Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-03-26
PREPARATORY REMARKS OF THE CON.
MITTEES REPORT.

The Select Committee, chosen by the House of
Representatives on the l7th and l0th uliimo, TO
investigate the defalcations Of Samuel Swartwout
late Collector Of the customs at the City of New
York, and of other officers have devoted to the
faithfJl discharge of the duties assigned them the
limited time allowed for the purpose by The short
Of the present session Of Congress.
It was most obvious, however. that the whole
field Of inquiry presented by the resolution appoint
ing The Committee, could not be properly fraversed
to report thereon either satisfactorily to the coun-
try or TO the Committee. during the short remain
der of the present Congress. This impressed up
on The Committee at once resolution, which has
been rigldIy adhered to- Of limiting the invesliga-
ton to such branches of the subjects referred to
them had most deeply excited public anxiety
aud alarm, and TO undertake only much of these
might be thoroughly exhausted within the aloi-
ted period OF the Committees researches. But the
important results which have been attained, not
wi,hsianding the disadvantages adveried to, cannot
fail to inspire the country with u confident hope,
that the high obligation which will rest upon .he
successors of the present Congress in the Lcgsla.
ture Of the nation, to resume and complete the
great work Of investigation and reform of the aar
ming condition and abuses Of the Executive depart
menis of the Government, from the highest to the
lowest, and from the nearest to the remutest func-
tIonares will engage the prompt ard efficient at.
tenon which It's magnitude demands.
Guided solely by the character of the develop
ments which the investigation imposed upon '''e"
by the House has elucdated, the Committee can
not resist the coByctiop, ,hat at no period IN the
history of the Federal Government has there been
deeper OF better founded cause than exists at the
present moment, for every patriot heart 10 desire
n prompt consummalion Of that signal task n re-
FORM whjch public sentiment many years since IN
scrib,d on HE list of Erecuiue duties in characiers
TOO iegib'c 10 be 0Veriooked, requiring, particular
y the correction of those abuses that have brought
the patronage Of the Federal Government Into
conflict with the freedom Of elections. and the
confederation Of those causes uhich hare disturbed
he rigbJat course Of appointment and hare placed
or continued p0ieer ~ UNFAIrufUL or INCOMPETENT
nANDs."'
The FIRST procedure Of the Committee, after or
gaulzing Itself for business vas TO welt the city OF
New York; to inspect there, person, the original
records and papers Of the custom house, IN con
junction with The examination Of such witnesses
as might be supposed capable of shedding hight up
/ on Tie inquiry involved by the delalcauons OF Nj
I Sasuwout. Theneeforward this brsnch Of tn,
/ Investigation conducted pursuant to the reso
/ luton Of the Iouse VIZ 10 ascertain the "couse
/ and extent Of those deialcalions the length o
time they have existed the correctness OF the re
turns which have been made by MIR Swsu@oUt
aud by The naval officer at New York, and b. 9th
or officers connected Hilh the adjustment Of his &C
counts.
Concouently wiA.he investigation Of Mr. Swart
wouts delalcatons, those Of Wm. NJ. Pnce, lat
district attorney in New York, were likewise kep
10 view and the fullest practicable extent Of IN
formation respecting them has been obtained, an
viii be adyeued TO IN the sequel Of the report.
The correctness OF the returns which have bee
made by the present collector Of customs aud III
naval officer at The port Of New York. was ais
sought TO BE- examined by the Committee while 4
that city. "ConsiderIng that the customs collect
cd at New York equal nearly two-ihrds OF IA
whole amount IN all the United States" as state
IN the special report Of the secretsry Of the Treas
ury on Mr. Swanwouts eefslcsions, blouse coe
p. g. ofIhe present SESSION. the Committee d.
not suppose that they should faithfully discharg
Their duty to tie House, or pay proper deiefene
to that patriotic dslfusl which pefyades the coof
try at the prescott time 10 regard 10 the AtiAifs
the custom house at NewYork we're they TO lin
their Inquiries 10 the returns Of the lat@ eoeet'
and naval ofeei, and neg ect entirely those oi the
J successors, which must. al all times, be 10 u
country Of equal interest with the former and,
the present time. Of even more immediate impo
lance 10 the security u the national Treasury
.Inssg1rsi Address Of Pfe,icss, Jackson, March