Year: 1864




20 The Republican members of tho
United States Senate are talking about
reviving the committee on the conduct
Of the war. The former achievements
Of that committee do not encourage to
any such revival. The reports are al
ready shown. to be not much more
like the real history Of the war than
the distorted accounts Of the partizan
press. If the Senate will set the war
committee at work to explore for
frauds upon the government it will do
something sensible and Of practical
value. We do not know that a larger
proportion Of the money spent within
tho last three years has gone into the
pockets. Of thieves and swindlers than
occurs in times Of peace, but there is
no doubt that the treasury has been
plundered of many millions, probably
of hundreds of millions. Every day
brings to light somo successful impo-
sition upon the government-pl plunder
in army contracts, frauds in the pur-
chase of horses, outright stealing from
the treasury, and monstrous cxtortion
in the charter Of vessels--the later
coyered and protected by purchased
senatorial influence. Nearly every de-
partment Of the Government is befonl-
ed with the corruption As a matter
of public justice, the exposure, and
punishment of the rknayes who have
taken dishonest advantage of the ma
tional peril and necessity is a pressing
duty. Itis equally matter of policy.
Neither tho Administration nor its
party can stand undor the load of this
rank corruption. There is no need of
it. tits not their load, unless they
make it so. IF no honest and thor
ough effort is mado to ferret out, ex-.
pose and punish the thieves, then the
Administration will be held response
BILE for their crimes, and moro especi-
ally if there is n Disposition IN "ovsr
UP the facts and protect tho offenders.
Eearlier in the war the Government
could not stop to be critical. 1t was
under the necessity to arm and supply
its soldiers in the quickest possible
time; and the people were too much
in earnest to stop and count dollars
and cents. They preferred to be
plundercd freely ratherthan to submit
to any delay in the prosecution of the
war. That time is past. The Coy
crnment now has leisure to review it's
affairs, and to punish those who have
fraudently enriched themselves. Tho
people have not overlooked and will
not forget these matters; they have
treasured thom up against suitable
hour for retribution. The Admins
tration must purge itself of all this
corruption and plunder 1t is its only
safety. Let the Jonahs be thrown
overheard without compassion No
matter how high may be- their posi-.
ton or how great their influence, the
men in Office who have connived with
the plundercrs and shared in the
spoils mast be made to walk the
plank with thein. The Senate must
at least proclaim its unqualified con-
demnation Of such traffic in equatorial
influence as the New Hampshire and
Maryland Senators haveconfessed, and
prohibit all such venality in future
And the various departments, with or
without the aid of congressional in
QUESTION, must expose and punish the
swinding contractors and other spccu-
lators. Unless these things aro done,
tho responsibility will rest upon tho
Administration, and the people will
hold itaccountsble for an the plumber
it has suffered as we'll as what it has
tolerated. For the safety of tho Ship
of State and the reputation Of her
captain and crew, then, ovrboartl
with tho Jonahs. n ...-.-.I-. 80. N y.