Delaware journal., 1828-03-07
FRIDAY, yM0rch q, 1928.

till such Office shall no longer be worth the ;'inD-
ton of an honest man. The gentleman from Penn
syyania (Nlr Buchanan) has appealed, to the House
upon the enormity of sentiment which he imputcs
to the gentleman from Pennsy lvana, MT. Sergeant
who preceded him, ''that inquiry would injure the
Government" beg leave to say, heard no such
sentiment advanced by that gentleman, and there
fore his comment was uncaled for. The gentle
man did say, he should not have proposed the re-
solution, from an opinion that it was not needed,
and could, therefore produce no good and unavail-
ing and unnecessary movements OF this sort, were
Of evil tendency but since il was moved, he should
vote for its adoption. He advanced no doctrine OF
secrecy and mystery, against which the gentleman
spoke with so much earnestness. by gentlemen on
the other side have the objections been urged against
pursuing this measure, now before u.s. to some re-
suit.
1t is, say they, not the proper time. If abuses
exist the first moment of their discovery is the true
time to set about their reform. But we are told
the President and Heads Of Departments might not
choose that we should make inquiry. That they
"hold the keys"-''stand at the gate of the for
tress." And have we not indeed the power
Have this House recently asserted the power ofS
sending and bringing citizens from their business
and families, at the extremes of the Union Have
they asserted the rightto open their desks-their
private books, and to lay them before the world II
and have we not power to enter and examine our
own ofices-the departments OF our own creation!
If this house and the Executive differ in opinion
on other subjects, it may ensure an investigation,
that will in no point be RENTED for iavor'tsm.
What are the People to be told. by such resolu-
ton, and refusal to pursue 1t That cause lor
alarm exists but that other means than the discharge
of our duties here must be resorted to for reme-
dy. In relation to the Executive, believe such
alarm most groundless but that whatever evil may
exist, we have ample power to correctit. VIII not
deny that abuses exist in relation to this House, to
which shall presently briefly advert, and which we
may remedy.
| Public opinion has been prepared for the charges
now alleged against the present Executive, by I'M
putaons of aristocratic feelings and habits to the
President while his purely Republican, unostenta-
tious manners proverbial, even to degree, 10
excite an ironicai remark from the gentleman rom
South Carolina, Mr. Hamllton] for his want ofthose
airs and graces which he thinks did not secure for
us the Treaty of Ghent. Forty years service for
his sountry have shown other qualities, If not as Or
namental, to be quite as useful
After it would seem that the whole vocabulary
of harsh epithets had been exhausted upon those
who administer the Government, the gentleman
from South Carolina, Mr. Hamilton1 says, he will
not have the "cgregious folly'' TO bring charges
against them. He will move nothing. The char
ees have been made and the justice of the gentle
mans character Of them will not controvert But
he has not at all times had the same fear OF extra
legislative moyements-n the resolution OF the 9th
of January, and that upon our orders, relative
to the sedition law.
: Before atverting to the specific abuses alleged
? more directly against the President, will besto"
passing notice upon the general view presented
by the gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. Rives,1 wh'
I! although one of the number who voted to pu
this resolution to sleep, seems now to favor an in
e quiry
h There surely can be no disposition to controvel
d the truism stated by the gentleman-the genera
y tendency of all things to decay The energies {
manhood are to be lost in the imbecility OF age ma
ter is destined to dissolution these marble column
around u.s. grasped by the hand of Time, will crun
nd Bile into dust and even the globe which we inhab
of perish. But are we then to say that the vigor
lts youth is itself the paralysis of dotage that we
e, ready feel this edfice tottering to its fall; that w
ls- even now, hear the trump of the angel who sha
ot announce the dissolution of nature? But says tn
ur gentleman, it is twenty-five or twenty-sx yea
irt since there has been any reform in the organiza
c ? of the Departments OF Government. One most II
ose portant provision in our Constitution should at
nb- time be lost sight Of, and it furnishes an answ
un to most of the charges of abuse by the Executive
pa the expenditure of the public treasury, and sho,
es- quiet the fears of those who apprehend we m
ook be pundered by the President or Heads of Depa
a ments. 1t is the lst article, 10th sectlon-''
s. "money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but
are " consequence of appropriations made by law =
hat I" a regular statement and account of the recei
ran "and expenditures of all public money shall
it :. published from time to time" Whatever, tn
mia may be the organization of the Departments,
ave want of organization, the door ia shut, and
4 to hold the key of it. The gentleman, however,
his statement respecting the organization of the
lea partments has not adverted to the history Of
a fit cslation upon that subject | will notice only
not Of the Treasury 1t was established by act OF
nple tcmber 9, 1888. From that period it has been
Atty der the constant revision of Congress- by acts
aoa ,,nox tho s.hiact In 17Ql 8. LIZ