Madison Whig advocate., 1839-05-11

| held. The Post Office Department was
first charged with every crime in the
calender of malversation and malfeasance
in office. The charges were denied. those
made them viliied, and investigation was
scorned and scoffed at, until the complaint
became too popular to be unheaded lon
ger; committee was at last granted by
both Houses of Congress, their investi-
cations could not be stifed, and their re-
ports from both sides, In both branches
OF Congress, exposed more bribery and
corruption, more fragrant violations of
official duty and crying abuses of official
power and trusts, than had ever been
charged or dreamed to exist. The Ad-
mnIstratIon made narrow escape; they
run the gauntlet through this exposure.
and they were by it taught a lesson
which they have ever since remembered
not toolishly again to grant or yield to
another Investigation. To appease the
public Indignation Mr.. Barry, the only
honest man among that den of thieves.
was given over to the tender mercies of
what? FOREIGN MISSION! O. B.
Brown was permitted to resign with ecIat
and the gains he had laid up against a
day Of trouble from the profits of favor
ed mail contractors, and the rest and
worst of the robbers were retained in
their places.
But, sir, was not for permitting the
Administration to be 8 lohipped and clear
ed" after conviction upon indictment
against one Department, the Post Office,
alone. | believed that there were other
Departments as foul, and that investiga-
tion was more necessary in the Treasury
Department, especially, than any other.
so charged during the long session of
1856. | was laughed at as a mad
man. The Globe denounced me as the
tool of faction, and daily were and my
friend (Mr. PEYToN) playcarded for
calumny and falsehood, ''by authority'' in
the official organ. During that session,
whilst there was time to investigate, we
were not needed, except by bitter denun-
citation for false cIamors. But our cla-
mors brought forth fruit at the next ses-
sion-an official notice, though indirect,
in the Message of the President-the
"Iast annual Message of the Greatest
and Best.
In December, 1886, General Jackson
sent to US his ''last annual Message" in
which he gave a certificate of honesty,
probity, and good demeanor to all the
officers Of all the Executive Depart
mcnts. twas given, no doubt, express
ly to falsify the charges which had been
intimated by myself and others at the
previous session respecting the then con-
nexion between the Treasury and Reu-
ben NJ. Whitney. He held to Congress
this language:
Before concluding this paper, think
it due TO the various Executive Depart
ments to bear testimony to their prospe-
rous condition, and to the ability and in
tegrity with which they have been con-
Quoted 1t has been my aim to enforce
in all of them a vigil ant and faithful dis
charge Of the public business; and it is !
gratifying to me to believe that there is |
no Just cause of complaint from any quar-
ter. AT the manner in which they have |
fulfilled the objects of their creation"
And, sir, as if to give this certificate all |
possible soIemnity of asseveration, it was
made Immediately to precede that clos
ing paragraph in which, as with a sigh |
of regret heaved from the bosom of the |
old Caesar at the thought of leaving pow
er, he pours out his gratitude to his fell
for the encouragement and |
his consciousness of
having come short of all he desired to
accomplish, his confidence in favorable
of his motives, his consola-
tion that has errors would find cOrrec
tire in the Intelligence and patriotism of
those who would succeed him, his inspi-
ration of increased confidedce in our in
stitutions, and his pledge, if spared by
age and infirm health in retirement, SO
much desired by him, to invoke that be-
1eficent Being TO whose providence we
we're already so signally indebted, for
The continuance of his blessings on his
beloved country.
We will soon see whether there were
errors to be corrected, and time has deve
oped whether ''nntelligence and patriot
SIN sufficient in those who succeeded
him have been found to apply the ''cor-
retire"
Sir, forthwith Joined issue with the
of this certificate. | re-
yiewed this ''last annual message" in
speech, to which | now refer, as part of
he ssreS gesta'' of this subject. | denied
he proposition
1st. That the various Executive De-
,artments were in a prosperous condl-
ion.
Cd. That they had been conducted with
lbility and integrity.
Sd. That it had been the aim of the
Executive to enforce in all of them a
,igilant and faithful discharge of the
public business.
4th That there was no Just cause of
complaint from any quarter, at the man
Ter in which they had fulfilled the OBJ
ects of their creation.
| charged the very reverse of these
upon the pure, virgin Ad
of him who could do no
wrong, and declared it was more corrupt !
han that which had, on the plea of cor
upton, been thrust ont of power.
,ledoed the proof and demand a COM