The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-19


gress.
| The characterization ExpOsure-A Piece
OF Gross Disrespect.
| The United States Senate considers it
''piece of gross disrespect," we are told, for
an investigating committee of the House Of
Representatives to make any inquiry into the
action of member of the higher body. BY
what right does this intermeddling committee
bring to light the fact that Senator and ex-
Secretary of the Interior Harlan asked for
and received from the President Of the Union
Pacific railroad and Director Of the Credit
Mobilier ten thousand dollars to ''help the
tor Harlan himself? Such an impertinent
inquisitiveness is clearly breach Of the privi-
leges of the Senate, and should be properly
resented by that body.
But how about the "gross disrespect'' to-
wards the people Of which United States
Senator has been guilty in laying himself I'M
der pecuniary obligation to these grasping
and corrupt corporations, whose schemes of
plumber depended on the friendly silence of
Congress? How about the "gross disrespect''
to every honest principle evinced by the &C
ceptance of this money from railroad presi-
dent by Secretary of the Interior, who in vir-
tue of his Office exercised extraordinary powers
in the management and transfer of the public
lands? DR.. Durant is democrat Senator
Harlan radical republican What service
could the latter have rendered to the former
to call for such an extraordinary act of iber-
atty? The Secretary of the Interior had
power to embarrass or make easy the way of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company with ref
erence to their gigantic land subsidy and to
the government benefits which that corpora
ton was from time to time entitled to receive.
Is the Cabinet no more honest than the Senate,
and are the immediate advisers of the Presi-
dent as open to Inducements" to prevail
upon them to 'look into law as are the
Congressional friends of Cakes Ames? If the
Senators are so tenacious of their privileges
will they not also display slight regard for
their honor and cause On investigation of
their own into the offences alleged against
members of their body? Will they not 90
behind the election of Mr.. Harlan to the
Senate and ascertain what he was doing in his
official capacity as Secretary of the Interior
for the grasping spectators of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company and the Credit Mo-
blier that induced DR.. Durants donation of
ten thousand dollars?
We are aware Of the existence of q cunning
plot to defeat thu punishment of the Senators
and Congressman who have been contami-
mated by the Credit Mobilier corruption. It is
well devised, but it will not succeed. The
recipients of the favors of Cakes Ames and
DR.. Durant who are now in the Senate and
House are to be whitewashed; but in view of
the notorious character of the bribery and cor
ruption, the business in which the Credit Mo-
bilier Ring has been engaged is to be Sc
verely censured in general terms It is to be
held, however, that Congress cannot take cog
nizance of any act done by member before
election or during former term of service.
and hence all the testimony relating thereto is
to be stricken from the reports. This is the
programme, and it is to afford an opportunity
to the republican party journals to denounce
the corrupt practices of the corporations with
out hurting any member of the republican
organization. The people will not be salts
fed with such man9uvre They care not to
what political party the corrupt Representa-
tives belong, or how high in power they may
be- but they will insist on holding the guilty
parties to strict accountability. If justice is
refused by the Senate and the House the denial
will be remembered hereafter to the cost of all
concerned in the offence. Every tainted Con-
gresham should resign the position he has
disgraced, and the atonement should COM
mence with radical in the Senate and
democrat in the House of Representatives.
| The TWEED TRIAI-The evidence IN tho