal to do 50 has lost
him some Of the few honest supporters
l.l.o have hitherto adhered TO lis cause.