Year: 1863

Lobby.


The canvass in this city and throughout the
State is being pushed with great vigor. An
army Of stump orators are travelling the State


pouring forth lot OF nonsensicsi trash
and billingsgate of just about as much i'm
portance as the harangues Of lot OF FISH,


women against each other The excitement, If


there Is any, is unquestionabiy at the highest


pitch OF the canvass, whilst the wrangles OF the
| politicians-!heir charges, counter charges and
recriminations against each other--know no
bounds In this city the politicians are search
ing all the political cesspools, byways. old
rubbish and refuse matter Of the past for the
purpose Of proving this and that politician
rascal, thief, vagabond and everything else but
what he ought to be. This is carried on to
| such an extent that were wo to believe all that
the politicians say Of each other we sbould be
compelled to admit that our political affairs are
managed by regular set of State prison con-
victs. a


But these personal attacks are made for some
special object. The mere triumph Of this or
that faction, or the election to an office. would
not prompt such system Of charges and bitter
,vitnperati0n. Nor would private pique or
mere personal animosity carry any person 30
far. We are therefore compelled to lock else
where for the cause In doing so we are not
forced to look far For years past the fat
pickings of the Albany lobby have been one of
the great incentives to politicians. II never
made any difference what faction Of the repub-
lican party or what faction Of the democratic
party was successful: the Albany lobby pros
pered the same. If the oats, who are always
splitting their throats in denunciation of their
opponents for their operations in the lobby.
happened to succeed. it simply placed another
set Of men in the lobby, and matters then nwould
run on as usual, only little more recklessly,
as it was last winter, when the radical republ-
cans had the Legislature for the lirst time. This
being their first chance, they improved the oP-
portuBty with a vengeance, as their numerous
attempts to black mail candidates for United
States Senator and private lawyers to make
terms for the committee on which they were to-
put bills shrough clearly prove These men who
open out with such bitter animosity know very
well what they will do in the Albany lobby if
they succeed-how they will squeeze the toll out
OF this or that city railroad Gansevoort or other
big job that may turn up, and at once charge
some other faction as being after the very
same thing. The probable profits that may be
received on the passage Of u certain railroad
bill are counted up; other jobs are figured over
and added TO this, until the sum is swollen to
such q respectable figure that they see at once
that they will lose an immense sum unless they
secure it forthwith. Here IS the point where the
bad blood is engendered. They imagine that
the money is within their grasp. THEM only
fear is that the leaders of another faction will
get their hands on it first. Then come these
bitter vtuperatiOns. TIE facts found in the
cesspooIs are brought forward and sppiied
with great energy.


The scene presented by this is worthy the
attention OF an artist. The anxious politician
has figured up his gains il he can Only Ike able
to keep some other person ont. Whilst re-
vOlviug the amount over in his mind he
imagines that personal enemy is making rapid
strides for the same prize. The next thing we
hear is the cry Of thief, public prostitute, lobby
king debaucher OF the Legislature aud public
plunderer. Why all these charges. Simply
because each politician imagines some other is
trying to get hold OF his prize Never did this
description Of affairs apply as trathfully as it
does at the present time to politics in this
city, and, in fact, we may say, to almost the eu
tire State. The public must well understand
the excitement that has existed for the last
nine months in regard to the contest over the
Broadway Railroad; how stocks have jumped up
and down; how Wall street, as well as political
circles, has been excited. They will also bear
in mind that the question is not settled yet,
Notwithstanding late mysterious report Of the
decision of a Judge in one of the river counties =
decision which, contrary to all custom, IS
kept from the public, and still remains almost q
sealed book. There is. no use in Disgusting
the affair This question will form one of the
most exciting topics of the next session of the
Legislature. There will be added to the list of
applicants two or three new parties. In fact
the politicians are nearly all trying to have
finger in the pie. Those who are connected
with one scheme are pouring hot shot into those
| connected with the other side. Soreheads are
at this work really more than any one else.
| They are all alike whatever they may profess.
| It does not make farthing's difference which
set of politicians are. successful: the city rail-
roads and other jobs will be placed upon the car
! pet as the prize to quarrel over. What are we
to do then. says a taxpayer. That, we ad-
/ nit. 10 q hard question to answer. The
present condition of the politics Of the country
| Ia such that we see no other course but
| to select the best men nominated. or, to
use the slang phrase Of the politicians, 20 it
blind. Experience however, has taught us one
thing, and that is to look out for those polti.


clans who are constantly charging upon soma
one else lobby corruption, and hoasting Of their


swn virtue in that connection. The events Of


the last three years have shown conclusively


that this class does not stop with any moderate


pickings, but jump in all over when they gel