The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-03-07
PREDATORY REMARKS OF THE
Committees REPORT.

The SelecI COMMITTEE, chosen by the
House Of Representatives on the 9Th and
10Th ulIi,no. 10 investigate the delaica-
lion. Of Samuel SwariwouI, late collert-
or Of the customs al the pori Of New
York, and of either officers. have devo
ted 10 the faithful discharge OF the duiies
assigned them the limited time allowed
for the purpose by the shnrsaess Of the
present session of Congress.
II was most obvious. however. that
the whole field Of inquiry presented by
the resolution appointing die committee.
could not be properly maversed to re-
port thereon. either Satisfactory TO the
country or 10 the committee, during the
short remainder Of The present Congress.
This impressed upon The committee a.
once resolution. which has been rigidly
adhered 10. Of limiting ibe investigation
to such branches Of the subjects referred
to them as had mos, deeply excited pub
lie anxiety and alarm, and to undertake
only 50 much Of these as might be thor
oughly exhausted within the allotted Pc
Rod Of The committees researches. But
the important results which have been at.
tanned. notwithstanding The disadvanta-
ges adve,ied TO. cannot fail I'd inspire the
country with a confden, hope, that the
high obligation whirh will res, upon the
successors Of the prssen. Congress in the
Legislature Of the nation, tn resume and
complete the gres, work of inveslig alton
and reform Of the alarming condition and
abuses of the Executive departments Of
the government, from The highest TO the
lowest. and from the nearest to the re-
moiesi funciionaries. will engage the
prompt and efficient attention which its
magnitude demands.
Guided solely by the character Of the
Developments which the investigation
imposed upon them by The House has
elucidated. the COMMITTEE cannot resist
The conviction. tina. al M period in the
history Of the Federal Government has
there been deeper or better founded cause
than exists a. the presen, momsni. Tor
every psiriot heart TO desire a prompt
cunsumms,ion Of that signal " task d re-
form" mhich public sentiment many
years since inscribed on the last Of er-
ecufire duties. IN characters TOO tegi6le
TO be overlooked. requiring. d" particular
i ly, the correction of those abuses thai
have brought the patronage of the Fed
sral government, into conflict With the
freedom Of elections. and the eounterdc-
fion of those causes rhieh hare distur-
!. bel tie righJa course Of appointment,
and hare placed or continued power IN
uNFAlrHruL or INCOMPETENT HANDS.
The 6rs, procedure Of the committee.
after organizing itself for business. was
TO visi, The city of New York. TO inspec,
there, in person, the original records aud
papers Of the custom house, in c"njune-
/ lion with the examination Of such wit
ne.ses as nigh, be surpassed capable 81
shedding light upon the inquiry involv-
ed by the defalea,ions Of Mr. Swsr,wout.
! Thenceforward this branch OF the Inves-
tigs,ion was conducted pursuant to the
resolution Of the House. wig: TO ascertain
e., The causes and ex,ru," Of those drial.
cations; the length oil Tine they have ex-
i listed; the correctness Of the returns which
have been made by Mr.. S~arswou,. and
| by the naval officer q, New York. aud by
other officers connected with the adjust
\ ment 0f his accounts.
! Concurrenily with the Investigation oil
! Mr.. Swar,wout's defalca,ions, those al
i William N. Price, late district attorney
in New York. were likewise kept in
sIaaugural address Of President Jackson,