Year: 1871

The unpleasant wranglc in the senate on the
subject of retrenchment and reform was finally
closed, yesterday, by the adoption of resolu-
tion instructing the committee substantially in
conformity with Mr.. Irumbull's views The
debate has been conducted with singular unws-
dom on the part of the senators, who claimed to
be the special defenders of the administration.
The reasons assigned by them for opposing the
searching inquiry demanded by Mr.. Trumbull
and his supporters were, that the measure was
intended as an attack upon the administra
ton; that the investigation would be con
Quoted III hostile spirit, with the intent and
effect of obtaining material, of little significance
in itself, perhaps, but capable of being adroity
fashioned into an instrument for the defeat OF
Grants denomination, and, possibly, for the
building up of a new party; and that the
present administration is generally pure and
efficient, and does not deserve the expression Of
distrust implied in the establishment of a com
mittee, with such powers and duties as MIR. Trum.
bnll wished to give to it, 1t is probably true
that most of the senators, who acted with Mr.
Trumbull in this matter, are opposed to the re.
nomination of President Grant, and that some
of them are personally hostile TO him. They
would gladly magnify any rree euiarities or de-
fects they might discover for the sake of bring
ing his administration into disrepute. 1t may be,
and we have no doubt it is, true also that dur.
ing General Grants presidency the government
has been administered with more integrity,
energy and economy than for many years be-
fore, and that there is no special occasion for
distrust or scrutiny. We believe this and the
people of the country genera ly believe it. OF
course, no one pretends TO suppose that among
so many thousands in public employments.
there are no unfaithful officers or no admins
trative abuses anywhere in such an immense
and complicated machine


The senators who confde in the purity of the
administration have no reason for setting on
foot an inquiry; but that is no excuse for fight
ing against it when proposed by others who do
not share their confidence. BY taking this
course they become the most dangerous enemies
OF the administration they profess TO defend.
Aversion TO inquiry always begets suspicion.
When men like Sumner, ,Trumbull, Patterson and
Schurz declare that investigation is necessary,
this declaration Of itself removes the objection
of want of probable cause, and the only way TO
retain the confidence Of the public is to court
the most extended, the freeSt and most search
ing scrutiny The personal antagonisms of SEN
ators will not allow them to see this. Mr.. Conk-
ling is too intent upon asserting his leadership
in the senate and defeating Mr.. TrumbulI and
Mr.. Morton; is too much occupied in establish
ing his position as the confidential champion
of the administration, to observe that they
are doing the president more harm than
his avowed enemies can. OF course, Messrs.
Conkling, Morton, Edmunds and the rest did
not profess to be averse 10 all inquiry they only
objected 10 an investigation conducted in the
manner that Mr.. Trumbull and his friends pro-
posed. These latter were not free from petulance
and acrimony, but it must be confessed they
had considerable provocaton, and their i'll
temper was less conspicuous than that of their
opponents. Mr.. Wilson's share in the debate
was most creditable. He admitted the purity
Of motlSe Of both factions of his colleagues
and urged consent TO the investigation on the
ground that as the majority of the senate were
convinced Of the integrity and faitbfuIness of
the administration, thorough scrutiny would
result in triumphant yindication against all at
tacks, aud greatly strengthen the president in
the confidence of the people


There was no real force in the objection that
the scrutiny proposed would be hostile and not
impartial. If the character of the administra-
tion is such as its friends believe, the more
thoroughly all its workings are exposed, the bet
ter for it and the worse for its enemies. If, on
the contrary it is inefficient or dishonest the ex-
posure Of its shortcomings is public duty. The
senate moreover, whatever the instructions
given to the committee, had the formation of all
committees in its own hands and, so long as the
majority Of its members are friendly 10 the ad
minisrration, there is no need of committing
this inquiry TO any senators who cannot be trust.
ed to deal fairly with it. The public mind every.
where is Just now strongly bent upon the dis.
covery and correction of abuses in the pub
lie service Il insists upon openness and candor in
reports Of public officers, purity in the manage.