Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-30

wait until the Executive Offices are filled by
our friends, for it will be in vain to attempt
/ il while our adversaries hold Them" For
this, or some other reason, the matter rested
here until the present Chief Magistrate en-
tered upon his duties. At the opening of
| this Congress, however, he revived the topick
in his message, deeming it of sufficient pub
lick interest and Importance to invite the
attention of the two Houses to it. / shall
not read the part of the message which
treats of this matter, as it must be fresh in
the remembrance of the House. In pursu-
ance of this communication. the Committee
on Retrenchment was ordered to be appoint
ed by the House. This part of the message
was their charter, and defined the limits of
! their jurisdiction. And here must ask the
House to recollect what it is. The Presi.
dent makes accusations against no one. He
brings the charges of idleness and prohiga-
cy against no one. He makes no complaint
against the conduct of his subordinate Off
GERS; he does not say that they are specu-
lators that they waste their time, or that
they are paid too much. But, he does say,
| it is proper to inquire, whether any Offices
ought to be abolished, and whether the ex-
penses of the Government cannot be advan-
tageously retrenched but he asks for inquiry
, alone for the mere ascertainment of the fact.
| The committee were not called upon to cut
down this man or that /; to lop off this exr
penditure or that, but merely to inquire if
abuses did exist and it is my purpose to
shew that they have performed this duty
with zeal and fidelity.
\ An accusation had gone abroad that sew
[eral Departments plunged in the depth Of
moral filth and degradation. The press had
proclaimed and reiterated the charge, that
they were great Augean stable, which re-
quired the arm of Hercules to cleanse and
purify it. The source of profigacy and
pecuation was represented to be here: and
it is but natural, when the committee were
put upon inquiry, that they should direct
their attention to this great fountain Of pol
luton. They did SO. They took an early
opportunity to knock at the door Of the Navy
Office, and inquire, in the terms Of the mes
sage, whether the hand of reform or re-
trenchment could be here employed to adj
vance the interests of the nation. They
were courteously received by the Head Of
the Department, and frankly answered that
there was no work for them there. A like
appeal was then made to the War Office,
and we there met with equal courtesy and
frankness. We learnt there that the labours
of the committee were not needed indeed
it was said that the number of subordinate
officers in some branches of that Department
were insufficient to perform the services
required, and that the pay throughout was
no more than adequate to the service. The
same inquiry was also extended to the other
Departments, from which, do not know
that the committee have received any re-
Spouse. | am unacquainted with the cause,
for the delay has been long, nor can tell
what inference is to be drawn from it, but
for myself should conjecture that they
laboured under no pressing evils which re-
quire the speedy interposition of the COM
mittee.
Now, sir, let me ask those who have cen
sured the Committee for lending their inten-
ton to smaller objects when the Giants of
abuse were stalking through the land, what
other course could have been taken ?
What else could have been done The
four officers in these Departments have d.
rectly or indirectly the superintendent of
nearly all the affairs of the nation and almost
all the officers of the nation are under their
guidance, and the disbursement of the pub
lick moneys is made under accountability to
them. One has the charge of the Navy !;
another of the Army and Indian Affairs; a
third of the Revenue and Treasury, embrace
ing the whole concerns of the Custom
House; and fourth of our Foreign rela-
tons, with other duties which need not be
enumerated. If there is no work here for
the committee, what, ] ask, is left for their
deliberations? What can they lay their
hands upon? Perhaps it may be said the
Post Office Department, if it be Depart
ment-but, sir, there is now proposition
before US, which, take it, has the sanction
of the officer at the head Of that establish
ment, for creating an additional Assistant
Postmaster General, and some eight or ten
clerks. The committee being apprised of
this, are not SO blind as not to comprehend
that their services are not desired there.
might add, said Mr.. D. that new organiza-
ton is proposed in law Office; and if un-
derstand the proposition, it contemplates
both an increase Of expense and officers.
again repeat, said he, what is left for the in
vestigation of the committee Nothing but
the poor authority of this House over some
Eve or sig clerks and as many messengers !;
and hence suppose this resolution is before
US.
fit be said the committee should proceed
in the face of these facts, then answer that
they cannot, for your officers, IN whom you
place confidence, and who have detailed
knowledge of the affairs under their care,
such knowledge as the committee cannot
possess, declare to you that they know Of
no Offices which ought to be abolished, nor Of
any expenditures which call for the pruning
hand of the committee and you would
think it both singular and uncourteous, If,
after such solemn declaration, we were
to proceed 10 propose for your considera-
ton, measures which would in substance de-
clare that declaration to be false. The ar
gument on this foor, ia the last Congress,
was that a committee of this House would
do nothing useful to the country in these
departments, without the aid of the officers
at the head of them /; and think it requires
but moderate share of sagacity to compre-