The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-18
AN ERA OF INVESTIGATIONS.


la,ion Of public funds, and all manner OF lnfl-
deity to sacred trusts, and as seed time l.
followed by the harvest, SO we are now enter
ing upon an era of retribusion. :" As man
soxs so shall he reap"
4 Investigation OF the corrupt practices OF
venal officials la, already become the order OF
the day, and if these investigations be con-
Quoted in the spirit Of impartial justice, and
be followed by the exposure and adequate
punishment of the guilty, happy will it De for
the whole country.
Such has been the impunity for crimes
of this sort, SO secure did these male
factors consider themselves under the protec-
ton Of corrupt dominant party, that they
became bold and shameless in their crimes,
and have scarcely thought it necessary to dis
guise them. Yet such is the "honor among
thieves" that it may be difficult to extort from
their accomplices the evidence necessary to
secure their conviction.
At Washington, at nearly every State capt.
tall there is ''nest of unclean birds" that
needs investigating Could the investigations
be made thorough and complete could
they reach the highest officials and pen
citrate their secret recesses and develop
their combinations; could they reach corrupt
judges upon tie bench as we'll as political
functionaries in high places; could the whole
truth be known and exposed to the world,
what deplorable spectacle would this coun-
try present to other civilized nations! But
that will be impossible; perhaps, out Of re-
spect to the good name OF this Republic, it is
not desirable.
Committees of investigation, appointed by
Congress and by State Legislatures, are at
work, and others will be appointed as proper
subjects are presented, whilst grand juries
are also investigating, and although the whole
crowd of official malefactors are not likely
to be reached, and, possibly, not the most
guilty, yet many are likely to bs brorg,a It to
justice.
In Louisiana their name is legion. TIE
of few of them to the notice of the Grand
Jury. The Legislature is looking into the
conduct of some, but whether they haze SO
covered up their tracks, and can SO rely upon
the dumb silence of their accomplices, that
the evidence Of their crimes can not be OBJ
tanned, remains to be seen. That tie State
has been robbed of many millions by the
bribery and corruption of members Of tie
Legislature is moral certainty in the
minds OF all our citizens. Men, black
and white, have entered the Legislature in
state Of restitution, and have s.Gdeniy be-
come comparatively rich, and SO of other
officials. How could this happen except by
the accumulation OF brides?
One shameful practice has become noto-
rious in the Senate Of this State, which ought
to be the subject of investigation. We have
it from good authority that in that body there
is a ring Of Senators who levy an assessment
upon every appointee OF the Governor who
comes before them for confirmation.
This assessment is proportional to
the income of the Office, and must
be paid under the pain and penalty of rejec
tax collectors in some OF the parishes is as
high as four thousand dollars each There
seems to be a regular tariff Of assessments
agreed upon by the ring. OF course mid
die man, an "outsider," is employed to col
lect these assessments, without # the any
of the ring being known to 3ie TIC
tim. This practice, we think, can be proved
if a proper effort be made under due au-
thority.
Let these investigations go on, and let them
be pursued with patience and industry. Let
every means be exhausted to procure all
existing evidence to the end that our legisla-
tive halls may be purged of the kna7es who
have not only violated their oath5 of o-ce
and robbed the people, but hare brought
lasting disgrace upon the State. The Demo
cratic Conservative majority in the House can
not better serve their constituents than by
exposing aud Furnishing the scoundrels who
have prosttuted their trust to illicit gain. In
the Senate let our friends pursue similar
course, and throw upon the Radical majority
in that body the responsibility of doing justice
between the State aud their faithiess asso.
Public opinion, which, from these noto-i.
3us scandals which have hitherto character
zed the Radical party has already deprived it
If much of its absolute power, demands that
is shameless deeds be brought to light, and
hat as far as possible condign punishment
% melted out wherever guilt can be proved. |
It is due as we'll to public morals as to the
protection of the State Treasury.
But these Investigations, whilst they should |
Be searching and inexorable in the pursuit Of
ruth, should at the same time be free from
partisan hate, having in view only impartial
Justice and the public good. The motto Of
the investigators should be "Let no guilty |
man escape The end in view should be the
publication Of official morals, and the enforce
ment OF fidelity in office, which has been SO
disregarded under Radical rule
The work of investigating committees may