The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-19
9}ithmond Dispatth.
,RipAY JANUARY 10, 1872
ror,1,3tion of Public Men.


Governor PARKER, of New Jersey, I'D his
ANNA, message. recognizes the fact that
Official corruption is not the exclusive dis
,.,,;,,n al either one OF the two great political
plif;cy, but is the prevailing sin and shame
of.aeagc. This Is strictly true; and but that
The Republican party has rcsortcd TO means
and appliances TO prolon@ their rllie--mcahs
that are siihvcr,ivc of the true character Oh
.hc Government framed for Us by our Fathers,
and whirh, moreover, subject c'Ni'!za'''h 10
thr rniqn Of barharis.n-wc appTchcnd that
there would DC no great gain from cfaiiS'
Of parties. Corruption is a tree thai h'> DC
~n,,n deeply rooted in or land, and VIII mol
sar,; bc c,-,dic,tcd Even into Virginia lhis
corr,II,, tree extended lis Rad'cs'i> l'lIheuF
,f.lva ffnr the war. Everybody charged II,
on(; everybody hciicycdi;. ." CT groceries
were freely cu!ploycd 10 compass ends not TO
l.n reached, ly reason and a just view OF facts
and arguments. Zach successive year the
charge has been repeated, and each year II
has been alleged that the price Of votes was
advanced. such was tie effect OF these lu!-
mutations that naturally the position Of lrgIs-
!tor crew in value and became more than
ever sought and fought for.
4 was y sad condition Of our old STATE
When such scandal got abroad. 1t should
not. however, have surprised us. Iacrc w.
a a,.yv clement in the representative depart
,lrul Of the state which Was purchtscahlc,
ul,! when the tad" began lis temptation
surcad. i was said, amongst those who
should have proved firm and mcorrlptibl".
nrt 20 il was. and worse still. it has been re-
comfy alleged that Virginia legislators beat
Ill oi,~r, in the way Of corruption, lnas-
ranch - they had TO he twice paid for their
services. 1t was not sufficient that they
we're paid once; they wcai7ed i'll "WelI-
d,.,,2." and required further reward TO suS-
tim ,hcm in the journey, or they Threatened
illcv would 20 over to the other side.
This i an cxtravagtnt representation of
1act-. "" doubt not Except with few
Cylgrcd ,latcsmcnj: but then it matters eut
l:.l.. Tie sin being committed, its cnor-
la..y i. not greatly increased by the taking Of
:. ~ hole upon the brilcr.
Nc h.y2 our ap,iogy here. The dcprtvity
IN the pu'lic councils here is III" work mainly
o. tho Federal Government. We would
1l.i W, could noW feel that there ltn> been
c,.rr& upon This tendency to degradation Of
pt.l!ir virtue in Virginia. But can we:
r..v -:unr constituency that las chosen the
1u'lic representatives for iivc yeats now
= -..,> t;l,rn. III" material i the SANE: and
tn question i. Can we "ct enough at sound
wuoti - repair the old ship Of state;
We ho,,c 50. But what do we see: Leaders
OF pres and people rrocianlinS principles
Tia; diminish the force Of contracts bctWcei,
iGtl "uG h!unt the sense Of moral Obligation,
- that III trust and confidence between mcs
!, threatened and imrcri'lcd. Without con
til uoy. aud reliance upon one another, men
Viii ,c placed in Il state Of great clnlarIa>s-
mn,t. and trade and enterprise will tc
,aia'yIryl. When the body of the people
become iAnoclllated with these notions We
cennot hope that they will elect as thei!
Representatives men Of integrity and honor.
Tlr time, indeed, i full Of danger. That
corruption lEl, spread, and is spreading,
iuryugA the hand and daily increasing III
cao.!2.ty cannnt tc disputed. 1t is both
thu interest aud the duty Of every citizen to
10 "A h. can TO put check upon it. With
General corruption amongst lawmakers tho
people viii not long escape, and with thcir
deprivation will come general wreck ana
ruin. There will he an end Of prosperity.
aml IN end 10 contc:!mcnt. No people car
stand up against the weight of the publ,
u,rrybrium of the world.