Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-01-12

speech. which, after Lrofrssing a Willingness
10 90 for the measure. objected To nctng.up-
on the subject then, alleging n want OF time,
and also sonlc impericctInn in the resolutions.
followed in n few -rcmarks, IN which urg-
ed the importance of speedy action on tho
subject, and reDinded the Speuker Of his for
mer course in relation to the matter, and.
though he spoke a4ainst us, lie roied with us
to take up the resolutions. His friends, how
ever, took their cue, and followed his prectpt
instead OF his example, and the resolutions
were postponed. AT the last session of Con-
gress the same subject came up. with no bet
ter fate than before. IL was with great diff
Guilty we could get Il report from the COM
nittee at all. They al professed to be in ia
vor Of the amendment. Oh. yes; but they
seemed to agree To differ as TO the mode of ef-
fectng II; and at last. when the re port came
init took the same direction with the Execn-
tive patronage bill, or something like it. We
could not bring the gentlemen To vote on Ell
thcr. And is il to be understood. now the c.
lection is over.U know thnt it would not have
been admitted before that all those who vo-
ted 10 give those Important measures the 20
by are to be set down against them? II so,
how do the party stand npon tine great lead
ing measures of General Jackson's admins
tration? II we call upon gentlemen to walk
in the footsteps Of the Preslden. upon that Of
repeated but never needed recnmmen ndaton
in regnrd To the election Of President and
Vice President are we to be told that the
House has aIreody decided that question n.
galnst the Presidents recommendations, by
refusing Ia vote on the question: Are we 10
be told, If we propose tn limit Executive pat
ronage, that the Home has already decided
that question in the same manner. and has
sanctioned the full extent 10 which Execu-
tive measures have been recently garfield
And,slr. what Is that extent? II is sufficient.
fnot checked, opd grows into settled pre-
cedent tn rvet chains upon us and our chill
dren forever. Such precedent will author
ize q President 10 make the nomnatlon ofhs
successor q cabinet measure, Issue his proc
lamatlon calling convention 10 confirm that
nomination, and dencunce, III advance, all
who dare oppose the nominees before or nf-
ter the convention acts, ns "assailng public
virtue, and opposing the right Of the people
to govern" For. sir. this has been done in
the late nomination Of the "Government"can-
didates as they are called in the English Jour
mails. Was that ticket so remarkable for It's
purify and pntue that to oppose il, was to as
sail the virtue of the People? Mr.. Van Bu-
rem had promised to walk in the footstpps of
General Jackson, and is, consequently, bound
in due time to no inmate his colleague (COl0-
mel Johnson) for the Presidency, order con-
venton TO ratify his nomination, take the
field, and secure his election by the use Of!
all the ways and means in the power of the
Executive. Thi-. sir, is the extent 30 which
Executive patronage has already gore, and
which the gentleman contends has before
hand been sanctioned by this l1onsr. This,
sir, is what | deny. Whatever this House
may be destined TO do, it has not come 10
that yet.
Sir. was not prepared for such doctrines,
and ] must say thai ] was not prepared forI
the opposition to the proposed invest igation.
] had hoped that gentlemen would have be-
come ashamed of screening these officers,
who, instead Of running to Gen. Jackson for
certificates Of moral character, should be first
TO demand a. investigation. Bot, sir. will
the People Of the United States be satisfied
forever that they shall shrink from response.
bility, hold mp Cen. Jlckson's character rs
their shield, and thereby escape n scrutiny
of their conduct! II they have noted lonora-
bly,, we wish them 10 show il; those suspic.
ions, so common, so universa,lre grourdless,
we wish the country TO know IT, Innocence
never seeks for SAFETY in fight, in conceal.
ment, but rather courts investigation and de-
fies scrutiny. How can gentlemen reconcile
innocence with til. trembling and shrinking
this shielding themselves under the nume-
real strength Of their friends in this House!
This was their course at the last session of
Congress. Remember sir, what fatality at,
tended every effort tn obtain committee of,
investigation then Recolec, the ex,raordi-
nary aud obstinate protection extended toI
that darling Treasury pet. Reuben Whitney.
Let II also be remembered that the Commit
tee on Indian Affairs unanimously recon-
inended on inquiry INTO the abuses Of that bu-
reau, which would have developed the eau
ses OF the late and present ln'iian wars in the
South. That committee reported n rrsolp-
ton authorizing any two of its members N,
prosecute the inquiry by taxing testimony for
the information Of the House at this session
Bat, sir, this resolution reported bv com.
mittee, majority Of whom were in favor of
Mr. Van Buren,. was rejected in the House.
The citizens OF Georria and Alabama peti-
toned and implored the House to investigate
that subject, alleging the most unheard OF
frauds and abuses. Upon this application
the vote siool ayes II, noes IL. fir, and
the Speaker gave the casting vote against
the invesii cation. Sir. men high in favor and
high in Office were suspected. The agent of
the Government, John B. Hogan, gave the
Department official information Of the great
est outrsges praciised upon the Indians
which were ever perpetrat"d upon any pco-
pie, savage or civilized. He was very soon
removed, or rather promoted, from Indian a
gent, to be collector at the port Of Mobile
And yet, sir, we have no account of prosecu-
tions, convictions, and punishments. which
have followed his disclosures. WHY, sir,
those spectators. or rather Indian robbers.
would find an old chiefupon his patrimonial
estate, whore the chiefs md kings Of his race
had lived for Centuries before him, with his
slaves and his farm around him, smoking his
pipe amidst his own forest trcrs, spurning