New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-04
Senator TrumbuIl Explains HIS
Position.

Senator Trumbull Explains hhss
Position.
while we entertain respect for the intel
lectual endowments of this eminent poftl-
cian. we never could credit him with the
candor Of high-minded statesman but ii
we had ever so deceived ourselves concern
ing this man, his speech in defense OF his
separs ton from his old political associates,
and the mean things he says about them
before his constituents, would have unde-
ceiyed ms. He speaks of the Senatorial sup
pocters of Q. S. Grant as "ring," endea-
yoring to conceal, not to expose, corruptioh
and wrong. Almost his very first statement
CONVEYS a false and slanderous impression.
"Within the last few years many abuses
hare crept into the Administration OF Gov
ernment.'' This is the key note OF MIR.
Tumbulrs whole speech, the pivot upon
which his whole yindication turns. 1.-The
last few wears, indeed! This man knows
very well that abuses, precisely such as he
Describes and denounces, are as old as the
Government itself. He knows that, while
human nature is what it is, and men are re-
ouired to ill offices of trust with men, it will
be impossible entirely TO prevent just such
abuses. Some men will steal, and steal
while protesting the most scrupulous honesty.
No amount of sagacity exercised in the selec-
ton of agents, or vigilance in observing
their conduct, can wholly prevent occasional
frauds and losses. To speak of abuses,
therefore, as having but recently crept into
the Government, is to speak falsely, and to
send forth an implied SANDER upon the pres
ent Administration. Abuses arc, indeed,
abundant under this Administration, but
when did any preceding Administration do
more to prevent them or to punish their per-
petrators when discovered: 1t is true that
there are some "abuses" which il is difficult
to punish even when discovered. One such
is the taking extrayagant pay for the per-
Romance of very deficient work, or merely
nominal work, as for instance when MIR.
Trimbull takes ten thousand dollars of the
peoples money for work almost as much as
nothing, and does it without scruple, under
the plea that he takes it as a lawyers fee.
The only punishment that can reach such a
man is the Judgment of the American people,
the settled conviction that his professions of
honesty and patriotism are empty aficcta-
lions. They hear his voice, but they see his
pockets swollen with Government plumber
and detect the contradiction. When Charles
Sumner stands forth as an accuser, we know
him. He may be wrong, (for he is a man,
and no man is infallible,) but We know, also,
that he is honest, and We respect him for his
honesty; but when a man like Mr.. Trum-
bull parts company with his old political
friends and stigmatizes them as a brother
hood Of thieves, We naturally turn from him
with disgust and Indignation. There is not
a Senator whom he maligns in his speech
who is not as pure as himself, and as little
capable of conniving at corruption. But we
proceed with this much praised speech:
Numerous aefalcations have occurred.
among the most noted Of which is perhaps
that of Mr.. Hodge, paymaster in the Office
Of the PayEnaster General, in the city OF
Washington, whose defalcations, occurring
there right under the eye of the Government,
amounted to more than s4000,0 900. Other
declarations have occurred IN other parts Of
the country"
Happily the country is acquainted with the
facts in the case Of Mr.. Hodge, @and these
facts so far from inculpating the present Ad-
ministration, serve TO yindicate its honesty
and fidelity. Mr. Hodge is now in the pcni.
Tertiary suffering the penalty of his crimes.
His defalcation was made possible under a
rule in respect TO the accounts OF paymasters
by which twas difficult 10 detect any default
So long as a payrnaster could report AN un.
expended balance, the rule assumed that all
was right, that there should be no final set.
Element and his account might run on indef.
niteley. Under this rule the defaulter had O
wide field and ample opportunity for specula.
ton and fraud. Mr.. Hodge improved both
and is now suffering the consequences of his
dishonesty and breach of trust. Both the dis.
covery ofhis crime and his prompt condign pun.
ishment are the work ofthe present Republican
Administration. Besides Mr. Hodge was net
appointed by General Grant. lie was an old
Democrat and had held the Office during sew.
erai years before Grant became President,
and shame upon the want OF candor which
would refer TO MIR. Hodges defalcatiOn as one
proof OF the unsoundness of the present Ad.
ministration. II has not only detected the
abuse, punished the offender, but it has now
adopted rule in the matter of such accounts
as TO make a repetition of such abuse next 10
impossible. Mr.. Trumbull knew all this
when he paraded this case before his audi
ence at Springfield.
81 was simple-minded enough TO believe
that the Republican party to which had
been attached, and with which had been
identified so many years, would be lifted in
public estimation, would be strengthened be.
1ore the people, if it had the virtue and hon.
esty 10 expose, even among its own men,
besg, wrong, corruption, and fraud, if it ex-
isted, and TO apply proper correctives; and
admit that was very much astonished when