Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-25


whom | shall mention was Boyd. th'
successor of Harris, a follower IN thu
footsteps.'' In little better than 81
: months after he had been in office, we
find the following account of his fidelity
It's extracted from the report OF one
-lV. NJ. Garesche, who was sent out by
!, the Secretary TO examine the condition
: OF the land offices. 1t is dated 18th
June. 1887. la relation to Boyd, he
says:
4The account of the receiver, which
| have made out, and transmit herewith
4 presents against him balance of S55,
a65 81. His own account makes il
lG53.272 rs; il is also annexed His as
sets. of which | also send YOU the list
lamount TO sci $40 98, rating the land
at 81 IS only, but might probably real
lie double the amount. The man seems
really pcnitent; and | am inclined to
think. in common with his friends, that
he is honest, and has been led away from
his duty bv the example of his prede-
cessor. and a certain looseness in the
code OF morality, which here does not
move in so limited a circle as il does
with us at home. Another receive r
would probably follow in the footsteps
| of the two. You will not. therefore,
| be surprised if | recommend his being
retained, in preference to another a p
pointment; for he has his hands full now,
and viii not be disposed to speculate any
more. He will have his bond signed by
the same sureties, and orwarded in
few DAYS to Washington; this speaks
favorably. He has, moreover, pledged
his word that, if retained, he Will strict
" obey the law. and receive nothing but
specie in payment for lands. He tells me
that he is about selling great portion of
his lands; that, and some other negotia-
ton, will enable him to discharge n
large portion of his debt TO the United
States before the expiration Of the pre-
sent quarter. Lenity towards him, there
fore, might stimulate him to exertions,
which severity might perhaps Paralyze.
| have, in the meantime, enjointed the
closing of the land Office until the bond
is completed and returned. No land has I
been sold since the Goth ultino.''
Sir, who, but a prohigate pander, could ,
nave written the above? Who, bat a /
political bawd, could have received it
without Indignation and contempt?
''You will not be surprised if | recon-
mend his being retained;'' ''for he has
lis hands full now
No; | presume the Secretary was not
though any honest man would
rave been, at the corrupt and wicked
The licentious familiarity of this, as
Of H., Z
0 the Secretary, cannot fail Of arousing.
n the breast of every pure-minded man,
entiments of scorn and disgust.
But, says this polypus feelcr of Levi
Woodbury., ''the man seems really peni- !.
emit; and / am inclined to think, in :
COMMON with his friends, that be is hon !,
st. and has been led away from his d1- !
y by the example OF his predecessor, =
nd certain looseness in the code of :
norality, which here does not move in !.
o limited circle as it does with US at
ome.n Now, sir, a more infamous SLAM
er was never promulgated against an !
Intelligent and moral community; for a !
nore upright, intelligent, and moral
cannot be found in the repub- !
&c than that which is the subject Of this :
lie libel. Why, sir, | do not believe
here is citizen of that community :.
Who would not spurn, with honest and IN
ignant scorn, the prohigate sentiments T
f this self-constituted ''cenSOr HlOTunl."
No, sir; it was that looseness of polit-
cal morality which marks the party in
over. which more especially illustrates
he official conduct of the Secretary of !
he Treasury, that induced Boyd to en- 7
'ezzle the public property. !.
And he did it with a vengeance. His
ccounts exhibit his defalcation as of
ono $4,000 or 100000 in money. :
But it was a more splendid robbery than !
his. it was of some $4,000 acres of the {
u bic domain, which. by virtue Of this :
flee, he transferred to himself without !
ven paying for it a single dollar. :
Sir, this was bold operation; most !
f the appropriations Of other peoples :
property prefer personal chatteIs- :.
which can be concealed, and, Z
f necessary, taken across the waters f
tut there be land rats as well as wa :
or rats" and Boyd, it seems, was land +
at. What huge slice he cut from the f
ublic loaf!-28. 900 acres of land! Why, u
is more than a German principality. !
me Norman robber, when he divided !
ut the broad lands of merry England.
ave not to his naughty barons such +
tide extent of wood and field. Who
'ould not be the feudatory of this ad- a
when the tenure is so easy, I
nd the reward would constitute mate !
lais for dukedom,
Sir, the Secretary deserves impeach- D
lent for this case alone. WHY has he Il
OF proceeded to set aside the illegal and Il
,lse titles to those lands? The receiver 2
ever had a shadow Of right TO them. r
ct his pretended title has been recog- I
ised, and portions Of the land are pow Il
eing sold b. the officers of the Gov o
rnment, as the property OF the delin o
uent. N
After this extensive land piracy, " hat o
pes the Secretary do? Does he. with a
irtuous Indignation, turn him out of
ices No, sir. He permits him 10 re- q
gn at his leisure. Two months after G.
aresehc's report, he writes him as tc
flows: n
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