Year: 1859

The recent cases of official corruption which
have come to light at the seat of the Federal
. Government and elsewhere, are becoming no.
torious abroad as we'll as at home, and seriously
affecting the spread of Democratic sentiments
on The other side of the Atlantic. At the pre-
sent time strong effort is being made in Eng
land to reiorm and popularize the franchise -
privilege, but on the reception of the intelli-
gence of such peculation, corruption and fraud,
ihe papers in the support of the aristocratic
party seize upon and magnify its already large
proportions. and implore their countrymen to
postpone for the present al aspirations for their
reform measures, and hold up the model Re-
public" which they are endeavoring 10 emulate,
as but another name for corruption and fraud
The London Times of recent date, reviews
the development of the late Congressional In
yesgatng committee, aud draws from its re-
port tae following conclusions:


:" Now we take upon ourselves to say that, TO
whatever extent personal excu pations are to
ba admitted, it would be utterly impossible TO
fad n Eng aud any such c0rruptions of system
as have been thus exposed in America. No
person can doubt, after reading the reports pro.
ceedng from the Committee of investigation,
that political influence is allowed in the Uni
ted States to counterbalance all other qualitica-
tionS for the public service. Nothing in this
cOuntry makes any approximation TO the system
there pursued. All the influence or intmida.
tiOn here practised absolutely vaniShes in COM
parlson with an organized policy under which
everything, from first to last, is referred to cleo
tOneerlng utility. In this point of view, the
pal iaIlOnS offered in the favorable report only
make matters worse. for if they exculpate in-
dlVduals it is only at the expense of the entire
community, to which they ascrbe a similar
laxity Of political principle. We may indeed
well pause before we Introduce into England
Institutions like these. They would certainly
not tend TO financial economy or to public NOR
allty, aud from the illustrations here given it
must be equally clear that they would not con-
.duce 10 the freedom or independence of any
class OF the body polite whatever"


We candidly confess that We are at sOme-
thing of a loss to answer these grave allega-
tons There is, alas ! too much truth at the
butOm of them, and we cannot wonder that
the enemies of Republican institutions should
take advantage of them, particularly when
nothing SO foul and dark can be found in the
rnhn, Of despotism. These disclosures wound
our national pride, and should bring blush to
every American cheek. Every man should ask
himself the question, Is there no responsibility
resting on my own shoulders for this national
degradation And if this inquiry should run
throughout the length and breadth of our land
and the honest conviction acted up to, it would
vastly tend to improve our political parties and
Institutions. The principal reason for so much
malteasance in Office was plainly set forth il
our issue two weeks since, viz: the practice o
awarding active politicians without regard Il
their moral qualifications. 1t chafes US to bC
told that SIN America public spirit is utterly
dead. There, majority, undeterred by th'
fear of exposure, unbushingly asserts the dis
graceful principle that the spOils belong to Ih'
victors;" and politicians without character o
Independence. who are chiefly professional agi
tatOrs, are ready, for the sake of the loaves a nj
fishes, to commit any act of meanness and dis
honesty"


1t is well nigh time for the American peopl
10 wake up 10 the universal disgrace which thi
state Of things is bringing upon the country
and resolve TO arrest the onward progress {
this great evil which is so iminently endangeI
ing the existence and propagation of republica
institutions.