The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-11
y,y buren, SPECTATORS.

taFstl
;,c,,ling the highest in rank and members Of
=. C,,nc,, have been or are somewhat ex-
oi,e,y concerned in land speculations.
IN, preci,e extent we do not undertake to
d,6ne but they seem to be Of character
Worthy to be regarded as Of a demoralizing
and VICIOUS ten ency. Such speculations
have been complained Of against the people.
Rat il the practice is reprehensble in private
ctiz,ns how much more so is ], IN high
officers Of the General Government : We
have seen the dislresses Of 1867, attributed
Nv the President in his messages, and by his
par,izans in all their writings and addresses,
to the mania Of speculation, and arguments
attempted to be deduced from the circum-
stance to advance iavorite measures. But
did the honest people Of the country suspect
while the public magistrates were warning
citizens of the evils Of speculation, that those
very exemplary magistrates and officers were
themselves deeply and extensively embracing
the " eviI' they SO gravely denounced! That
they were dssuadng others from speculation
in order that they might have wider scope
and greater profits for themselves We
know that the people did not suspect these
thng-, and would have been disposed to at
tribute charges of such proceedings to the
heat Of party spirit. But all men cannot visit
Cornth. All the people Of the United States
cannot hear or witness The things which may
be observed at Washington. We wish they
could. For the same reason that many ofthe
ofi:e-holders become opposition men. viz:
the reason Of their becoming familiar with the
characters and conduct Of the men in power,
would there be a very general expression OF
surprise and condemnation.
We cannot put our fingers positively upon
the spccuations that have been alluded to.
But we know so much Of circumstances GO
ing to prove them, that nothing but the most
direct and positive testimony could shake our
belief upon The subject. We believe, for ex-
ample, that member Of the Cabinet has re-
ceved or had rendered to him $50, 900 worth
Of stock in a certain Land Company, TO be
paid for in political and official services at
Washington. We believe that other Co.
vernnent officers residing in this city, whose
position gives them an advantage over the
'peopl- of The country, have amassed fortunes,
by specializing in public lands, contracts, &C.,
cnnnying with others to promote The object
and avoid discovery. This is true, perhaps,
to still greater extent, of the land officers of
r.. IL.
ton of the Federal officers just corrupt enough
to do any thing that is practicable or conve-
nent to promote their own interest-nee lect-
ing their duties and delrauding the people,
We are not alone in our knowledge, nor in
our belief. The Springfield Illinois Journal,
for example, iniimates tina, the great opposi-
,l"n of Attorney General Butler to the con-
lirmaion of the Bourbean claim at Chicago,
was because Of his own interests in another
large tract adjoining the town, the value of
which would be greatly enhanced if this
claim was kept out Of market. 1t also init
mates that the President is, probably, inte-
rested in the same claim. The Journal says
that the interest of the President in the
town Of Oswego is matter of public no,orie-
ty" If true, it is not as notorious as. Judging
IRON the reports we have heard, it should be.
Another paper at Vicksburg, Mi, known
supporter Of Mr.. Van Buren,, in speaking of
'h's subject, in reference to some of the Cabi-
net advisers, remarks:
be true we have reason to suspect that thew
nave so her official influence To some Of those B,s-
h'n aud New York land COMPANIES for a CERTAIN mr.
Wv" :" tue Spols they ought 10 be dismissed at least
we should like to see an investigating committee
appointed Tor every State in this Union TO examine
'h'o The s"nding transactions OF federal officers cheat.
IVY poor Indians u the lands, getting wetces /. swear
IT'S "r them and the identify Of ndiaus l}y probing
W, aud exposing the various tricks by which federal
"H-'fs lnonnolize the pnhllc domain AID n, wear or
"o make ioftunes, the administration AID the people
No0a I've btnehtrd, and avarice corruption aud profit
gey properly rebuked"
we should like 10 see these swindl.ng
transactions properly exposed, although we
uo"o' II even the most lawful disclosures" of
''' west profgacy and corruption would pro-
'''e any sensible effect upon the trained
o''u' that uphold the administration. Mr..
.ailoun never spoke n severcr truth, than
when he declared that .to prore corruntion
ana aou'e only STRENGTHENS the administers.
ton IN the affection oithai p6,ce, FIJI disc;pline
corps, winch Is the main snppor, of those in
power, and which has unfortunately es,,-
bIshcd so commanding an influence over n,h.
he opinion" The Report of the Inves,isa,-
ing Committee, which contains evidences Of
negligence, connivance and fraud enough to
SINK dozen administrations, is monumen,
Of this truth
ADM SMITH, the great political economist, when
employee 10 crm ,osipion, walked his aplrln.n,
II n