Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-12
To rHE EpIToRs OF THE ENauInER.
THE CRAFTSMAN

.ade such outcry upon this subject, and so many
misrepresentation are desgnedy put forth for the pu
pose oil urng the cause of retrenchmcnt and reform
TO promote sohich majority IF the present House
tcere specially eiecied-that have taken pains
certain the facts, and beg leave to lay summary
oil them before your readers.
This has been called &c a small matter-"a trii2ing
affair unworthy the attention Of the House of Repre-
sentaves; and, comparatively speaking. il is. The
consideration and decision OF it ought not at the utmost
TO have occupied more than two houis But who
they who protraced the debate upon for days and days
in succession talking about matters and things in gen.
eral, having no more connection with the immediate
topic than with the story of Sinbad the Saor?--Who
are they that as if by concert, blew up this little az
fair into great party bubbe-iising il as pretext
for assaling the presen, Observation-Disclosures the
Of the resolution for, il is well known, that from the
first he deprecated protracted discussions; and, with
one exception, believe may embrace i'm this excul-
patton every member of the committee rctrcnch-
ment But the blame must be laid the door Of Mcssrs
lngerso and Davis, of Massachusetts,; seconded aas
by the once renowned "father of rctrcnchment'-o
whom may well be said o, quar,tm nufdtus 40 lilo!
These gentlemen, determined, ii seems IN wart the
operations OF the committee and TO throw every obstacle
in the way of reform, ''wtout rhyme or reason con-
sumed the allotted time OF six days, nominally about
"the ffHe drasnan."-And yet, the committee on re-
renchmen in letters from Washington to certain edi-
tors, charged with having wasted SS0,OoO of the
people money, or mere party purposes TO abolish
the Office Of Craftsman of the Land Office with sala-
ry Of only 81 500 per annum.-For the honor of the
House, hope the author of this gross
ton is not member of it, The public know that the
useful artist, who has been in that Department. be-
eve for than 20 years; but the sinecurist asten-
ed upon the Treasury, under the auspices of Mr. Clay
as Craftsman OF the House of Repre- and re-
Gently retrenched is Mr.. Stansbury, whilom of Albany
in the State of New York. lie is the in lividua for
whom all the sympa'hes of the Coalition are called
forhnot because OF his pretended services Drafts
man, but in plain TRUTH because Of his skill in report
ing 1.-THE debates for the Nat. Integencer, SC. Yes
iS is the every estimablc man, the able, accomplished
and useful oicer,' the Correspondent Of the New
III \ O ralI
whom the committee retrcnchmcnt have deprived
"of situation which he has filled universal salts
faction" dare say, reporter Of debates he has fill
ed his situation to the"unvcrsal sasactionof that cor
respondent, and others of the kidney; but am vet
TO learn whether either House of Congress car legally
quarter newspaper reporter the Treasury under
the nickname OF Craftsman.
Permit me now, TO make few remarks upon some
parts of the printed speech of Mr.. Davis connect
with this subject. The hon. gentleman almost al the
very outset falls into mistake. The object of the
resolution reported from the committee on reirenchmen
was he says, "to abolish the office of Craftsman"
single glance at the ResoUton itself would have
shown him. that the object TO " discount The
dfiocdnce-of 81 800 per dnni, heretofore made for
the services Of a craftsman; the office, in the iidg-
men' OF the Committee, having ceased on the adjourn
ment of the l9h Congress. Indeed in the very next
breath, the honorable gentleman frankly admits that
the Craftsman, (rather oddly called b. him ga Clerk
" is not now in the pay of Govcrnmeni."-And vet he
proceeds to '"spoun and 'splan," prouselv why
the said Craftsman ought to be retained in the pay
Government-which, cert anly, TO me- seems queer -
OF, WnN WOuIu me honorable gentleman by
iaboring to retain an officer, who. according his
own declaration, not in Office! Will he tell US
how to retain thing in possession?-B b. this il
may, little firther, the honorable gentleman takes
compassion on the poor " little" defunc; Craftsman
and restores him to life. Assuming il as a fact that
the presiding officer has right to appoint. al i6fu,n
clerk' drafsmeD, SC without being authorized bv the
Hou' lin which am sure Mr. Speaker Stevenson
will no concur0 he asks, A." who doubts your poy err
Sir 10 axe these arrange nens, essential 10 the
business of legisaiion"Thus the reader perceives
| IL of an lfcD a..
honorable gentleman first recognizes his favoriie liz.
| tie" craftsman iping-n the next brest A. dead
and then again restored 10 life say uo,hing here
OF he unlimited controiove The c:ntngent fund which
The power " to make these arrangements" would vest
in the SPEAKER
But, Mr.. Davis, in his ,oyiten speech contends that
i. the business OF the Craftsman to define .ucb
maps and chars as are needed by the Land Commit,
'ees, IN the discharge Of their duties, from the data
furnished 10 NE Land Office, by the Surveyors Of Pub
nc Lands Are we to understand by this, that MIR.
the original data Of surveys in The Land Oicei If I
am not greatly mistaken,i has nded
VIZ. Sansoury did more than copy after the denea
tons OF the Land Office And agree with the Chair.
man OF the Committee on Retrenchment notyithstaod-
ing all that has been sad to the contrary the Land
Committees DESTROYS Of obtaining the nee nj ,ha
delineaiions" in the Land Office simple reoUisi
ton TO that I'll ct will be sufficient The Land Com
inices OF the Senate, annually furnished from,
mat oifce with large Map, exhibiting every addi-
ticnal survey OF the national domain; and see no rea
son at all, why tie Land Committees of the House
should no, be furnished in similar manner The infor
nation thus obtained will, moreover be such a. The
Committees may rely merit not 10 be ascribed 10
Mr. Stsnsburys copies; for understand the Drafts.
man OF the Land Office pronouncss them Inaccurate
aud un atea fact, of which the honorabl Mr. Davis
wa, probably, Ignorant, when he spoke o, the m as
being " executed with such Deaness skill and accu-
racy that they might he easily mistaken for good en-
gravDgs.'-As 10 the charts and plans for the Com
mitiee on Internal improvements L feel persuadeJ
that special aiisman is not necessary TO facilitate
The progress OF the business before it, for ndepen ent
OF the hdiApuiabe iact that the Committee have alrea.
dy brought forward schemes for Roads and Canals
than the nation could execute in 50ycars whatever
may hereafter he deemed necessary in this wav In
! sid them in their lahors can be furnished from IN.
war Department. Even if Cadets from W,st Pon,
or, as was said in debate by the cdeuanf f,iber o
retenchment," boys from West Point, sbould he oc.
casonslly employed TO furnish Duplicates venture 10
predict, they will OF least be az accurate as tho,e made
by girls.
| Respecting the necessity Of craftsman f,r the Com
mitiee on Post Oces post roads with due Difference
to the Judgment Of the worthy Chairman of that Com
mI'tee, VIII he permit me 10 ask how il is, that hun
dreis OF Post Offices have been established and MANY
thousand miles oil post roads traced Out i'm various
oil the United States, from the foundation of the Co
vetnnen up 10 the year 1881. WITHOUT The aid ri n
WWtSmdH( How came il all ut once 10 he discovered
anu Just at the U0y moment, fOo, Uhen n repoytey nj
debates tcos Uonted for The National hieifgencey.
That drafsman was. necessary 10 facilitate The /,
bors Of The Post Office and Land Committees Of The
iiou Ell will NOT insult the honorable Chairman. Inv
supPosing that he Is not equal u skill and pton 10
any OF 'hoe who have preceded him in presiding over
maj committee p'ior 10 1924 and vet what other Al
Tentative remains? Seventeen different committees nm
Vhe Posi Obces and Poet Roads for years in succ s.