Litchfield enquirer., 1839-01-31
xxrRAcr FROM NM. w1sr's SPEECH.

On the lUih inst. on Mr.. CampfeiSng mo-
ton for a select committee on the Executive
communication concerning the SWartwoui
dedication
Mr.. wise rose and addressed the House in
favor of it. When Gen. Jackson, (Sald he)
in his last message to Congress, lett behind
him certificate Of the honesty, probity, and
good lerneanor of all his departments, !
Soubted the truth of it,. Ibelicved then that
"corruption was the order Of the day." and
I so charged. | believed then that the Off
GERS of the departments were not merely
picking and stealing in a small way, but that
they were sweeping off the public treasure
by millions, and were guilty Of grand larce-
nv OH a grand scale. 1t now seems that
Sswartwout, the Collector Of the city OF New
York, point where two-thirds OF the entlr1
revenue of the Union is collected had oeen
embezzling hundreds of thousands every
hour when the Message was delivered to US.
notwithstanding the certificate of honesty
under the word Caesar that was good against
the world. told the country then that hon
est Lewis Department was rotten 70 the core;
and i asked for a committee to probe il. The
committee was raised but the President let
this House, Ahc grand inquest of the nation,
know that his officers were above its scrutl-
nv, and the doors were shut in our faces. But
now-now that the horse is stolen-the organ
of the administration IN TINS House proposes
graveiy to shut the door. I'A. s5 fAt
VIM do YOU want committee to prove
that Levi is not to blame! 1t is vain. 1t is
idle. Itwould be useless to demonstrate that
he was. Was it not demonstrated in the
case of Reckless, the collector of Amboy.-
Was he not convicted by that upright and
honest man-Mr. Parker Of New-Jersey ?
Was 1t not proved that he had embezzled the
public money and proved so clearly, and
brought home so closely, in spite of every
evasion, that President jackson himself was
convinced, and ordered him to pay back the
money! But what then Reckless had been
one Of the most active partisans ofthe admin.
istration, and he was retained in Office, and
NAV he fiourishing as collector TO this day,
for aught know. [Mr. Randolph Of N. J.
here minated TO Mr.. Wise that Reckless had
resigned last spring.l Mr.. Parker felt deli.
cate and sensitive in the case, as his own
character might have been compromised
and after fixing the fraud upon him, ne de-
y1aanded his removal yet he was not reno
we'd. And / shall never forget the remark
that Mr.. Parker made to me at this time,
Said he, Mr.. w. there Is one thing very hard
under this government, and know but one
other thing that is harder; " II is almost i'm.
possible to get an honest man into office, and
it's d little more impossible 70 get dishon.
brought home TO the President and Mr.. Sc
cretary Levi the scisnter of the defalcation.--
They knew. it they admitted IL; they or
dered their man to pay back the money he
had dishonesty taken, yet they kept him in
Office. But now that the leprosy had broken
out into the open view Of all men-now,
when corruption ID too monstrous TO be con-
cealed any longer; now honest Levi, asks
you 10 give him white. washing committee
Men who knew Of fraud and population and
perjury, and wasting Of the public money,
and set their faces against gil Investigation,
and gave q general certificate Of the homes
q select committee that they may be white
washed? / will have neither part nor lot in
the matter. see q coming day--a day,
thank God not now very far loff. when that
chair shall be flied with one who will give
us a committee who will investigate, not OBJ.
struct inyestigation--a committee who can
"a into yonder sink holes and arrest the rob-
Der while he is at his dirty work, and not af-
Ter he has made his escape which shall lock
che door before the horse is stolen. a
Gentlemen begin at last to see that investi-
CATION cannot any longer be choked down
that the consequences are breaking forth,
withtle force Of cataract, and that they
might as well arrest Niagara. And now
they, come pulling TO us. and ask for com:
nittee! il suppose ii IL to be such as we had
before-s;r GOOD ssaunch administration men,
and three men disposed to investigation. SIX
mel, ready to vote Cor any despotic principle
advanced by the Executive, and three who
stand,up for the right Of inquiry. Will the
gentlemen give me an investigating commit
tee to look into the Postmaster Generals
land speculationi to 60 into the Indian De-
partment! yes, sir, a gentleman over the
way. famous for the glory ct tnc previous
Question, (Mr. Cushman mods his headD ne
viii give II me. And why? He knows it is
in vain to propose these Investigations now.
They are too massive. Will he give TO the
people such committee as will do their du-
tvs "a committee appointed by ballot; a COM
sT,ittee with a majority in favor Of investiga-
lion? "A committee who shall have nothing
TODD with. the pail and brush : A committee
who shall use the scalpel and probe! Or 7is
Ito be q committee to whiten sepulchres!
Why, ! ask. was Price left out Why were
We told Of Swartwout alone1 will read
Or. Attorney Prices letter TO you; It seems
10 be official; and certainly il entities him.,
wfen taken In connection with all the cir-
cumstances Of bis escape, to be dubbed thu,
most gallant defaulter lever heard of in NJ y
life. Here MI. Wise reads Mr.. Prices vet.
ter to the President Of Dec 9th. ! see that
the Secretary has ordered some inquiry into
the accounts Of this chivalrous gentleman,
and that they have discovered already a de-
ficit Of $4,000. So much for q beginning.
Ho had taken care to assign his prop erty (;
and his furniture has lately been attached and
sold., ] have . list Of part of 1t and really,
sir, instead Of being such as one might have
looked for in the house Of a good democratic
locofoco and willing administration, Tam
many republican, &c might rather suit the
richest apartment in the palace Of an Empe-
ror. understand. too. that on his way to the
ship he stopped and purchased . quantity Of
pgenison, canvass-back ducks, and other luxu.