Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-06-23
CRITICISM A CRIME.

A day or two since the Senate OF the
United States passed an act abolishing
the villainous Government of the Dis
trict of Columbia. As we then re-
marked, the thanks of the country were
due to the Senate for acting so wisely
and honestly, if only for once, for one
would have to look back long way be-
fore any previous commendable proceed
ing could be found. Other events that
have since been made public cause us to
doubt greatly whether much credit
should be accorded, The matter had
been SO thoroughly ventilated, and the
evidence was SO overwhelming of the
brazen rascality of the whole tribe OF
District officials, that there was no course
left but to tenderly and teartully dismiss
them. This the Senate did, we suppose,
as a sop to the Cerberus.of public opin-
ion, for only day or two before that
body had passed a bill entitled "a bill in
relation to the removal OF causes from
the State Courts to the Federal Circuit
Courts" The measure. seemingly so in
nocent in name, was, it Is asserted, for
the accomplishment of two objects: One
to obstruct proceedings in railroad cases
before the State Courts, and cause their
removal before some Federal Judge of
the Durell or Busted stripe, with whom
the railroads could have their own way;
and, secondly, for the express purpose
of gagging the press, so that the Senate
and Congress, and their CONDUCTORS on
the outside, could perpetrate any in
fanny and be secure that the only thins
under Heaven they dread, public opins
ion, should not be reused against them
by exposure in the press. The accounts
so far received of this audacious outrage,
this GROWING infamy of corrupt Legis-
lature, are but meagre. but sufficient has
through the length and breadth OF the
land, and to raise storm of indignation
that will yet make the men who voted
for SO foolish, SO wicked measure wish
their tongues had been blistered before
they enunciated that consent that will
stick to them like burs to a sleeps
back. OF all people in the world, the
Americans are the most lenient and for
giving for the mistakes or errors made
by politicians or legislators. Errors
either accidental or intentional, may at
the moment cause much displeasure, and
the culprit may receive singing re-
proof, but a short lapse OF time serves to
bury the fault in oblivion, and if a man
manifests desire to act rightly, former
sins are not brought up against him. or
if they are, do not meet with much con-
sideration. In the instance We allude to,
it is to be hoped that it will form an ex-
ception and every one Of the Senators
who voted to gag the press of the coun-
try, ought to be branded with the stigma
so long as he remains in political life.
They are not to be trusted; they show
that either improper motives or else
spite or malignant folly, or perhaps all
three united has so obscured their judg-
ment, so clouded their reason, so i'm
paired their sense Of duty to their con-
stituents, that they act like madmen
playing with fire, and are Just as likely
as not to destroy the institutions they
were commissioned to defend. How dis
graceful, how odious charge it is, to
which the Senate must plead guilty.
That in the face OF the New York Tam
many robbers OF the New York Custom
House frauds, of the Sanborn swindle, OF
the District iniquities, of frauds and
speculations on every side, all of which
have been exposed, and their author.
dragged before the bar of public opinion
solely by the persistent determination
and patriotic ex.rtions Of the public press
that in the face of the immense bene
fits that free and intelligent press con
fers upon the people, that an American
Senate in 1874, should seek to manacl,
its hands, to close its mouth, and upol
pain of penalties and punishment, CON
pei it be silent spectator Of the knave
ries, the swindles, the corruption tina
to so great an extent has become the cha
acteristic of official life. Disgraceful {
such an act is, the Senate did it, and OF
can but impatiently await the arrival
the full proceedings of the 10Th inst,
say who the men were that had the So
lime impudence to assert their freedo
from the criticisms and comments of Il
public press of the people they should
the sworn servants, instead of assumiI
the airs and trying to secure the odiol
privileges of being its rulers. At Il
next few elections the members of Il
National Legislature will have some vel
unceremonious reminders of their prop
status, or else we are greatly mistaken
the signs of the political horizon.