Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-02-03
A Chat with the Editor,
NUMBER FOUR.

NUMBER FOUR.
Don't weary, friend Editor if find way to
your sanctum often TO haze chat upon cur
rent topics Interchange of IDEAS with frank
ness has wholesome influence upon mortals,
and you and | may profit and CLEAN something
10 the advantage of each in thus familiarly
reviewing topics which fall in the way of our
casual observations or reading.
Have you noticed the pcFsistency with
which the increase OF salaries OF public Off
GERS are pressed upon Legislative bodies
how scarcely an officer of note is content
with the fees and perquistes which the laws
afordY Look where you may over the pro-
ceedings of Congress, or into the reports Of
State Legislatures, and this question is thrust
upon you. Admit, as, you say, it is reprehen-
sibe, how Is the evil tor such it is, to be over
Gomez II pervadcs. tho courts of justice, it
nbsorbs the talent and. services of most every
clerical position in the country, and il you
would believe in the seriousness with which
these reports are pressed upon our consdera-
ton, that the pubic good alone demanded n
raid upon the pockets Of the people. ut is
the haste to get rich p All, Mr. Editor you
have struck tle-key.note and the motive. pow
or which underlies all this--it warps all our
purposes, 1t corrupis the channels of intelli-
gence, IL ministers to unholy ambition, 1T be-
gets crime, 1t puts honesty at discount and
finally robs us of that manhood inherited
from the Creator.
Closely allied to this are the influences
which control about our Custom Houses, over
Nuhi In tu h..t., al..l
with the revelations of investigating commit
tees. Look at New York 1t was not enough
that the city was plundered of millions by
Democratic practices, but the same spirit hus
worked its way into Republican channels
Offices are bought and sold, and the mercan,
tile interests of that great city ure brought Ia
the feet of these plundcrcrs and compelled Ia
acquicsce in system which is no more MOI
less than robbery. New York is not alone In
the glory of this system Of espionage which
may in part be the outgrowih Of the war
Turn moment to New Orleans, where the
Customs have proved source of corruption
and where men who held positions for few
months only, have retired with fortunes, and
are spending lives Of Incidence with their i'll
gotten gaiss.
In eon6dence-I speak freely 10 you, Mr.
REED, of these blemishcs upon The body po
lilic of the Republican organization, for Il
would be the hight of injustice TO seek To coy
or up these things just now upon the eve Of a
campaign which is to- result in great Repub.
lcan triumph. 3iye the widest circulation to
reliable reports from the official Investigations
now being instituted, and weed out from the
organization by salutary legislation and rigid
scrutiny. these evils, and thus render the
country under Republican rule, prosperous
and add TO its material wealth and power.
But what OF the postal telcgraph-how does
II tally with your ideas Of inrenching upon
sacred rights Will the Government succeed
in the proposed assumption of the Telegraph
monopoly, and IL So will II result bsnihcialy
to the interests Of the business publlcg Grant
that the Government will cheaper intelligence
by control Of the wires, is there not danger OF
making "a source OF weakness ~ a coHsoli.
dated system Of government.
But now comts amnesty universal or gen.
erai--surging shrough Congress aud arording
deal Of amusement 10 outsiders. There are
three classes OF men seeking to.nlOud the bill
to their own liking, list, Republicans who be.
lieye rebels arc good as any body when they
have repentee. md, Republicans who bslley,
tAs fing-lead,r rs never should be reached b,
any SORT 81 amnesty, save that offered by til,
galiows, and Bird, the HsElshelled, Demoepa
cY. who Will not be consoled by any ything les
than extending opeh arms aud welcoming
back the entire tioupc--from Jeff Davis, down
IL Will be a sad day when our Legislator
yield 70 the importunitl,s Of the Democracy
and restore 10 the leading spirits Of the rebel
lion tho rights they forfeited In tie effort 4
overthrow the liberties OF The country. Truth
fully did Senator Morton deelase few day
ago, "tIlat The leaders could be no more oon
ciiiated Ia that way. than ratIle-snakes eoult
be conciliated by restoring their extracted
fangs. They woald dis as they had liyed--reb
els" But such Is Democracy-bankrupt Al
an organization. Il sesks 10 draw about Il kin
dfed spirits. sbatit n.ay not pass 10 the portal
Of decay without recognition Of the serion
disasiers following the rebellion. HORACE