Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-20
rFron me Boltimore RenybIico,


The COLLECTOR AT WIscAssErr-lti is astonishing
and Notifying TO how much of the valuable time OF
Congress Is consumed in discussions upon very unimpor
tan subjects, which quite uncaedor by any consd-
eraons OF national utility and which cannot be expected
10 lead TO any valuable results.
An instance OF the kind has recently occurred in the
case oil the Collector of the Customs for the port of Wis.
cassett, in the State OF Maine Itsecms that the Collec
Tor had recently dismissed from the service of the United
States an Inspector OF the Revenue, upon the alleged
ground that he worthless fellow given to ntemper-
ate habits unfit for the station and negligent i'm the
Torrance OF his official duties. Instead of applying TO
the Secretary OF the Treasury which would have been
the proper course TO pursue for the correction any abuse
oil power in the and for the redress of any
gricvancethe dismissed officer made an application 10
Congress loo an investigation of the case and they
OF referring the matter the proper department for am
investigation and correction oil the procedure, il the ma
urc and circumstances OF the required it, they took
e matter In hand themselves, and entered into long
and very Improbable discussion OF the case.
it's difficult TO conceive what any could expect 10
make oil the matter il il were TO be debated by them
until Doomsday IL is not the province of Congress TO ap-
point dismiss such officers; and il could be supposed
mat they could correct any evil in the matter If il actual
~ existed until The case had passed FIRST through the pro-
per channel Ii cannot be supposed that Congress would
undertake TO reinsatc the individual i'm Office however
Jus'y and harshly he might appear TO have been dealt
WITH what then could they do? What must they do
alter all their discussion the subject! Clearly we think
they must ultimately refer TO the Secretary of the Trea
sry for his examination and acon and after tho case
were laid before him, il he aed to do what might appeor
TO be right in the matter, then il would be time enough
for Congress TO take in hand and adopt such measures
relation to II, as the case might seem TO require.
NO one can have 10 doubt that had such course
been pursued the Secretary would have dom that
w. faithfully and feareSsy which his duty had required
Had he neglected refused, in such TO do So Con-
gress would tlsn have ground TO stand upon and
some foundation upon which TO act; but TO take the mat
ter up and debate upon length before this course had
been pursued, was useess-and worse than useless
waste of time Yet they did take up and devoted much
oil their ne from day 10 day, in debating the matter
which they could only least the Secretary and
which could have been WELL and better done at first
without occupying five minutes of their time.
ne whole OBJECT OF the Gsbatc have been 10
make out oil the case something with which niurc the
administration; and it is alleged that the documents pro
duced upon the occasion, found be in the hand
writing OF individual who had formerly been an app
ed in obtaining the object OF his desire had changed hi,
colours, and in place OF protesting be friend TO the
President, he had formerly DONE out his virulen
and bitter opponent; and it would appear that he had
urged on and assisted the dismissed Inspector 10 take ia,
course he did in order that be might obtain revenge 70,
his disappointment, in not obtaining the Collectors Office
when he applied for il.
Thus IT is that things frequently managed Persons
opposed TO the administrations because their own
us nave not Deen answered. furnish the opposition M m
eS congress WIN what they conceive may
mo weapons with which they tho
and h friends and they dsregaring the public good and
unequenty aaPpearance ofprOprey or ason spc nd
her uine, while they receiving the public nurse
e cight dollars per day. in debates which are caIca-
'ed ana expected TO produce other result than TO afford
mem an opportunity TO display their i'll temper and hos
e feelings towards those whom they envy for their popu
iary ana hate on account OF the benefits ihey have con-
leeu upon the country But the people will see throu Oh
''er 0eSSHs' ana reward them accordingly.