The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-05
WHOLE NO. 2o7.

The political history Of Mississippi is illustrated by his
name, from It's very commencement. lie served her in
all her departments; and legislator, judge and Co
vernon advanced her prosperity, and added TO her cha
racter What he was Senator you all know. He
stood proudly among the proud, and lofty among the
oftlest, al time when the Senate Chamber contained
the garnered talent Of the countiy when its intellectual
giants shook the whole nation with their mighty strife
when sir it enclosed within its walls the most ranscen-
dant delberatiye body that ever assembled upon
this EARTH The floor OF that body his proper arena.
To correctness Of judgment, which would have given
him reputation without the capacity Of expression
he joined power OF debate which, for parliamentary
strength and effect unsurpassed To all this
added stern. unyielding attachment TO his political
principles and indoInitabe boldness in expressing
and sustaining them.
DO you not recollect, sir when General Jackson like
Charles l., strobe 10 the legislative chamber and thrust
among the Senators despotic edict, more insulting
than II he had cast at their feet naked II
| that fierce message which commenced with breaking
down the independence and character Of the Senate
and finally resulted that than felon act the de-
secration Of its records But the mandate passed not
/ unopposed or unrubuked.
When it burst like wild beast from his lair upon
the astonshed body whose degradation ii contemplated
and in the end accomplished Of the distinguished
Senators were absent; but he Of whom speak at
his post Single-handed and alone like Coolies at the
head of the bridge, he held bay the Executive squad
rons and fora whole day drove back the Mamelukes Of
power till at the sound of his voice. as at the sound of
trumpet his gallant compeefs, the champions Of free
DOM the knghts-not Of the black lines, but Of the
cons,uton-came focking TO the rescue. Sir, it was
noble scene, and worthy Of the best times Of the Ro-
man republic. A Senator of the United States in bold
and manly pride, tranpng under foot Executive insult
and protecting al the same time the honor Of his
try and the dignity Of his high station. There was
moral chvilry about it, far above the herosm Of the
held Even now, the contemplation OF it makes the
blood thrill through the vens and flush the forehead to
/ the very temples.
! need not tell YOU that mans name was GEORGE
Polndexter; name that will long and honorahly live
among the lovers OF independence and the haters of
ranny. But he dared to propose an investigation into
the frauds and corrupons OF the Government and from
4 that moment his doom was sealed. The deep turbid
and resiscss Of Jacksosm swept him from the
State in whose service the best Of his life had been ex-
pended and, ostracised from her councils he became
an exile in other lands.
Sir the oice-holders in this country form an olgar-
chy too powerful to be resisted. Why vas not Spencer
removed1 Why not Harris Why not Linn and
! Boyd will tell you, The administration did not
Care 10 remove them, had il wished to do like
pachas, they had become too powerful for the Sultan
and would not have hesitated in twisting the bowstrng
round the neck Of the messenger who presented it,
Since the avowal Of that unprincipled and barbarian
motto, that to the vctors belong the spoils," Office
which intended for the use and benefit of the peo
pie, has become but the plumber Of party. Patronage
is waved like huge magnet the land, and dema-
gogues, like iron filings, attracted by law Of their
ture, gather and cluster around its poles Never yet
lived the demagogue who would not take office.
i The whole frame Of our Government, the whole in
stutions OF the country thus prostituted to the
uses Of party. express my candid opinion when
aver that do not believe single Office Of importance
within the control Of the Executive has, for the last FIVE
years. been filed with any other view, upon any other
consideration than that Of party effect; and if good
appointments have in any instances been made and
benefit accrued 10 the country it has been accden-
A tall and not voluntary result Office is conferred as
the reward of parzan service and what the
quence Why, the officeholders not content with
the pitifn salaries which afford only small compensa
ton for present labors, but do not in their estimation
constitute any adequate reward for their previous poll
teal services. This reward, they persuade themselves
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
party requires but small exertion Of casuistry bring
them to the conclusion that they have right to retain
what they may conceive to be the value Of their poti
cal services Just lawyer holds back his commits
sions. The administration countenances all this;
winks at il long possible and when public expo
sure inevitable, generally gives the boated punderer
full warning and time to escape with his spoils.
Do YOU not see the eagernesS with which even Go
vernors Senator's and Representatives in Congress,
grasp at the most trivial appoinlmentshe most in
| significant emoluments? Well do these sons of the
/ horse-leech know that there is more blood in the
body Than what mdntleS IN the cneek dno more pro-
| fit in an office than is exhibited by the salary.
Sir, have given You but three or four cases Of
/ defalcations would time permit, could give you
hundred. Like the fair Sultana Of the oriental le-
| gends Icould go on for thousand and one nights
and even as in those Eastern Stories SO in the chro
nicles of the oficeholders, the tale would ever be
of heaps of gold, massive ing Is, uncounted riches
| Why sir, Aladdin's lamp was nothing to it, They
seem to possess the Identical cap OF Fortunatus;
some wish for $4,000 some for 100000, some for
| md ahr lac In oil hes hp-
fore them. Not even
''Tho gorgeous East, with richest hand
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold"
upon its followers. PiZarro 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 not redeemed
| nv promise2 Have not shown that the President
is but hypocrite in his pretended horror at defalca-
cation; that the Secretary is much worse-a conni-
yer, weak, imbecile parttceps eramtnts? Let his
defenders reconcile his conduct in the case OF Har-
ris with his official duy-with the dictates Of CON-
mon honesty, if they can | dare them to the trial
Let them reconcile his icentious correspondence
with Spencer, Hendricks, and more especially Ga
resche, with the principles OF common dccency.
Mr.. Chairman, it is not my intention to examine
minutely the case Of Swartwout. know not why
the President should have selected il out OF so many
as the subject Of special communication. There Is,
however, one curious matter connected with this
subject, which | shall notice The President, the
Secretary and the party, all profess to unite in the
belief that the defalcations of Swartwou Price, and
others afford the best possible argument in favor OF
the Subtreasury scheme. Most of these defalca-
tons, say they occurred under the deposiie system
and therefore, to that system these losses are attr
buable. Now, sir, il you will look over this docu
ment 297 you will find that out OF the 265 letters TO
receivers and collectors, nearly 200 contain COM
plants that the public money had not been deposited
in bank but retained in the hands of the officer. IL
you will look into the cases Of Harris and Boyd, you
will see that their defacaions could not have taken
place had the Secretary not INDUCED them in con-
tinued and habitua violation of this duty Of peri
odcal deposites. But the proposition itself is grossly
absurd. 1t amounts to this-lhat the running away
Of Sub-treasurers with large amounts OF me Pubic