Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-19
a Planter and FreehOlder in The District.
Do MIR FOR THE ENQUIRER.

~ THE pOIERS OF BUCRLNGH4M
Casuhg my eye over a newspaper containing some of
me acts passed at the last session OF Congress. il was
caught 6y the following item in an Appropriation Bill
o'ohn Randolph Clay Secretary of Legation at ST.
re'erso"rgh, as an outht, and OH account of his services as
Charge d. Afaires one year seven months and sy d,vs
seven thousand two hundred dollars"
ms has recalled a train of thoughts which was. some
ume back, occasioned by what l then considered. and still
consider, the weakest and most reprehensible of all the
acts oil the present Administration, which have come 10
my knowledge; aud il has awakened also a more recent
thought, which being, as l conceive, too precious 10 he
iot Tor want oil utterance, l will now commit TO paper
IN the hope that through the columns of the Enquirer il
may reach you, and be acted OIL by YOU.
From accounts which have come to us of a late meet.
ing al your Court House, il seems that a parsonage re-
eeh''y returned from a diplomatic campaign in Russia, and
other parts, (rather more fruitful in worldly comforts Than
bony,s military expeditiOn0 although too enieebled to un.
uerlake oe active service OF your Representative, has
80, 70 go TO Washington in a capacity analogous to
inat OF a neighbour OF his, who once offered 10 OueTsee
ms ouerseer, and see that they did not cheat him.
. Here De any wisdom in a certain old adage as to the
nest oil ordinations for such an office, there can be no
DOUBT alter the experience of the last two years, of his
perfect competency TO the duty thus volunteered In.
but considering the infrmity of mind and body. of
when ne %coinplsins, IT Is the part of wisdom for Won
10 take as much OF the ~drudgery of preIimjnaries off
his hands as possible aud, although belonging TO a coun-
" % ID ms District yet feeling equally interested with
yourselves III the success of his enterprise TO keen The
overseer from cheating US, | make bold in the com.
"h". cause, TO suggest some work which Won m Love
ie@"y cur ahu NY Tor lim To begin with at Tie open
ing OF congress. J propose, Then, that at your next court
day, you take into consideration the expectancy Of instrn,.,.
ing your representative to move without delay lor tLe an
polntment OF two select committees. lie viii a. a ,n,,nrcr
oi course De made chairman OF both but The member.
WIZ doubtless show all due consideration for his iu6r,r;.
nes; SO mat the only labor which will devoIve upon him
wiz DE mat oil overseeing them, and handing i'm their -.
ports When completed. The committees winch have in
view are, p"
l. The PR1zE-PrLFEKER Committee. 1t shall be their
auty 10 ascertain, SO far as the means are afforded hy the
oooks ana MES oil the Treasury, the claims made AMI mo-.
MES received by every man who, from the origin of the
government down TO the present day, has enjoyed one
chance, and one chance OnIv. of gctIing lie g. 49,
uncle Sans ' Christmas pie.'# ~
The names of all such, and their doincs. both in the =
OF services rendered and monies claimed and extracted. to
De reported: the whole subject being made plain by Ia.
DnIar arrangement, so that the House NAV he enabled
without too much trouble, to decide on in. conn,r,tiYa
merits OF the candidates for the honour of Prize Pill
Ierer' Alter full consideration, this distinction is 10 he
awarded 10 The man whose receipts, Cdeductin0 fair
compensation Tor every Service rendered0 shall exhibu
the largest balance in favor of his purse. ShonJd here he
more 'han one man whose accounts in this tabular view ex.
hioit nOthing, or tess than nothing, (what the Algebraisls.
term a negative quantity in the column of " services rem.
dered, and a good round sum, say TWENTY TuoUsANn
oo'aIs y 80, III te column o" monies extracted" then the
Pecuhisry circumstances and domestic necessities of these
negative competitors 10 be enquired into, and The prize IN
be awarded TO him, who, Gall things impartially consider
ed shall be deemed TO have eyinced the greaias, cnn;Ji
W. ana gwen proof oil the most decided and shameless pro-
Pensity' to pocket the money OF the people without lust
title. 10
2. The DIseoReE.coMPELLING Committee. Fxne.
Renee having demonstrated, that, in relation 10 the accen.
lance oil Office, as well as every thing else. there il N . ruIo
without its exceptions; and that men will be sometimes
lound, I'D whom the iOndness of money, and the rassion
lot ho'oriety and public exhibition are so strong, as 10 over
come all sense OF decency and of honesty: and. despi,s nj
absolute incapacity, mental and physical, TO DISCHARGE the
duties OF office, to compel them as il were. TO snatch AT rs
same, the very hrst chance that offers lit shall he The
duty Of ms committee to frame and report a bill for the go.
CURLY Of the pubic purse, against all such compounds OF
cuPidhy ana vanity. This bill shall provide, that, when.
ever a case occurs OF the acceptance of a public office by
a man known TO his neighbours 10 be utterly inc,paLIe If
dIscharging It's duties and when such a mans love for mo.
ney, ('Ike that OF a wolf for blood, ~ shall prove so irresis.
tble as to comPelbim 10 pocket the salary, sc, &C, &C. bv
law attached To the Office as a compensation for lis duties:
~ every such case, IL shall be lawful for any public spirit
ed citizen Of the State to which the offender BELONGS, IN
bring suit Tor double the amount so received. i'm any co,,r,
oil Equity OF said State; which sum shall be awarded bv /
said court, II upon full enquiry into all the facts and cir,
II shall maniiestly appear that a fraud has been
pracused upon the people. All sums dine roroyorod 49,
10 be appropriated TO the support Of a public Professorsbin
political Ethics the professor OF which shall he sne..
rlally enjoined to instl into his pupils the strongest possi.
PIE sense OF public honesty; to make them clearly per.
eve tbai' IN equity, the essence Of public fraud or pc.
,luaiion Is as truly contained in the act of willnUv acorui
ing illegal title TO the peoples money, without snv Tes.
,ohabie prospect Of earning II by service, and then taking
Y without having rendered any service, as in any other
Whatever. ttshdll also be the duty Of this Pfofessor
o explain and lay bare the tricks Of all sorts Of dema.
well those who ingratiate themselves with The
people by commonplace elecioneering devices. AZ Inc
more beartless, %lnsidoUs, and mischievous species. who
the public favor and the public confidence in their
'wn honesty and independence, by system which con.
ists IN administering Aattery TO the mass, and In Offering
wanlon insult to individuals.
A SON OF THE OLD DOMINION.
: This expression g borrowed from "Mbtfroousr,p "Cb,,
LntH Msinehanee Vila1-Ths book IL but little Known In os,
ounhy: but ovory lovor Of deep thought, pbflosoobIc denoerarv
nd'Paikhng Wit, will End 10 ia treat nottobe met with oyorydsy,I