The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-04-23


The House being in committee ofthe Whole up
on the Presidents Message, Mr. PRENrIss of Mis-
sissipp, spoke follows
| Mr.. CHAIRMAN IL had intended, upon former
Occasion, 10 have expressed my views upon some
of the topics embraced in the Presidents Message
more especially the subject Of the recent dealca-
Hons. am, however, unfortunate 10 be
viewed by the official eye of tins House through
an inverted telescope, and it is not often that can
obtain the floor With much pleasure, therefore,
avail myself ofhe opportunity at present afford
ed me. That portion of the Message to which
shall princ pally turn my attention, to wit, the de-
! falcatons of the public oflic RS, has been already
ably considered bv my friend from Virginia. mir
WIse,> as well nsby the distinguished member from
Tennessee, (Air Belly But it is n subject which
cannot be TO" often too thoroughly discussed -
Its examination will, am confident, eviscerae
more ofthe'princp pies upon which this Government
has for some years been administered, and furnish
us more valuable lessons for future guidance, than
any other matter that can occupy our deliberations.
am sorry to observe rapidly increasing hostility
upon this floor to the discussion of great political
principles. One would suppose, IN listening to
some gentlemen, that Congress was constituted,
like county court, for the trial Of petty individual
claims, instead of being the great political tribunal
of tho nation, whose province and duty it is, not
only to notice all important in the action Of
the Government, but to investigate the causes from
which they have resulted.
Defalcations of the most alarming character, and
Tor an immense amount carried on and concealed
for series OF years, by the collector of the prlnc
pal commercial city of the Union, have been
Gently developed The President has seen fit to
call our particular attention TO this case, and to
make, in connexion herewith, divers suggestions
as to the best mode Of preventing similar
ces hereafter.
'lt seems proper (says the Presidency that, by
an early enactment, similar TO that of other
tries, the application of public money, by officer
OF the Government to private uses, should be made
~ Jefony, ana cISttcd 10Th Serere and igh0miin0us
punishment" .........0,
lie further recommends that a committee of Con-
gross be appointed to watch the officers who have
the custody of the public moneys, and that they
should ''report to the Elk cuve such dealcations
as were found TO exist, with view 10 prompt e.
moval from office, unless the default was sa,isfac-
torily accounted for
The Secretary OF the Treasury has also given us
report upon this same subject, in which he ex-
presses his establishment that such occurrence
should have happened without his knowledge ex-
hbits, like the President, most holy horror the
euormity of the offences and recommends the APP
pointment of additional tribe of officers TO watch
over those already in power, as the best mode of
avoiding similar mishaps in future.
To listen to the well assumed astonishment OF
the President and Secretary at the discovery of
Swartwonts populations, one would readily sup
pose that defalcation, under the present Admins
traon, like parrcide among the ancient, had here
tofore been a crime unknown and consequently I'M
provided for by justice Hearken TO the philosophi-
cal musings of the President on this point
"Ihe Government, 1t must be admitted has been
from its commencement comparatively fortunate in
this respect But the appointing power cannot al
ways be well advised in it's selections, and the ex-
pericnce of every country has shown that public
officers are not at all times proof against temp tn-
ton
Wonderful sagacity Unparalleled discovery
Who will now deny the title of 'magican'' to The
man who has developed the astounding fact "that
public officers are not at all times proof against
temptation %
The embezzements of Swartwout have caused
tins truth to flash upon the sagacions mind of the
Chief Magistrate, and with ph,lanthropc easerness
n ST. IN n bjG sprf
oil WIckedness by making it penitentiarv offence.
Mr. Chairman, if should tell you that all this is
sheer hypocrlsy-gross and miserable pretence--a
tub thrown out 20 amuse the popular whale and d.
vert his attention from the miserable and leaI ky ca.
noe which bears the fortunes of this Administra.
ton il should tell you that, during the last five
or SIN years,a hundred cases of dolalcaton have
Cured, more outrageous in principle profit
gate IN character than the ono recommend
ed to investigate that the President has tnued
defaulters IN office, k moving of their violations OF
duty, Knowing of their appropri alton of the public
moneys to private uses that the Secretary of the
treasury has, during that whole period, habitually
connived at these deiaIcations and extended over
them the mantle of his protection if should tell
YOU that these defacations constitute portion of
the "Spoiis system'-that system which has been
to this Administration what his flowing locks were
to Samson 1.-The secret OF its strength If | should
tell you all this, Should tell you more than
conscientlously believe more than shall at.
tempt to prove before this House and the country.
These defalcatons shall trace their origi ,and
not stop TO inquire so much into their amounts, as
INTO the causes which have led TO them. IL is not
the question, Where is the money but Where is
the guilt that wish TO investigate. The recent
developements to which attention is invited are
but some OF the bubbles that are every day break
ing upon The surface of the still and mantling pool
silai not stop to measure their relative size col
on, but Will, unpleasant the task may be, dredge
Tor the corrupt cause which lies Mt the bottom
lhese cases are but the wind(alls from that tree of
Sodom-Executive patronage. Heretofore, the
Representatives, of the People have IN vain urged
an examination into the character of its fruit but
l! has been guarded with more vigilance than were
the golden apples of the IIesperides. Now, our
attention is solicited to il by the President. Is he
IN earnest? Let him but give us chance to shake
th's tree, and he will find his rotten prppns falling
from every limb and branch
But our attention is Called particularly, 10 the
case OF Swartwout. The Administration has de-
Iivered him over to tender mercies ; they have |
dropped him, as the bear, when holly pursued,
drops one of her cubs, for the purpose kof distract
ing the attention of the hunter, and so escaping
with the rest Of her young. !, for one, shall not
be thus diverted from my purpose, but will follow