Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-21
1.-THE LOBBY

that "thc Lobby" representing the
mere money of the country, con-
trolls body that ought TO represent
the highest order of American hon
or and intellect. The Congress of
the United States, while 40 millions
of people were asking relief from
the burdens that press so heavily
upon them through the practical
workings of financial policy that
is confessedIy a failure, has been
engaged for months in prodding
about among the slime and reek Of
its past legislation upon other sub
jects. That any great good will fol-
low its Investigations we donOt be-
lieve, but il is at least gratifying to
know that the thefts of the rings
have become so fragrant that those
who made them possible and con-
nivcd at them, are compelled TO
make some prctence of investiga-
ton. That this is prctenco merely,
there can be no doubt, for when
ever a scandal is brought TO the
light of day, we find that Senators
and Representatives. and in some
instances ever the President and
members Of the Cabinet, are i'm some
way, either directly or indirectly,
mixed up with it. Even the pre-
tended philanthropist Howard turns
out miserable imposter, and
thus it is in every department of
the public service. There is swim
ding in the Indian Bureau, bare
faced robbery in the District of
Columbia-sly custon-house leak
age at tho great sea-ports- gigantic
over-charges in the Printing Office,
and from these instances we are
made morally certain that cor
rupt lobby can buy and sell sufii-
cient number of our miscellaneous
Congress, whenever there is any
occasion to do so. This is partly
owing 10 the reconstruction policy
of the Republican party, but it is
mainly the result OF a wholesale de-
moralization of the public men of
the North. The war first enriched
our neighbors and finally corrupt
ed them.
The Government is at this time
afflicted with a widespread and
ever spreading leprosy of theft.
There is no public work that could
not be performed at one fifth the
price paid for it, if It was managed
as men would manage their private
affairs. Through our representa-
lives in high places, the venality
of the American people has become
proverbial, and in Europe to-day
it is asserted and believed that with
us money can purchase any man
from the pauper to the President,
or any thing from an apple TO a
woman's soul. This is not true of
the South, nor is it true of the
North, but the accident ola success
full war has placed in power men Of
a low order of intellect and of NOR
ais, and through them an entire peo-
pie are misjudged, Not only hayc
the best men of our section been
DISTINGUISHED, but a ban equally
effective has been placed upon the
Just and moderate men of the North.
The papers of the entire country
for n fortnight have been filled
with culogics of Willard Fillmore,
and unlike many that were bestow-
ed upon Mr.. Sumner, they came
from the heart and not merely from
the lips. The hard, iron iRoman
laid aside his animosities at the urn,
and a generous sentiment of this
kind has induced us to speak we'll of
the Massachusetts, Senator. But
there was nothing of this kind
needed in the first instance. The
praises of Mr.. Fillmore were as free
and spontaneous rs they were uni
versal, but this pure man had been
for years as completely ostracised
so far as political prcfcrmcnt was
concerned, as if he had been the
leader OF a Confederate raid into
New York or Pennsylvania. So it
is with men like Mr.. Seymour or
Mr.. Trumbull, and so it was with
Mr.. reeley..Whenever man shows
any symptoms of relenting toward
the South, any appreciation of COM
mon justice or humanity towards
us, he is denounced rs untrue to his
country, and thus it is that the rule
of the ring-men and robbers, who
wear the badge of unquestioned
loyalty remains unbroken. VIII
this last much longer? The result
of the late election in New Hamp-
shirc-thc portents in Maine and
Connecticut indicate revolt a.
gainst the Wholesale plundering of
the peoples treasury now going on,
and there is hope that something
like the decency and honor that
marked American legislature be-
fore the war may be restored. If it
is not, then the North instead of
having won victory, will hav"
been ruined by the result of her
struggle for the integrity of the
Union. If the lcprosy of which we
have spoken be not arrested, it
would have been better for her il
the Southern sisters had been per-
mitted to depart in peace. That
would not necessarily have involv-
ed the destruction either of the
North or South, but the mania for
plundcring that now pcrvades ev-
cry vein and artery of the public
service, il persisted in, will event
ually ruin both, and bring perpetu-
al disgrace upon our Republican
institutions. In addition it will
rend in twain the East and the
West, and accomplish secession at
last.
The examination of the brain of
Mr.. Sumner, showed no traces
whatever of the assault made upon
him eighteen years ago by Mr..
Brooks. This spells the sensation
al editorial of the Cincinnati Com
merciai, which vchcmently declares
that "the blows rained upon the
head of Chas. Sumner by Preston
s. Brooks in the Senate Chamber on