Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-01

matter oil cOngratulatlon That he has not
been found guilty of the offense. |, would
have been a source Of modification TO every
citizen, jealous Of the good name Of his
country, If favorite officer Of the President
nearest to his ear in official position, had
been convicted of the crime Of defrauding
or conspiring to defraud the revenue. The
trial was fair and searching, the prosecution
was efficient and able, but we are thankful
that the knowledge Of corruption has not
been proved to have reached the White
House.
The evidence before the jury, certainly
was enough to raise suspicion in the
mind of an impartial person, Of the in
tegrity of General Babcock. The prosecu-
ton in other cases, bad been so successful
and effective, as to lead people to look for a
verdict Of guilty in this case, especially as
the defense was even weaker than the pros
ecution. There was no explanation at
tempted of the dispatches, except in the
speech Of one OF the counsel An evidently
false witness was put upon the stand by the
friends Of the Secretary, whose testimony
injured the case. And then there was the
natural disposition to convict one Of high
rank and place, Who had been found in sus-
picious company. The companion Of thieves
is usually regarded as guilty as though he
were a thief. General Babcock had to con.
tend with all these Influences and it is for
tunate that he was able TO do so successfully
1t is, however, dsagreeable thing to an
American, and especially to one who is tray-
cling or residing abroad to have to defend
his country against the suspicious and
charges which some of its leading and well
known men bring upon it. lis misfor-
tune that so many public men, Of note and
rank, fall so easily into places and associa-
tons that are not fit and decent; that they
have so little sense of what is reputable aud
becoming, as to put themselves in the com
pany of those who are engaged in question.
able transactions, either as their dupes or as
their stool pigeons General Schenck has
brought great discredit on the country bv
mis- connection with the Emma mine adyen-
turers, His relations TO them were so init.
mate as to satisfy every one that he was
either their dupe or their accoinplice. And
in either case, man who uses his official
prerogative to cover or help the frasds of
others, or who is blind to the corruption to
which he has lent his Endorsement is unfit
10 occupy an official position. Such places
should be held only 10y those who are incapa-
BILE of conniying at fraud and incapable
of being cajoled and hoodwinked 10y dis
honest parties Senators and representatives
in Congress have not been above the suspi-
cion of using their office TO aid aud abet
outside nefarious transactions which have
despoiled the government Of millions. The
smell of such corruption has attached to
even high judicial officers.
Doubtless, in many cases, the suspicion is
false as well as injurious one. There are
men of integrity who suffer in reputation
wrongfully. There are men in Congress
who are suspected without any other reason
than the fact that they are in Congress and
they might use their privilege with profit to
themselves. The exigencies of politics bring
them into contact with scores of political ad-
yenturers who have "claims," or are irving
Tor "jobs,' or who are seeking TO conceal a
foul deed under an honest name Therefore
many suffer under undeserved suspicion II
is not strange that the most upright man
will sometimes be whispered about in poll
tics, nor is it very strange, human nature be-
ing as it is, that so many men of official po-
sitlon should come, both innocently and
guilty, into connection and completely with
the rogues and rascals TO whose political
influence they suppose themselves to be
indebted.
1t is quite obvious that the private score
tary of the President has been the associate
of dishonest men; that he was in correspon-
dence with those who were engaged in de-
frauding the revenue that his friendships
have b,en open to the severest censure. lie
stood by, consenting to the frauds he might
have exposed. lie was silent witness of the
aepredations of Skiliul rogues. lie has
kept very bad company, even though the
jury has not found him to be guilty of act
ual stealing himself. His feathers are drag
gled and bemired by his contact with nfa-
nous friends This is bad enough in the
eyes Of honest and honorable men. lie needs
no conviction from a jury to fasten upon
him disgraceful name.
Nor are we satisfied that Gen. Grant has
been sufficiently careful of his friends and
associates. II looks as If he had been i'm
prudent, and had admitted to his friendship
those who desired to use il only for their
own ends. Disreputable people have been
his favored guests, companions of his drives
and OF his leisure hours. There have been
700 many scandals about his associates and
his appointees to office far more than there
should have been any reason to be. A Pres.
ident, with just sense of the high respon.
sibiities OF his office, has need to be careful
of his friends and companions. lie owes
something to the dignity Of his Office aud to
the fame Of American institutions. We
hope that this trial of Gen. Bahoock, and the
revelations which have been made in its
progress, will have a wholesome effect upon
the administration, aud that there will be
no recurrence Of things which make a true
man blush for his country.