The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, Dec. %.

THURSDAY, Dec. Is.
Mr.. WISE moved that 10000 extra copies of two
documents Of the last session relative to public de-
fauterS and the Swarwovt documents be printed Tor
the use of the House.
His object he said, was to get before the public the
letters of indulgence from the Secretary Of The Irea-
sury tothe defaulters.
Mr. CRARY opposed the motion on the ground,
that the expense was unnecessary, and that one OF
the documents was erroneous. n
Mr.. TILLINGHAST spoke with earnestness, in
support of the motion. The documents were official
and important and presented facts, not arguments
nor party views.
Mr.. WISE said, these documents had not been
extensively published. Their contents were little
known to the country. They showed that the Secre-
tary of the Treasury had connived with public de-
faulters, and counienanced and encouraged them.
The documents were the handy-work Of the Secre-
tary himself, and how could gentlemen wish to sup
press them. If they were the work of an opposition
committee he would not be much surprised at the
objections 10 print and circulate them. Give the
people light on this subject. These documents tell
plain tae-and tell it in the words of the Secretary
himself They show that the Secretary is liable to
impeachment for gross negligence OF his official du-
ties.
Mr. BOON said, il would be useless to print those
old documents which had been once published al
ready
Mr. CRARY was willing to give the public light
but the documents had been once published and the
only object of re-prntng them, would be to give
good job to the printer. The document could be of
no service to the House or to the country.
Mr. w. THOMPSON said this was the first in
stance in which prominent men ofthe administration
party had refused print the in Information emanaing
from their own men. II was well known that we
could get nothing from the administration except by
hard screwing. MIC. had got this much under
the seal of the Secretary of the Treasury himself,
and il was important to give i TO the people. The
people might use the prayer Of Ajax" Give us but
light and we can drive these spoilers out of the GO
vernment." The people are honest, and give them
light, and they will do what is right. There is no
man ofany party who can stand up here and defend
the conduct of the Secretary. 1.-THE people will sub
nit to such gross misconduct the part Of the pub
lie funconaries, is set forth in these documents,
they no longer fit 10 be Free The objection is,
that these facts are STALE They may be so. Fraud
and pecuation are no novelties with this admins
tration. Truth ami honesty may be absolute with
them. FIJI
Mr.. CAMBRELENG said he did not oppose the
printing He iutmated that the object Of raking up all
these defaulters, dead and living to hide the
nous defalcatlon Of Mr. Swartwout lie had as much
commsseraon for Mr.. Swartwout any other gentle
man. But his fate and that Of every other public aud
private jefaultcr owing TO the Bank system Those
who formed and supported that corrup system were the
authors Of all these speculaons and pcculations and
| frauds.
Mr.. WISE will have the gentleman to know that
feel no commseration for Mr. Swartwout consider
him purloner Of public money, and hold him in
contempt and ,leesation. But, sir the administration
participants in his fraud for they had knowledge
of his feo,ies and did not remove him.
Mr.. CAMBRELENG said, If the Sub Treasnry bill
had been adopted when first offered the dealcations
would have been prevented Alta proper time he would