Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-06-27
FOR THE PEOPLE.
SPEECH OF MIR. BoND.-coNcLUDED

The late eminent and virtuous At
,orney-General, William Writ, did not
escape the censure Of these indefatiga-
bic relormers. He had rendered some
professional services, in which the Uni
led States were interested, but which
were not such as his official station
charged upon him. For this service an
considerable sum was paid to him, bat
is propriely was questioned. The sal
sry Of the Attorney General was then
$500, and he was allowed $500 for
clerk. How stands the case now {?
The salary of Benjamin F. Butler, the
present Attorney General, is $4,000,
and in 1884 he was paid $4,150 10 for
compensation, besides being allowed
$1,000 for clerk and messenger, and
$500 for The contingent expenses of
his office. The same additional allow
ance and charge amounting together TO
$500, is made in 1885. Independent
Of the increased salary and the enlar-
ged provision for messenger, whence
comes Mr.. Buffers right to charge an
excess of $3.50 10 for compensation, be-
SIDES $500 for contingent expenses p
In the year 1886 we hear nothing of
contingent expenses, but a provision
Of 81 ,407 is made for his clerk and
messenger, and for Mr.. Buffers compen-
sation that year, he received 1892,
when his salary was only $4,000
Why was this excess Of 1892 paid to
him. He appears to have been used
as sort of Caleb Quotem. He has
been allowed to enjoy the salary Of his
own Office and that Of the Secretary of
War at one and the same time, being
a! the rate of $4,000 per year, pur.
suing too his profession, and receiving
its emoluments. No wonder we per-
ceive in him "the complying law Off
Ger of the crown" When did he ever
give an opinion contrary to the wish of
the President, if he knew what that
was Let me give an illustration. AS
The story is told, when the Baltimore
Rail Road was abuut to be located at
its termination in this city, the compa-
ny consulted Mr.. Butler on some point
as to this right Of way, under their
charter. After full deliberation his
professional opinion was obtained in
writing. 1t happened that General
Jackson felt some concern about the
location of this right of way, and he
expressed an opinion on the same point,
pquiring termination Of the road,
which the company did not wish, and
which Mr.. Butler had advised them
hey need not adopt. Gen. Jackson
was furnished with the opinion OF the
Attorney-General; but, instead of yiel-
ding, he endorsed on it, "Mr. Butler
has not examined this case with his
usual care; let this paper be referred
back to him, with copy ofthe char
ter for his denomination" In due
time, sir, the Attorney General agrees
with the President, and gives an opin-
ion in conformity with that which Gen.
Jackson had expressed After this,
Mr.. Speaker, we need not be surprised
at the absurd opinion OF Mr.. Butler,
given as foundation or justification
for Gen. Jackson TO pocket the bill re-
pealing the Treasury circular, and
which had passed both Houses ofCon-
gress almost by reclamation. Nor,
indeed, should we be astonished at
any opinion of his, unless he should
have happened to give one different
from what he supposed the President
wanted.
wish now, to make few comments
on the professions and practice of Mr..
Amos Kendall, late Fourth Auditor,
and now Postmaster General. This
gentleman, you know, sir, was an
eleventh-hour Jackson man. He, how
ever, was among the first who got Of
lice; and Immediately after his APP
polntment, a letter of his is published,
IN which, after holding himself and a
lew friends up as having been persecu-
ted, he exclaims, "what has Heaven
done So disposed of events, as to
make Barry Postmaster General, and
myself more humble AUDITOR AS
10 Mr.. Barry, no matter "what events"
made him Postmaster General; we
know that under his management that
department. was deranged and rendered
insolvent!
But now for this humble Audi
tor" or, as from his own question, he
is sometimes called "this Heaven
born" Amos. If history does him JUS
tee, it will be found that he desired
Office under Mr.. Clay, which, it not
being in the power OF the latter to pro-
vide, Mr.. Kendall espoused the cause
ofGen. Jackson.
In this letter Of Mr.. Kendall, he
says:
&c / feel bound by my obligations to
my country, and by the pledges so Of