Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-08-02
EsicssIul0md, Friday. August g.
Major Campbell and ~. s,kiso


.hajOr Campbell and Mr.. S,iien.
The following articles, pro aud con. about The late
Treasurer who has been superseded by MIR Selden,
have appeared in the late Washington papers We
have no disposnn 10 mngie in the fray ourselves but
We think our duty, TO lay these several statements
before renders
(fr.m lie Gi"be, of July 25)
" TIE LATE IREAsURER.-Some Of the indscreet
abusive towards The President of his removal
Whether Ignorant Of the facts, fully acquainted
with them from him. their course is equally ceusurabe
and unjust 10 Impute bad motives 10 The President or
10 assign false Tor The removal. Whether Mr.
Campbell is a Conservative not and whether he
is opposed 10 the President not, and if so, ought
not TO be employed under him. questions not
cessnry TO be discussed this occasion because we
learn that since Mr.. Van Buren's administration com.
menced, Dir {. has, from his in;rm condition. been
absent from his Office than third of The whole
time. That during the remaining two-ihirds OF The time
he has not been able to attend oil to the rrespond
ence OF the office, far 10 afx his signature
IL and that in pect 10 the other business he has omit
led entirely TO supervise and sign The drafts Treasury
notes, NC. after having been filled up for him. but has
been in the habit OF merely signing blank notes and
blank drafts to the amount Of m.ions millions leav
ing them 10 be afterwards filled up and issued by his
clerks, without the slightest interference on his part as
The head OF the oiicc.
THE Presiden, ascerainng these facts, undoubled
ly considered that Mr. Campbeis inmilies prevented
him from davoting that personal attention To his official
duties which the laws and The public security render
pro?er.
"Fur these reasons and not for The political ba
zoned about ny the Opposition, understand tina, Mr.
e notis that change in the office had become
necessary.
$50 far from prescription or unkindness existing in
this case BIZ has, under these circumstances been
treated with marked forbearance aud cuuriery by the
President and nl connected with the Administration.
From The N. intaHgencer
ave have bee requested by friend of the lale Trea
Campbell, TO say, that the statement OF The Globe
OF Thursday evening osi in relation 10 the official con-
duct Of that officer is not true will 10 due time, be
made 10 appear
"As 10 The in,imaiions Of the Globe, that Mr. Camp
bell was removed from Office because Of occasional alb
from the duties Of his office, and suffering Them
TO be discharged part Ivy persons IN the Offices subject
10 his orders IL nay BE- remarked, that this s at least
new offence in the catalogue Of objectionable sins
There is office at the Seat" Government, We be-
pve in which the constant personal presence and &C
lion Of The Chief and responsible officer supposed 10
be indispensable Certainly 1t IS not so In the case Of
much higher off than that Of Treasurer As part
culur illustration to the contrary (and not with my in.
enlion Ia find fault with i) may be me noned the fact
that the Secretary of Stale charged with the i'm
por,an of the administrative duties under the President,
having but just returned TO his Office after absence Of
several weeks, is again absent from H. and will remain
probably for many weeks and that il has fire.
Quen,y hereloo happened that important correspond
in The Office of Secretary of State has been carried
in the abser OF the Secretary Oath beine and
since Mr. Forsyth held The oice) by the principal clerk
of that Department.
with other heads Of bureaus but President has
before defsd such absences constituting
sufficient ground For the removal Of The head Of any de-
partmenl from Office. Instead Of The OF Mr. Camp.
bell having been brought " thin any known rule, ihrre
fore, his case hrs been made exception and
known rule applied apparently 10 effect predetermined
purpose.
.tTbere wcnlo be some plausbiliiy in the pre,ence
upon which Mr.. Treasurer Campbell's removal is ust
fed IT, like those Western SuJ.1rasurers no
removed, but retained in Office reappoihied, he had
appropriated TO his caused To be lost or vast
ed any of the public funds committed 10 his charge
But nothing like this is alleged nothing Of the sort can
be pretended On The contrary, whilst some hundreds
OF millions Of duas have been received and dsbursed
under the direction 81 MIR. Campbell not d"ar has
been lost misu applied through gny neg ec or mscon
duct in the Treasurers Office. All The public money
that ever came within the control Of the Treasurer.
whilst he held The office hns been faithfully kept, md,
in every instance, we believe, dsbursed according 10
law
From tie Globc of July 3lst)
"The National Intsgencer promised an exposition,
in Mr. Campbes behalf, proving that the statement III
the Globe, in regard 10 that gentleman nom performs
of the duties of HIS office, was not true. The In
lellgencer nevertheless by implcsllon admits the ac
Of the absences and attempts 10 justify them as having
precedent in the late absr OF Mr. Secretary Forsyth
IN Maine If Mr. Campbell shall show that his
attendance in his office in Washington occasioned
by attention great ;ional interests connected with
bis department al disls nee, then We will admit that the
differences from The record do MIR Campbell great
r..
to- has been engaged in service most important 10 The
peace aud interests Of the county.
THE PRESENT TREASURER.
But the Wing presses have relied much more upon
the appointment Of the Sue csssor than on The removal
of the late Treasured This is tile great point of thrir
attack We will devote few moments 10 the exam.
nation Of their charges upon This head.
AstoMr Selden himself the Wing presses have saved
s The necessity of enarging his qualifications for the
Office he hos accepted All who know him. indeed must
do hi m the Justice admit, that he is emInenily quail
fed 10 discharge lis duties The Boston P"s "a htpuh-
can pappr) is right when j, says, that Mr. S.lden IS
man of s.hyh Abilities noble private character hrm dis
interested. always hoId,ng his private interests subor
d,na,c To his convictions To use old New England
word he is not a self seeking man. His appointment
is in every way excellent one; The hrnness OF his
poca sincerity being equai led by his careful integrity
No man can know him. without giving him his conf
dencp and esteem The Wing Press too comedies his
qualifications; willis, they object to The manner of his
appointment.
was according to Jacksonnn usage to be conferred
of course /? partisan Of The Administrations, is due
To Mr. Srlden to say that the President could not have
selected from the ranks OF his political irenos genle.
man of more honorable repuie.
The Norfolk Herald frankly snys, "For ourselves,
without looking the manner in which the affair was
arranged. fully approve OF the Appointment OIL MI
Srden Of HON we have heard all parties speak in IA
vurabe terms. man Of honor and integrity, ano
wiiha most arniable gentleman.
The fredericksburg Arena says, "Mr. selden, we
doubt not, will make gopdoficer. Wetake no excep
lions to the appointment far as the character and
tona Of tIr individual concerned. He is
gentleman of integrity, talents and courteous manners
The Richmond Wing itself discarins oil design IN
what it says, "lo reflect personally upon Mr. sed'n :
We respect the gentleman as one courteous and cV'
and by no means vindictve towards his political nppo
nents" But, after oil, tile Wing papers are making
great rout about his apP"inmsn, They cnmor aoUu, !he
motives in which it originated, and The means by when
il was accomplished The Wing appeals TO the people,
Hrelisi this s1 less DaEteTHg
of uoc office This open fngrant and direct inerer
pnce by the Executive with the freedom of eect'ohs
This bringing candidates TO oppose The popular "l
of the public crib This direct assault upon the purity
and independent OF elections by the Executive patron
age, This efnrt dpfea, the people by means OF ther
own money and their Offices: For is not ana can
not be Denied that but for The interference Of .ne hu
=. ha,n Lac a LIniu