The sun., 1873-08-26
Senator Morton on Back Paw.

Senator Morton ON Back Paw.
The political campaign hns just opened
In OHIO, and the FIRST signs indicate unmis-
takably that II most important question
there will be the salary act and bao,t-pay
grab of the last Congress. And .he same
mo- - sara OF the other States which are
to hold elections this fall. The public in
diguation on the subject has taken the
form of an epidemic, anI must run its
course in spite of the party managers.
They can no more arrest il than stop the
rushing currents of IA whrlwind.
Now Us in 1s1G, when far less cause oper-
ated TO fan the popular feeling into u
flame OF resentment, the people are reused
and terribly in earnest II is true that the
Treasury has been more largely plundercd
by railroad grants, class legislation In
dian treaties, Credit Mobilier frauds, and
other jobbery than ia this particular i'll
stance, without stirring any such commo-
ton rs is now certain.
The leaders were deceived by what they
supposed to he a passive indifference to
corruption, AMI hence added this last
! ounce to the ovcrladcn camcl's back.
| What looked ike Indifference was only the
! absence OF a moral conviction ms 20 the
! Other charge, and an uuwiihngness to
crush or 10 abandon leaders against whom
positive proof of personal guilt had not
until lately been produced.
They had been accustomed to regard Coz.
FAX, WILSON, DAWES, SCoFIELD, KELLEY,
/ BfNGHAM, Patterson, HAHLAS, ALLisuN,
and other Christian statesmen Us models
I in aaaf. II
with the Union cause and the events Of
! the last decade, and thus entitled TO their
/ favor Hence, although they believed that
! Congress ~ body was corrupt, it was Diff
fcult TO convince them that such men
were bought and sold like the ordinary
run Of carpet-baggers, who served Us II
common sewer for all tho fou deeds Of
the Republican majorltes in Congress.
But when the Credit Mobilicr iuvesti-
CATION exhibited these kuaves and hypo-
critics in their true light, and brought home
to the most iucredulous the evidence OF
their guilt, confidence was lost and the
idols broken. Their eyes were opened. &C
past deoeptions and their Minus prepared
for more startling developments. Upon
the heels of tia Credit Mobilier disclosure
came tbs iniquity which engages suol
universal attention, and with II the rccoio
of votes so that every constituency stands
face 10 face with the representative whC
either betrayed his trust by supporting
the plundering scheme, or, feigning TO op
pose it, aftcrward pocketed his proportion
of the spoils. 1t is easy therefore to under
stand why the people who may hav,
shown seeming apathy in regard TO for
mcr and even greater corruption, should III
so much stirred about this last outrage
The day of impunty for all such crime
have passed away, ana let u hope, at least
10 return no more.
senator MoRroS, in company with Gov
NOYEs, addressed the first Republican
meeting of the present campaign, II
Athens, Ohio, on Saturday last. After Ii,
had spoken on general subjects, an cpisod
occurred, evidently preconcertcd for oi
feet, which is thus reported by telegraph
Judge PEANTsEL said 1t has been reportc
here, senator that YOU have personally acceplc
the back pay. win YOU eXplaint This Judg
took care not 10 ash If he had returned tl
money TO the L. 5. Trea,uryl
| "Seuator MORTON said We'll, ! can say
have not taken IL and never expect to- lCrit
| ot good we will vote for vou, and loud ap
I pausel Immediately after the passage of IA
| b,ll had an interview with my distinguish
colleague, Mr.. PRtrr, of Indiana, and we thcr
/ agreed that Wc would not take II, believing thi
- tile principle involved In back pay was not
| sound one"
BY turning TO the list of those who hav
returned the back pay To the Treasury, III
name of Mr.. PRATT, the colleague 90 whol
Mr.. MoRToN refers, will be found, but h
own i missing Now he knows perfect
well that the disbursing officer of the Sci
! ate lms<awn this money and holds it sui
i, iect ~ his order, aud that il cannot &,
. back TO the place from which ii was co
! rptly taken without his direct iutervel
ton
To say that he has mot taken il an
never expects to-" is IA moan, technic
q bubble, which of itself jusutles distrust.
a is true he has not net "talicn it, but Il
!. may do so at any time, inasmuch rs IL
y money stands 10 his credit with a subo
= dinate of the Senate and is under his ow
o exclusive control, like deposit in bank.
= 1t suits Mr., MORTON to say now that
n does not expect 10 take this money, bl
!, hc may change his mind after the electio
ms Col. BENToN and ROBERT j. WALK
r, aid after protesting vehemently again
t the allowances of their day.
a If he meant to be thorough and hone
" about the business, he would have relieve
k himself from MI suspicion, rs his colleagl
% did, by putting out OF his power all rig
s. or claim to use the money hereafter. TIL
IL he has clung to it tenaciously and kee
e. the deposit within reach of his check
ii. .