The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-24

soioiicS VI uiC StcateT part vi the ltucIdi oI-
ficers, in the large cities, to aid in conducting
the electionsi We have letters in our pos
session, asserting the fact, in the most posi-
tive manner. Is il not notorious, that one of
the Cabinet Ministers exerted his official infu-
ence to defeat the election Of a high minded,
patriotic and honorable individual, who had
made himself obnoxious to power, by oppos.
ing fayorite measure? Is il not known that
Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Kendall are at this
moment making the most deadly crusade
against the people Of Tennessee, and violat-
ing every Republican injunction, Of principle
or decency, by bringing the power Of the
federal government directly in conflict with
the exercise Of free conscience and the cleo
tive right by the peoplel Is not this tempo
rary. selfish, official prerogaiiue every where
overwhelming and consuming the peoples
rights, and sapping the very foundations Of
public liberty
But few short months since we saw GER
tain newspapers, daily viifying the present
administration and its organ attacking them,
and applying 10 them the most bitter epithets,
in limitless latitude of language: When, be-
hold! Of sudden, the scene changes; the
same papers become the supporters and de-
tenders Of the administration the hostility Of
the official organ is turned into friendly greet
ings; and these late enemies become the
favored recipients Of the government patron
age! We alude particularly to the Wash
ington Chronicle and the Charleston Mercury.
Both Of these papers, we have recently no
ticed, are literally patronised with the govern
ment advertising and printing! There cannot
be any thing partaking OF " CORRUPTION in
these acts of kindness and liberality, although
both of them had previously become the siren
Gus advocates Of the Sub-treasury scheme!
A word now to our venerable friend Of the
Enquirer. We could not but notice, during
the summer, the liberal manner in which the
patronage Of the Government was showered
on his paper. Eleven columns Of post office
advertising continued week after week, could
not be regarded as an inconsderable thing, in
addition to publishing the laws. We. however,
could not indulge the thought for a moment,
that this was intended "to operate on the
press )" nor that our friend of the Enquirer
was Influenced by any other motive than pure
patriotism, in the stand he took and the decla-
ration he made, about the same time, that he
'',could sink or swim" with Mr.. Van Buren,.
We 60 with the Enquirer, in calling for
".fuH scrutiny these transactions TO
the bottom, ,chich poison Tie rery foundation Of
Hberiy,' FROM OFFICE AND DANISH
FROM THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE,
THEIR PERpETRATIoN." And :" let him who
is without sin cast the first stone" ..
MIR. swARTWOUT's DEFAULT--sHIFT-
INC pEsDnNsIpIruTv-
The Globe of Wednesday night contains
an article respecting the New York defalca-
ton, which carries with it ample internal evil
dence to betray its origin. 1t commences by
designating Mr.. Swartwout as "CoNsERvA-
TIVE IDOL" This, we suppose, is for the
purpose of linking the delalcation and that
body Of independent freemen together We
can tell the writer Of that article, we shall
not permit the guilty to escape under such an
unfair subterfuge.
No one who reads the article, can fail to per-
ceive the object of it to be, the defence Of
the Secretary of the Treasury, and to shift
the responsibility from his shoulders on to
those of others. Even the names Of the
dead are disturbed to accomplish that object.
The writer says: ....
As to the course taken by the Treasury Depart
ment in detecting this defalcation, every body con-
versant with the provisions the existing laws must
know that the Secretary has no power to state or
settle the account Of any collector. That duty has
been devolved by Congress upon the accounting Off
cers-the First Auditor and the First Comptroller,
who independent in the execution OF this public
trust, of any CONTROL even OF the President, except
by removal for sufficient cause.
Here an attempt is made to obtain the Gre
dit for the Treasury Department of detecting
the defalcation, but to throw upon others the
blame of its not having been sooner detected.
As to the First Auditor and First Comptroller,
if they are so servile as quietly to submit to
be thus impeached, then let them suffer. 1t
is not our business to defend them.
So far from the Treasury Department hav-
ing taken any course" to detect the defalca-
tons, we venture to assert that it never
took single step for the purpose, and the
first knowledge it had of the fact was COM
municated from New York city.
Look at the fimsy ground on which the
Secretary attempts to shield himself, that