The Van Buren press., 1872-02-27
Republican Integrity.

Republican Integrity.
The summary expulsion of" Honest John
nv Edwards from the House, without even
the empty compliment of IA division, speaks
well for rrtirning honesty in the Republican
members. We have for some time been re-
galed by the testimony taken against Clay
ton. by the investigation Committee. and We
NAV aooa hear the result Clayton Is SO mix
~d up with " Honest John. /" that 1t will take
some extraordinary hair-spltting 10 acq'dt
HIM sffrr turning out Johnny. Tie lies'-
dental election is not far oil, aud the Senate
may fear the effect of an endorsement of con-
duct of such fiagrantly corrupt character.
as has been proven by Chamberlain and other
witnesses. They may feel convinced that The
conduct OF CLAYTON must be condemned by all
honest men, and that his Importance In the
Senate may by no means eountersalaace the
damage resulting from an endorsement ofhis
conduct, by the United States Senate. That
ii will be mere question ofexpediency. none
can doubt who have kept pace with the post
bellu,n history Of the Republican party. II
will be q difficult matter to convince the rank
and fils OF the Republican party, who are
honest, that it Is right and wise, to permit
Aya,t as. Clay ton Is proven to be, ia
remain nfemDei~ OF tiic Scrau-. rvIn' ~
known by the company they keep and there
~ not two-thirds Of the Unit. d States Senate
who are purcr than Clayton. or n; all events
sre 10th to make the shameful disclosurs, then
the time has indeed come, when tie people
must change their rulers or follow other en-
tinct governments to the realms of fdishonored
oblivion. The boldncss manifested by Re
publican polit icians, in their violations of the
plainest provisions of the Constitution. and
heterogeneous Of the rights Of the people In
their shameless destruction of the credit oi
States by open robbery, under the guisc OF
taxation, lead us to think that they may even
now. dare to acqut Clayton. If they do, the
testimony. whio', even Clayton asks may be
suppressed, will make telling campaign docu-
ment. II will be a very interesting piece of
literature, for hard listed Republicans to pore
over, as in its pages they may learn the cha
racter Of the men they have elevated to office,
aud made the guardians of their rights and
liberties. Clayton has paralized the power Of
tho ballot-boy and unscrnpulously reversed
the choice Of tile people. lie has assumed to
dictate TO them their Congressman, although
notoriously, that Congressman was chosen, If
At all, by the Democracy. lie has induced the
Smoky Caesar at Washington, to dccapitatc a
District Attorney and Marshal, because they
manifested disposition to execute the law
that lie had 80 grossly outraged. and whose
vengeance he escaped by doubtful techni-
cality. No twelve ofhis fellow citizens have
ever pronounced him innocent Of the grave
charge brough against him, and he has the
hardihood to stand forth with only the 1imsy
covering Of presumptiye innocence. Again.
his retainen claim that he demanded an in
vsstigation at the hands OF the SENATE. And
now We behold him cringing and shrinking
from the public gaze, and bcseeching the
committee not TO fublish the very testimony
he had demanded" Can the Senate white
wash this man, and at the same time dare at
tempt to maintain their own integrity If
such IA to be their verdict, in the name Of
HONESTY and GOOD GOVERNMENT, let the Aso.
pie rendcra verdict in November next, that
rH drire such men from po,cer. The Govern
ment ID in immindt danger, when controlled
by such men. Let the people look well to
their interests lftlisy would have Gov
srnment true to their interests and one that
will protect them in person and property they
must entrust its administration to different
man. The expulsion of Clay ton is u duty that
the Senate owes to itself. as well as TO the
reputation ofthe Nation. They will he alik-
untrue to both. II they continue him in the
Senate after the testimony of Chamberin,
who was defendants own witness. Even his
own attorneys saw the disastrous effect OF his
testimony. and manifested their well known
knowledge Of the law OF fevdencc, by attempt
Ing to impeach the testimony of their own
witness. Will this evidence strike the Senate
as 1t did Clayton's attorneys? The issue is
simply, will the Senate endorse official corrup-
tion or condemnit We answer, they will en-
dorsc il.