Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-05

This he considered as merely pre-
paratory step, and that it would require
three or four years to put the establish
mcnt into complete and successful ope-
ration That twas deeply interesting to
the western country, and hoped the mo
ton would prevail.
Resoived, That the committee on
military affairs, be instructed to inquire
into the cxpediency of establishing an
additional national armory to be located
on the western waters.
On request Of Mr.. Cooke, Of Ten. and
by consent of the mover, it was laid on
the table for the present.
January 4.
The resolution moved yesterday by
Mr.. Cook, of Illinois, relative to the ex-
animation ofLand Offices, sc. being IN
der consideration
An inquiry was made of the mover by
Mr.. Cooke, as to the scope and object OF
it.
MIR. Cook said it would be seen, by
the latter clause of the resolution, that
he was DESTROYS of ascertaining whether
some mode might not be adopted, where
by the annual examination required to
be made into the condition OF the several
land offices of the United States might
be effected, at cheaper rate than at
present, without injury to the govern
rnent.
He understood, that, about the period
stated in the resolution, 1918, there had
been material change made in the mode
Of examination that, prior to that period,
the course pursued was to appoint some
Intelligent and discreet person in the VI
cinity of each Office, TO perform that
service, and to pay them Tor the time &C
tually employed in performing it. But,
subsequent to that time, individuals had
been appointed TO so from this city and
other places, to as many Of the land Of
fees as the Secretary of the Treasury
might choose to assign to them, receiy-
ing therefor a compensation fixed at his
pleasure. The first plan, he understood,
prevailed until about the period he had
stated, though, as to the precise time Of
the change, he might be mistaken. I'm
der that plan, the officers, not knowing
when they were to be called upon, were
necessarily required to be in readiness,
at all times, to make fair exhibition OF
their books, and the money on hand, and
the delinquencies of those officers pre-
vious to that period, he understood, were
far less, in proportion to the length oil
time, than they had been since. Under
the new system, they were generally APP
priscd of the approach of the examiner,
and had opportunity, if they haG address
20 accomplish it, TO borrow money, either
from banks or friends, TO sAezv merely,
and thereby to avoid detection OF delin-
uuency. To enable the House, there
Gore, to determine on what plan was ne
cessary to be adopted on this subject, 1t
was highly proper to be apprised Of the
course pursued heretofore; and this
could only be done by areport to that
effect from the Treasury Departments
That the government had sustained great
losses by the delinquency OF its officers,
was well known to all who had attended
TO the official reports on that SUBJECT;
and, if a practical remedy could be adopt
ed, it was high time to do it. Mr.. Cook
said, it was true, the resolution called Tor
information which did not seem to be
embraced within the scope of that parti-
cular object. But, if fame had spoken
truly, there was Information connected
with the course recently pursued by the
Treasury Department, which had a.
serious bearing upon the best interests of
this country, in political point ofview.
The constitution of the country had wise
~ provided, that no member of Congress,
during his membership, should hold any
Office under the government OF the United
States. The Executive conferred APP
pointmonts, and, ifmembers ofCongress
could, during their continuance to hold
their seats, hold such offices, it was plain
ly foreseen, that the Executive might
surround himself by a swarm OF office
holders, and thus destroy their virtue,
independence, and fidelity and that the
rights ofthe people, might thus be sacri-
feed at the pleasure of the Executive
In addition to this Constitutional bulwark
thrown around the representatives OF the
people, there was law which had been
on the statute book since the year 1908
which forbids any member of Congress
from either directly or indirectly enter
ing into contracts with the government
or any of its officers, and declares that,
upon conviction thereof, he shall be adj
judged guilty of a high misdemeanor, be
subject to fine of three thousand dollars,
and bound also to refund all money re-
ceiyed under such contract. Thus it