The Portland daily press., 1874-05-27

member of the cabinet is set apart for sacrl-
fee. 1t is but recently that the Attorney Cen
eral was brought to the stake. His onence
was landaulet which cost $1,000! From time
immemorial a carriage has been supplied for
the official use of the Attorney General. No
BODY ever thought of challenging the proprlety
of such thing until now. Judge Hoar, Will
liam NJ Evarts, not to mention those who
nreceded them for scores of years, used the
same mode of conveyance. But carriages will
wear out, and it so happened that q new one
was required during Mr.. Williams term. II
was bought for him. A cheaper one might
have answered the purpose. Possibly some
second hand affair might have been picked up,
if time enough had been taken. But a toler-
ably stylish carriage was procured; not by any
means a frst-class one, for everybody knows
that price wouldn't be enough to buy such an
one, but conveyance suitable for the law min
lister of the greatest Republic on the globe, to
ride in, in the pursuit of his onerous official Ia.
bors. But when it was discovered that this pur-
chase had been made the District of Columbia
was altogether too small to hold the noise that
was made about it, 1t spread itsolf all over
the thirty States and the ten territories
and was big enough to 10 round and fill the
whole space. Some genius out West promises
to rival Ogles' gold-spoon exploit of Van Blu
ren's time, by parading this $1,000 vehicle in
the political professions of 1876. All of which
goes to show that in Spartan simplicity, in be-
roic devotion to principle, in vigorous search
for, and merciless showing up of extrava-
gances and wrong doings on the part of all the
servants of the government, these times are
without parallel in American history
However, one sacrifice on the altar of patriot
ism seems only to have stimulated these devo-
tees to new exercises of homage to the deity
of reform. Congress, which sometimes will do
foolish things, in spite of its proverbial Wis
dom, passed law while ago authorizing tho
collection of unpaid taxes by special contract
The execu ton of this law demonstrated it's i'm
propriety. Naturally, one would suppose that
under such circumstances. the same body
which enacted the law would forthwith repeal
it and thus make an end of the matter. No
such thing. On the contrary they have insti-
tuted savage raid against the department
which simply carried out the law they made
themselves, and propose to visit censure upon
everybody upon the premises. The principal
offender-if there has been offence-having
| gone out of Office, escapes unscathed. But his
successor, who, burdened with many cares, has
rather allowed this business to be conducted by
subordinates, falls under the ban of its severest
reprobation. 1t is not alleged or pretended
that he has swerved in the smallest degree
from the line Of strict integrity. But victim
| is demanded to appease the popular wrath, and
as has been too often the custom in cases of ex-
piatory sacrifice during all the ages of the
| world, the most innocent ono Is singled out to
make atonement for the sins of Congress. And
this, too, notwithstanding it is obviously inde-
corous and inconsistent with the dignity of
the popular branch of the National Legislature
to attack member of coordinate branch of
the government, except In the way prescribed
| by the constitution. If the Secretary lof tho
Treasury is amenable to the censorship of the
House. he should be proceeded against with ar
ticles of impeachment Any indirect and devil
Gus mode of condemnation is alike an affront
to impartial justice and an unwarrantable in
reference with the prerogative of the Execu-
tive.
But these are queer times and it is difficult to
forecast what eccentricities may characterize
the proceedings of Congress. 1t may be, that
amid the general rush for front seats at the
show the managers may discover that it is not
the sort of spectacle which can give eclat to the
actors or edifcation to the audience, and that
the effort to disgrace somebody will be suspen-
ded in view of the imminent probability that
for whatever of blame attaches to the partisi-
pants in the enactment and execution Of law
that has proved odous, no single scapegoat
will answer the purpose of adequate expiration.
YARMOUTH