Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-04-11
W. LATTlMORE, Cor. Sec.
II. &, STREET, Rec. Sec.
FROM THE RICHMOND WING.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.


For years past, the Wings have been allied.
glng that there was, certainly in the great Cit
les OF the North if not elsewhere, u systematic
and organized interference on the part of feder.
al officeholders with the freedom of Elections
and tho purity of elective franchise. They
nave asserted that parizanS were elevated TO Of
fces Of trust and confidence, entirely on the
grounds OF their inscriptions party services
and mob Influence, being destitute either Of the
character WHICH alone ought to be the pass
ports to office; and that the Corps of Federal
place holders was laid under an annual and
forced tax, in the shape Of voluntary contri-
button, which was devoted to Electioneering,
to influencing and to purchasing votes to keep
themselves and their masters at Washington,
place.
The Wings have complained loudly and just
~ OF these practices as subverting the freedom
OF elections, and turning the money of the Peo-
pie into the means OF corrupting the People and
making them instruments OF enslaving them
selves. They have alledged that the purity
and freedom of the elective franchise was the
sheet anchor Of Republican liberty, and they
have maintained and do maintain, that, free
dom and purity cannot be preserved against
largesses from the Golfers Of the Federal Gov
eminent, and the drilled exertions of immense
hordes Of federal office holders. The evil is of
so pressing and dangerous a tendency as to re-
qulre Immediate and effective remedy; and if
the labors o. the late Swartwout Committee do
no other good, they will have rendered the no.
blest service to the country by exposing to pub
lie Reproduction the illicit means by which the
New York Office holders swayed elections; for
we hope that the exposure will itself be effective
in suppressng the vice.
0CrSee the examinations of Dc Peys,er and
Lyon, by the Swartwout Committee.
AREN'T s. De PEYsTER SWORN AS A WITNESS
Examined by Mr.. Wise.
Question. Whilst you were connected with
the custom house, do you know whether or not
the officers OF the customs were called upon 10
pay any part Of their salaries, or any assess.
nont or tax thereon, for party political pur-
poSeSt IL yea, state whether you have ever,
ana when you have made any such payment,
we're made.
Mr.. Wagner objected to the propoundinp of
lays. 0'' ""u
The committee decided that the interouotorv {
mould be propounded. Yeas.--Cur,is. Dow.
on Harlan, Smith, Wise--fvc Nays-Woo-
ner. "S
Inc lnterrogatpry was then propounded, q
M Inc witness gave the following y
Answer The Wefghers were called on 70 ;,
ay Sl5 each for the support of the election, -
"a ~! when declined, Mr. Vanderpool, the Den =
y surveyor, observed that ought to consG. r.
whether my $1,000 per annum were NOT +
orIh paying 1915 for. Under the mnre ,s;o,' - !,
lat 1t was the price for my situation, bald !, y,
III nc ABOVE occurred during the last spring cleo. ~
Oil LOT charter officers, During nv holdina =,
nee, Tor about five years, was occasionally :"
'llea on, but always declined until within tbe -
st two years "'' '''' 10
question Is the Office of Weigher, which -
ou held, regarded as one under tho Tn ;toI a. a.
a'gs, and the salary of which was paid out Of ~
g treasury ofthe United States? "
answer LotIerly paid out ofthc Treasury
'"o''y commission was allowed on tho =