The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-11-27

/ rom Inc MOEGIttu tAlIllilltI.
The public has been made aware OF
the action OF the Legislature regarding
the alleged official corruption Of the
Auditor and Treasurer and one State
Senator. We have carefully read the
majority and minority reports Of the In
vestigating Committee, and must say we
we are of the opinion that the whole
matter is gotten up for political purposes,
or personal persecution. Each gentle
man. however is able to defend himself,
and they will no doubt clearthemselvcs Of
the charge. II guilty, friends though
they be, we nope they will promptly be
removed, for we oppose corruption and
will expose it, be they representatives OF
one party or the other,
But the question Is, are they guilty OF
any official corruption? The overt acts
charged against thcm seems 10 be thal
various sums of money entrusted to their
care, and belonging tothc State, have been
"bcught up by certain banking lnSt'iu-
tions. that is. the bank that paid the
higbe.t premium for the use OF tins
money could have it-dhH got Il. Now,
it would appear to some that lnasmuch
ms this money bad to be placed So"'e-
chsre for sale-l,eeping, 1t would make no
difference To the State what bank was
mnde the custodian, 81 that the money
,yos safe Does il make any
difference to the lear people
whether or Lot bonus was paid
the Auditor or Treasurer by the bank for
giving said bank the preference? If the
Auditor or Treasurer could make II little
extra money by deposltng the funds OF
the State IN bank that agreed to pay
srtrl interest for lis Use, Is II anybody :
business, provided said funds were secure
to the State? What does the State lose
bv the transaction, and in what hight can
the act be regarded as fraudulent and
corrapt?
TINS is the Eight il which we look at
the whole matter. and we cannot see that
either Mr. Burdctt or Mr. Bennett have
been guilty of any crimes or miSdemean-
ors.
Let us 20 back and look into the whole
working Of our legislative system, and
if We scrutinizc closely we will find that
very small hull has been made into ii
mountain when compared with other oil
GERS high in authority.
Corruption, the most scandalous and
bare-iaced--and that too. in open day
lights the order Of the day throughout
every department of the General Gov
eminent, and the people of the United
States are quiet-thclr tongues refuse to
talk il down, and their strength seems
too utterly exhausted to make the
least formal resistance. Men, with
treason in their hearts, and the
money of the people i'll their pockets,
cling and hold fast to the public CRIB,
and fattcn upon the spoils OF official cor
ruption. Still no signs of resistance by
the true yeonanry of the country. The
bread is taken from the mouths of the
poor, and the property OF the wc.l-tO-do
made To jingle with heavy taxation for
the pGrpose OF sustaining public officers
in their acts of violence and high-handcd
dishonesty. But the dear people" are
Dlma. Tkcy utter not one word, or do
one act, which will put an end to knuyery
and thievery. They are content be be
let atone; they wish not another war,
and they tell you 1.-The country's gone to
the devil anyhow
Where then Is YOUR great Republican
form of government! Where Is your
boosted freedom? Aye, the answer
comes in mourniul sounds, otis all gone
glmmcring~ Official corruption is
what did it, and IA thorough overhaul
ing of every dcpartment-both State and
.4,.i.t of