The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-04-30

of the people has become but the plumber OF party.
Patronage is waved like huge magnet over me
land and demagogues, like iron lings,attracted Dy
a law of :her nature, gather and cluster around us
poles Never yet lived the demagogue VINO wou'd
not like Office
The whole frame of our Government, the whole
institutions of the country, are thus prostiluted TO
the causes of party. l express my candid opinion
when aver that do not believe that single office
of importance within the control Of the Executive
has for the last five years, been filled with any 9th
or view or upon any other consideration, than that
of party effect; and if good appointments have in
uny instances been made and benefit accrued to
the country, it has been accidental, and not vol
untary result. Office is conferred as the reward of
partisan service and what is the consequence p
Why the office holders are not content with the
pitiful salaries which afford only small compensa-
lion for present labors but do not in their eslima
ton, constitute any adequate reward for their pre-
vious political services. This reward they per-
suade themselves, it is perfectly right to retain from
whatever passes through their hands. Being taught
that all moneys in their possession belong not TO
the people, but to the Fparty, it requires hut little
exerlion of caustry to bring them to the conclusion
that they have right to retain what they conceive
10 be the value of their political services Just as
lawyer holds back his commissions The Admin
istraton countenance all this winks as 1t MS long
as possible and when public exposure Is inevita
BILE, generally gives the bloaed plunderer full warn
ing and time to escape with his sPoils
Do you not see the edgerness with which even
Governors, Senators, and Representatives in Con-
gress grasp at the most trivial appointments-lhe
most Insignificant emouments Well do these
sons of the horse leech know that there IS more
blood in the body than what nantes in the cheek,
and profit in an office than is exhibited by the
salary.
Sir, have given you but three or four cases of
defalcatons would time permit, could give you
n hundred. Like the fair Sultana of the Oriental
Legends, could go on for thousand and one
nights and even in those Eastern stories, so IN
the chronicles of the office holders, the tale would
ever be the heaps OF gold massive ingots, uncoun-
ed riches. Why, Sir, Aaddin's lamp was nothing
to 1t. They seem to possess the identical cap OF
Tortunatus; wish for $50, Oo0, some for $780,,
600, some for "A million and behold, it lies in
glittering heaps before them. Not even
r "The gorgeous East with richest hand,
Showers on her kings barbarc pearl and god
in such lavish abundance does this Adminisira-
ton upon it's followers Pzarro held not forth more
dazzling lures to his robber band when he led them
to the conquest of the Children of the Sun.
And, now, Mr. Chairman, have L no: redeemed
my promise Have not shown that the PresI-
dent is but a hypocrte in his pretended horror at
dealcaton that the Secretary is much worse-a
conniver, a weak, imbecile particeps criminis p
Let his defenders reconcile his conduct in the case
of Harris with his official dutv-wth the dictates
of common honesty, if they can !; dare them to
the trial. Let them reconcile his licentous
pondence with Spencer, Hendricks, and more
peciay Garesche, with the principles of common
decency.
Mr. Chairman, it is not my intention to examine
infinitely the case of Swartwout. ] know not why
the President should have selected it out OF SO
many as the subject of special communication
There is, however, one curious matter connected
with this subject. The President, the Secretary,
and the party all profess to unite in the belief that
the defalcatons of Swartwout, Price, and others
afford the best possible argument in favor of the
sub-treasury scheme. Most of these dsfacatinns
say they occurred under The deposite system and,
therefore to that system these losses are attribute
BILE. Now, sir, if you look over this document
297, you will find that out of the 265 letters to
ceivers and Collectors NEARLY 2OOcontan complaints
that the public money had not been deposited in
bank, but retained in the hands of the officer: If
you will look into the cases OF Harris and boya,
you will that their defalcations could not have
taken place had the Secretary not INDUCED them
in a continued and habitual violation of this duty
of periodical depostes But the proposition itself
is grossly absurd. 1t amounts to ihis-that the
running away of subtreasurers with large amounts
of the public money is proof of the safety OF the
sub treasury system in other words, stealing is
proof of honesty. It is the holding of the money
in the hands of the officer, which produces the
temptation to peculae. By having it in his custo-
dy, by continual viewing and counting, he comes
at length, to look upon and use it as his own
The system is corrupt in its tendency all ex-
peience says The first sub-treasurer since the
christian era, was Judas Iscariot he carried the
bag and it was doubtless as much by his DISPOSE
ton to appropriate contents to his private
use, by the thirty pieces of silver, that he was
tempted to betray his master.
But I understand the Executive goes still further;
and pointing TO those very defalcaons, demands
an additional band of officers watch the and
prevent them from walking in the footsteps other
pre- decessors. So Psistratus gashed himself with
unseemly wounds, and telling the people they had
tional guard to protect him. His request was
granted fifty men were given him, wthwhom he
immediately seized upon the citadal, and became
tyrant of Athens. Let the lesson not be ost,wheq
you are asked to increase the number of the office
holders,
No. sir; these defalcations teach another lesson,
and one we'll worth the cost, If we will sbut proh
by its admonitions. They teach us that the sub
treasury system is but the hot bed of temptation
and crime. They teach us that the public treasure
cannot be safely conided to individual custody.
Sir, this Government may determine to watch,
like Turks, with jealous care, its golden harem =
but it will seek in vain for lthe nan cial eunuchs
who have the power to guard without the wish to
enjoy
Mr. Chairman, the amount of money we have
lost great it is, presents question of but little
tration would take passage in the Great Western,
and with the treasury in their pockets, follow after
Swartwout and Price, / doubt not the country
would cry 'quits, and think it u happy radiance.
things are be prevented in future how this run.