The Morning herald., 1876-09-29


eral order for the performance Of politics
corruption are those Of the Secretary of th
Interior of the United States, Senator {
, the United States and ex-Secretary Of Wa
j an Ex-Governor of one Of the Territories
, and of the Postmaster Oft capital ofth
" nation,-all officials of the Government
who have made oath at one time o
another to execute, obey, and respect til
laws.
i The second document of the series is
slip of paper, printed exactly as follows
which shows that the request contained il
the first document, signed by names o
such official weight, is, in fact, COM
mand to subordinates. which no subordi
nate dare disobey:
\ ut is particularly desired that in reply
ing to this letter, the date and name of the
writer, together with his address and off
cial position, should be written clearly and
legibly, in order that credit may be proper.
ly given"
The third document is also on a separate
slip of paper, but autographed so as to
initiate handwriting, with the amount filled
in with pen.
"The committses will be glad to receive
from YOU fifteen (15) dollars, or more, ac-
cording as your inclination and ability may
lead you to contribute"
This shows the Government employee
that his official superiors, and the whole
power of the Government command him to
contribute to the Republican fund, and in
forms him of the exact amount which he
must pay, under penalty Of instant dis
missal.
The fourth document, however, is the
crowning infamy Of all. Like the second
and third, it is on separate slip of paper.
In it The representatives of Mr.. Hayes
quote the law passed to prevent Federal
office holders from contributing to cam
paign expenses, and then point out how
its operation may be evaded, melting and
torsing them to the commission of what,
in the sworn officials, Is the greatest Of all
crimes-the crime against the suffrage.
THE LAW IN RELATION TO CoNTRIBU-
TIoNs FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.
SECTIoN-That all Executive officers or
employees of the United States not ap-
pointed by the President, with the advice
and consent Of the Senate, are prohibited
flom requesting, giving to Or receiving
from any other officer or employee of the
Government any money or properly or
any thing of value for political purposes
and any such officer or employee who
shall offend against the provisions Of this
section shall be at once discharged from
the service Of the United States and he
shal! also be deemed guilty of misdemea.
nor, and on conviction thereof, shall be
fined in a sum not exceeding $500.
First-It is seen from the above that al
officers appointed by the President, by the
advice and consent of the Senate, are ,x
empted from the provisions Of the law.
Second-That in its application to othe
officers or employees of the executive
branches Of the Government not so ap-
pointed, the law simply prohibits one Off
Ger or employee, from paying to or receiv-
ing from another officer or employee Of
said branch Of the Government any money,
properly, or other thing Of value for po-
litical purposes.
To show that the peculiar wording of |
this law and the peculiar use made of it,
are the result Of Il plot matured some time
ago, We need on Y 60 back to the action Of
the last Congress taken to secure purity Of
elections. When the bill p-ohibiling pol
itical assessment of ofice-holders were re-
ported to ihe House, and strenueusIy
pressed by Nh Garfield, Of Illinois, that
ma.tee hyp-cri:e, Mr.. Blaine, Of Maine. at
once offered all amendment. similar TO the
British law applying to members of Par
Lament, by which it was made illegal for
Senator's or members of the House to con-
tribute to election funds, o: to receive such
conlriDunons-The object of Blaine's hy-
pocr'ical move was to kill the bill, but
Mr. Caulield accepted the amendment,
and the Democratic House passed the law.
Under the provisions not dollar could be
r. IN any office-holder for politi
cal nnrnn.cs Il strnck nnnst ern q ton intn |