Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-14

tho Slightest in:or.uA.-oa ..o.u ANY oi tho incuLl
bents, calculated to have injurious bearing upon
the administration. Such is the tyranny of the
day, that the bare circumstance of furnishing any
fact by the head of department would cost him his
Office, were il even to deprive him and his family
of bread. 1t it is in my power, however, to fur
nish you with most of the prominent facts in E.
Lvingstons case, which seems justly to excite 40
much attention at this time.
In 1901 Mr. Livingston was appointed u. States
Attorney for the district of New York, and receiv
cd after, account of the Government, a.
bout F:fty thousand D,ilars, growing principally
on; OF the future of u Col. Lamb, who previously
to that time had been Collector at the Port of New
Yor Mr. Livingston received this large sum ana
spent it, lie had ma agent or deputy because tho
law allowed him none, being deputy himself, nor
did Inc at that time attempt 10 throw the blame
any one, offer any excuse for his misconduct, as
is falsely stated by certain letter writer from
Washington, under date of 25th April last.
The party newspapers at that time annoyed Mr..
JEFFERSON very much about the defalcation of Liv
ugston, for he had gone into office under pledge
to reform abuses, and did redeem his pledge and
the moment his improper use of the public money
was ascertdined at the Treasury department, Lv-
ngston dismissed from office, and suit institu-
ted against him for the amount OF his debt, then
upwards of Fifty Thousand Dollar, and SO soon
Judgment was obtained against him. in order to
evate il, he off to New Orleans-thcre he sue
cecded at tho bar, and after few years, by some
means other, obtained possession of tho cclebra
ted Batture, mud bank in the Mississippi river in
front of New Orleans. This Mr.. Jefferson dispos-
scsscd him of for time, and always insisted upon
it, that it the property of the Corporation of
that Cty-subscquently, after Mr. Jefferson retired
from the Presidency, he obtained possession of it,
and it out of that property that the U. States
have been paid, if paid at all. The Judgment OBJ
tanned against MIR. Livingston in New York was
| revived in Louisiana, but with his professional
adroitness he always had address enough to elude
any legal process issued against him. until in 1894
Congress passed u law especially to embrace his
case, and 1T was urged in private upon the
members, at the time of its passage. This law
directed the Agent of the Treasury to appoint
an Agent to purchase the property of those in
debted to the United States, when offered for sale
What remained of Livingston's far famed Batture
was bought in by agent, thus appointed, for
about $4,000 leaving about s 900 still due; for
this individual was sued, who had previously
bought part of it, being ignorant of the claim Oh
the United States against it, and was made to nav
that sum. Whether the Government has ever becn
able to realise the sum of $50 600 out of the bat
ture am not prepared to say. These believe to
be the prominent facts in the casc-if have com
mitted any error it ia unintcntonal, and can be
easily corrected by those who at pie lsure can have
access to tho archives of the Government
1t thus appears then beyond the power OF contra
dcton, that MIR. Livingston avaing himself of his
official station, possessed himself of large sum OF
the public money and appropriated it to his own
private purposes, lniI twenty-five years he not
only discovered disposition TO pay it, but resstee
payment efcctually, till special law was passet
wrench his llgotten wealth out of his hands, and
finally, after taking his property at an enormous
l7icc, an innocent individual made to pay ;
large to the Government on his account fo
this old debt In this case there was palpabl,
breach of trust too plain be mistaken and which
any one would be 'ustihablc in believing would be
repeated by Mr.. Livingston, should an opportunit,
offer. 1t is such individual as this, and under
oh circ tInt h,cb hoo,
Head of the Department of State because it suitcC
the views of Mr.. Van Buren, during his contempla
ted absence in Europe that his should b,
remarkable for the looseness of his principle
and the pliancy of his temper, than for any proba
bic good he would be able TO render his country
John Randolph declared on the floor of the Senate
that he would not touch Livingston ,rith u paiy o
tongs! But the Globe is putting him off for hi
speech the Alien LAW, and his opposition to tn,
Federal mca surcs of that day. These are pone b,
times. How the leader of the Democratic party il
n. Y ori, and the rock of Democracy in NJ Hamp
shire, will harmonise with the leaders of Federal
ism in Delaware and NJ lryland l cannot tell l
| will require another olive branch, presume Il
reconcile them.
have been close observer of political event
| in this country for upwards of thirty years an
have never seen the rejecting part of our commun
" uneasy they at this moment; they fce
that the country has been degraded by the prcsen
Administration and especially by the recent event
at Washington. They disguised with the pas
conduc: of Gen. Jackson, and have no hopes fo
the future but in his cxpu!sion; and well they ma
feel uneasy. They know that our Government
a mere experiment, perfect anomaly in its chal
actor. Nothing like it has ever been attempted i
the old world. 1t a bold experiment to asccr
= tain whether capable of self-governmen
or whether he required Kings, Lords and Common
TO govern him. Let it fail and mans last best hon
, will go with it.
Until the unfortunate election of Gen. Jackson
our chief magistrates were of great menta
and acquired knowledge, of elevated character
of high political standing, intimately acquointe
with the IL tails of Government. Under their ski
full and upright guidance our institutions wer
supposed to be rapidly acquiring that degree {
fir.nncss and solldi:y that would insure their dur;
biIlty The experiment we have been making, wa
believed to have been favorably decided. Its happ
influence had already extended itself to Europe
, and had greatly mcliorated the condition of il
. oppressed population. Such was its influence
!, that quarter, that the great Apostle of Europea
emancipation, who had been taught in the Amer
can school, was anxious, on a late occasion t
model the Government of France after ours. B.
the unShil!ul administration of Gen. Jackson
whose only recommendation was that of his h;
wing been a successful Soldier, is undoing ever
thing. The firmncss, energy and good sense c
the People Of the United States, if promptly direc
ted, can alone us from destruction.
From tic Globe