Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-06-24

peal was then mnde % the War Ofhes and we
there met with equal oourtsey and frankness-
we lesrntlh edethat the labofs ofihe commrte
were not needed indeed u was said that the
number Of subordinate officers IN some branches
OF that department were insufficient 10 perform
Inc service required aud that the pay through
out wns M mere than adequate 10 the servlce.
Tho same inquiry vas extended TO the other
Departments, from which the committee have
received no response. am unaoquaini ed with
me cause, for the delay has been long s.. nor can
tel what lnierefce is 10 be drawn from It but
or myself should conjecture that they labor
under no pressing evils which require Inc
speedy incorporation OF The committee.
Now, sir, lei me ask those who heve eeusured
The committee for lendIng their attention 10
small objects when the giants OF abuse were
stalking through the land what other Course
could have been taken Wha, else could
have been done ? The four offices in thrse
departments have dnecty or indirectly the
superintendenec OF nearly all the affairs of the
nation, and almost all the officers OF the nation
are under Their guidance, and the disbursement
OF public moneys Is made under accountability
10 them. oDe has the charge of the navy
another ot the army and Indian affairs a
isfe, oil the revenue and treasury, embracing
the whole concerns of the cu,tom.house and A
fourth OF our foreign relations which need n II
be enumerated. lfihere is no work here ior
the committee. what, ask, is left LOT their
DELIBERATIONS What eau they lay their hands
upon ?-Perbnps IL may be said the post. Office
department II il be Ii department--bul sir
there IS now a proposition before us, which, |
take il, has The sanction of the officer a, the
head OF that establishment for creating an ad-
dItonal assistant Postmaster General and some
eight or ten clerks. The committee being ap-
pfiseu OF this, are not 80 blind as not 10 com
prehend that their services are not desired
there. might add said Mr.. DAVIS, that new
organ zatIon is proposed IN the law office -
and II understand the proposition il coniem.
| plates both an increase Of expense aud al
officers again repeat IT, SAID he, what was
'eit for the consideration OF tue committee ?
Nhthlng but the poor authority Of the House
oil Representatives over some i've or six clerks |
aud ms many messengers.
Fit be SAID the committee should nroceed IN |
the face of these fae's, theu, answer, they can.
not, for your officers, Ia whom you place con. |
hience, and who have detailed kpo~leJge OF |
! the affairs under their care. such u knowledge |
j rs The committee cannot possess. declare to |
yon that they know OF no Offices which ought |
TO tie abolished, nor OF any expenditures which |
call for the ptunlng hand of the committee; |
and you would think IL both singular an IN
courteous, IL after such a solemn declaration, |
we were To proceed 10 propose for yonr con. |
| sIdeiailOn measures which would ~ substance |
pronounce that declaration to he false The |
argument on this floor, in tine last Congress, |
was, That the committee or this house could do |
nothing useful to the country IN those depart. |
ments, without the aid OF the officers 81 lhe
head of them and think it requires but
moderate share OF sagac Ity 10 comprehend the |
force Of this argument
do not asset OF deny that abuses exist for |
have not n sufficiently minute knowledge of |
the complex machinery OF this government, 10 |
determine how that is but am now aud have |
! at all times, been ready TO correct hem when
made apparent. But do not feel bound u
prove that your officers, wiz ought 10 under.
stand these matters, have mad false sfat,-
menis. nor do | feel authorised TO he insiru
mental IN bringing forward measures Tor tne
grave consideration &c thu, house, unless those
measures rest upon foundation which nugbt |
TO meet The appreciation 81 reHsonshle men. II |
seems TO me that II belongs 10 bose who make
the accusation 10 show that abuses do exist |
Lei Them make good their assertion by proof ; |
let them shew where the disease is. and we will |
not be backward IN applying the remedy but
il IL most unreasonable 10 require us 10 efope |
along the dark, not only without the AID |
of your officers. but against their opioions
think have clearly shown tia the com !
mities have done their duty IN faithful yea. |
lous manner that they have uot been fishing I
for minors when whale Was on the wave, or |
tracking crckcls when lion waS in the brake. |
and that tLere IS nothing ia their conduct which |
is obnoxious Censure.
| - 18Th to notice another argument which has |
been graYey uIged in this debaie.-lhe house |
has been called upon 10 abolish this office, be- |
cause promises have been made that relrench. /
ment should lake place, and the public would |
be disappointed II the measure failed, PRONE |
es made and b. whom Who has the light
10 pledge this house, TO tie up their conscien- |
ces, and to say TO us. We shall pnss this vote or
that, We shall do this thing or that? Who has |
the power 10 sell this house 10 such purpose |
No one sir /; / am sure one on tins floor can |
understand SO little of his duty, as the rep,e-
sentative OF an enlightened people, as 10 make
such bargain We are called on to consum.
mate II right or wrong,-to shut our eyes a
gainst inquiry, and against the interest OF the
country. Sir, cannot sanction such de-
trne. nor do believe the people of this coun-
try, who are both just and generous, will sane
ton it cannot persuade myself that they
demand a sacrifice oltheir own interests, or OF
an unotcnding INNOCENT victim, TO redeem any
pledge to them.