The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-08

resentntives on the resolution Of Mr. Cambreleug
| "providing that much of the communication
OF the President of the United States of the 9th
OF Dec. 1888, relates to the default of Samuel
SWartwout, be referred to a select committee,
and thar so much as relates to the adoption of
further measures for increasing the public secu-
rity against similar defalcations be referred to
the committee ofWays and Means"
Mr. Cambreleng having moved that the Exec
uuve communication respecting the defalcatiou
OF Samuel SWartwout, the late Collector of New
York, except much thereof as relates to a
modification of the revenue laws, be referred to
a select committee
hIr Wise moved thar it be referred TO Com.
nItiee OF the Whole on the state OF the Union.
This motion taking precedence of that tor
select committee
Dir Wise rose and addressed the House in sup
port of 1t. When Gen. Jackson (said he) in his
las. nlessuge to Congress- LETT behind him a GER
'Ihcae OF the honesty, prohity, and good de-
meanor OF all his Departments, doubted the
truth OF IT, believed then that corruption was
the order of the day. and so charged be-
! lleVed then that the officers of the Departments
we're not merely picking and stealing in "A small
way, that they were guilty ofpeuy larceny, hut
that they we're sweeping off the public treasure
by millions, and were guilty of grand larceny ON
Il grand scale. II seems that Swartwout
the Colectnr OF the city of New York, a point
where TWO thirds OF tue entire revenue of the
Union is collected, had been enbezziing hun
'reds Of thousands at the very hour when THAI
! message delivered 70 us, notwithstanding
the certificate OF honesty under the word of Cas-
sar, that was good against the world. ! told the
country then that honest Lewis Department was
rotten To the core; and | asked for committee
to probe ii. The Committee was raised; but the
President let this House, the grand inquest of
the nation, know that his officers were above its
scrutiny, and the doors were shut in our faces
BIT now-now that the horse is stoleu-the or
gan OF the Administration in this house proposes
! gravely 10 shut the toor What good will il do
now? II you let the committee go on with its
examination in 1886, you might have saved from
halt Il million 10 million and Il quarter of dol
lars mean in this one case. But this case is
but one out ola thousand-ay, out of fifteen hun
dIed cases of default. What can be the objec,
| of raising select committee now, gravely TO
inquire into the truth Of fact which every body
knows The leg sub Treasury has departed
aud you will never be able unless you put a stop
to steam navigation across the Atlantic, 70 hold
any OF them long enough to investigate their ac-
counts What is TO be gained? Do YOU wan,
to see how the thing WIS done, aud show how
II may be done again? DO you want TO institute
rogue college to teach all the rest of the Sub
Treasures how to steal the public money? Is 10
tor that you would raise committed I would
rather investigate the accounts Of The presept
Collector, not Tint have any ground of alIeaa-
ton specially against him in particular; but if we
are To examine, let us examine those who are
not Oh. Swartwout is off, and Price after him.
ana God knoWs how many more are TO follow.
Let us pm them down, say, while we have got
them. can conceive btst one object il, view of
asking for this committee. 1t is not to ascertain
the detalcaion; the Secretary has ascertaiuesi
thar. Bur there is another question-who is 20
blamea Has this happened with the connivancs
OF the Secretary of the Treasury? Is that the
question for this committee? Sir have had
LITTLE in hi. Inns -
ga,on; and ask that if you give us a commit
tee, IL shall not I've ii stocked committee. Let IL
not be stocked pack. But what time is there
tor such an investigation, il cannot be done this
session But ! suppose the real object is TO
whitewash Levi. The committee is to cast all
the oduni on Swartwout, who is laughing at
you IN his sleeve, and laughing your inquiries TO
scorn- Why not investigate Price? Why not
Gtpto? Why not make the investigation gen
eral and sweeping? If you 10, the task warn
yof, will be itnineiis,,. Two monthss 1t isa
work for years. Your committee cannot get To
work I'LL after Christmas, and then there will bur
about fifty working days remain Is that peri
oil III which 10 examine the accounts of the Col
lector of The port OF New York for period OF
seven or eight years?
Why, 40 you want committee to prove that
Levi Is not to blane? it il vain. 1t is idle. 1t
would be useless 10 demonstrate hat he wse.---
Was 1t not demonstrated III the case of Reck less,
the collector of Aulhoy2 Was he not convicted
by that upright apl honest man, MIR Parker, of
New Jersey Was it not proved thar he had
embezzled the public money? and proved
clearly, am! brought home SO closely, in spite of
every occasion, that President Jackson himself
was convinced, and ordered him to- pay back
the money? But what then ? Reckless had
heen one OF The most active partsuus of the
and he retained in office,
and may he tionrishing as collector to this day,
tor arght know. MIR Randolph Of New Jer-
sey here Intirnated to Mr. Wise that Reck less
had resigned last spring.l Mr. Parker felt deli
rate and sensitive in the case, and his own
character might have been compromised (; and,
lfter fixing the fraud upon him, he demanded
ms removal yet he not removed And
shall never forget the remark Mr. Parker made
% me at the time. Said he, nv w. there is one
hing that is very hard under this Government
md I know bur other thing Is harder :aTsis
almost impossible for an honest man to get into
,ffice and it is lille mora impossibIe TO ger
z. ,. i.L