Year: 1862




If Diogenes were still pursuing his famous
search for an honest man, we would advise
him not to waste his time among our poll
ticians. In the army he might find honesty
enough, and among our educated, experienced
army officers there are men who hold power
without peculstion, and control affairs without
being corrupt; but he would seek such men in
vain among the contract jobbing politicians.
In the serried ranks Of place hunters and place
sellers that advance against the Union as
steadily as our soldiers move to defend it there
are instances of every kind of public vice. but
none Of public virtue. Buchanan's celebrated
reign of robbery is outrivalled by this epoch of
the war. The records of the times comprise
only war bulletins and reports of investigating
diers we may be proud of our country and
hopeful about its future; but the moment we
wade off from the military news we are mired
in such knaveries, jobberies and corruptions
that it becomes question whether the rebels
are not harmless compared to the politicians,
or whether it is worth while fighting for coun-
try which we permit to be eankered and rotted
Wnlle We are ueIehulhG IL.


Simultaneously with the news Of a general
advance of our armies comes the latest appendix
to our political Rogues' Calendar, in the form
Of the report of the Shoddy Investigation Com
mittee of the New York Legislature. 1t tells
the same old familiar story Of shrewd advan-
tages taken of the public need; of public
moneys heedlessly squandered or audaciously
stolen; of politicians selling their patriotism
and filling their pockets; of officials conniving
at fraud or blind to gross cheating and open
swindling We have all heard of the same sort
of transactions hundreds of times since this
war broke out. ID is the same plot as that
played in Missouri, or as that in which Cum
mings, of the World figured. The dates, the
location and the names of the characters only
are altered. The people are so tired of reading
such stuff that we doubt if even a we'll known
name here and there would allure them to
the perusal Of this last report. Even its
moral grows musty, and we become weary of
invoking upon contract criminals the punish
ment that never comes or the disgrace which
takes the pleasant form of new command.
Perhaps when heavy taxes weigh the people
down the mention Of shoddy will cause wry
face rather than laugh; but just at present no
one seems TO care for exposures. Perhaps when
every cent of which the people have been
robbed and swindled has to be made up from
the hard earnings Of the people themselves,
knavish contractors will not be considered
smart nor thievish politicians pass unrebuked;
but just at present no rogue is compelled to
disgorge his gains, and investigating commit
tees write out their reports only to have them
go upon the record for future reference.


So with this shoddy exposition Of the select
committee Of the Assembly. 1t demonstrates
conclusively that the State was swindled in all
the clothing and accoutrements furnished to its
soldiers; but the public were aware Of this be-
FORE 1t shows that Treasurer Dorsheimer knew
so little Of the purchases he superinteDded that
he was cheated right and left and was only
able to secure a silk dress or two for
his own share Of the spoils. Members of
the Military Board gave only twenty-four
hours public advertisement to immense con-
tracts, but notified their favorites privately be-
| forehand so that certain jobs, Of which they
| shared the profits, could be nicely arranged.
| Governor Morgan is shown to be so careless
and needless that he leaves important tsle-
| grams unnoticed, and unthinkingly consents to
| the substitution Of shoddy for army cloth in
soldiers uniforms. Dorsheimer, who confesses
| that he knew no more of cloths than OF Her
mann's tricks, was entrusted with the sole
charge of the clothing contracts, and signed
them in utter ignorance Of their contents and


provisions That celebrated parsonage, Gusta-


vus Adolphus scroggs, makes bargain with a


clothing firm to get them contract and share


the profits; fulfls his part Of the bargain and is


not paid, but undauntedly offers to secure an


other job If his old account is settled Thur
| low Weed sppears in the character Of a trea,