Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-02
THE EXTRAYAGANCE OF UNITED
STATES s0TRTs

We print this morning a letter to
the Cincinnati Gazette exposing the cor
rupt practices Of lot IF Republican
officials in Arkansas. 4 more glaring
case Of swindling was never exposed;
and yet Attorney General Williams,
who was thoroughly posted in regard
u these transactions, has taken no
steps 10 have the perpetrators punish
ed. The Washington correspondent Of
the st. Louis BePu5Eega says: 1t Is
highly probable that Senator Thurman
viii revive the case of the Arkansas
] ldicial expenditures on which. It VIII
be remembered, a sharp correspondence
passed between him and Attorney Cen
cral Williams some time ago. There Is
a mine Of fraudin this matter, and if
the Senate can be induced To open it,
there viii be another contribution to
the judicial scandal Of this Admins
tration."
This Is only one Of aseries Of develop
ments that NAV be made in the South
crn States as to the extravaganza OF
United States Courts. The United
States Marshal in North Carolina is re-
ported to have expended outrageously
large sums, and an investigation Of
these heavy expenditures has been ur-
gently demanded. But it appears that
this charge Of eztravaganseis not con-
fined to the Southern States. The Aa,-
Jurn N T.l-4dregtiser. a Republican
Journal, said IN a recent Issue:
NO person possessed Of any knowl-
edge or sense of official propriety who
noticed the character Of the cases pros
ccuted before the United States Dis
trict Court here last week, and the re-
suits of those prosecutions could !
have failed TO perceive that the |
Court WAS used mainly and principally |
for the purpose. not of the Government |
~ the United Stats. bpi TnrcrcatiHq fees |
Tor lOcuI commissioners. Il appeared |
very clearly that nearly every one of |
man charged with Illegal voting. was |
presented by those officers WITHOUT any |
substantial provacation. and it was So
found. in effect. 10y the several petit
iuIies which passed upon them. Not
a single person was convicted Of any
thing whatever during the term. and
vet all who were brought here and
tried were subjected 10 great vyNatiOns
and expenses which they were lily pre-
pared To bear. The prosecutions We're
abuses. therefore. of the processes and
powers Of those officers to make feesfor
themselves, and very oppressive.
rs these practices Ia the Jurisdiction
Of that Court hare become general and
chronic. and 0rc engaged "a, bg so many
comm issigaers and depHty morShols. J
It Will be difficult to break them up.
But it Is high time that an effort IN that
direction should be commenced, while
the proceedings Of the last week are
fresh in the rocollections IF those who
witnessed them. No such exhibition
Of the use of the process AMI powers Of
administrative officers for selfish and
yenal purposes ever before occurred in
hat courthouse.
1t would be discreditablc to the
character II this community to allow
such an affair to pass uDnoticed. 1t
should be brought to the attention at
,ncc Of the Circuit Judge. who Is res
ponsible for the continuance IN Office Of |
hose commissioners. and to the Mar
,bal. who is responsible for the acts of
his DEPUTIES. and who receives half Of
their fees. If they refusa to interfere
in the matter, it VIII then be proper to
seek another remedy.
Here is Republican authority that
the Republican Federal officials in
he Judiciary Department Of the Gen ,
rial Government are using the machin- ,
Try Of the Federal Courts 20 rob the :
people. Here we have the statement
hat under Republican-aacendency and
he rule Of Grant the Judiciary which
was created to hold the scales Of justice
mas been transformed into a machinery
for oppression and robbery; that in
stead Of arresting abuses ii has become !
4 department for creating fees 10 line
he pockets Of a few men who manipu-
ate caucuses and run conventions.
This we are told is no new thing, but ]
hat It "has become general and chron-
e. among the Federal officials. And
vet no Effort has been made to break
up these corrupt practices. How long
re these things to continue;