The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-05

committee, ono, too, whose especial duty il is
~ examine into the frauds and corruptions OF
Executive officers.
Sir, / would have had no objection, perso-
naly, to vote viva yoce for the committee. |
seek no concealment. What do here, am
willing 10 proclaim from the house top.
voted TO elect the officers OF the House viva
voice." Subsequent reflection has convinced
me that the ballot should prevail. One strong
recommendation Of the ballot is the very OBJ
lection urged against il. Ii does enable the
representative 10 vote in, secret, agreeably TO
his honest convictions Of right, unawed by the
frowns OF power, and the fear of party denun-
citation. The constitution establishes the bal
lot in the highest case where the sufirages OF
the House can be given--the election of the
President of the United States. The Senate
Of the United States and the Senate Of New
York choose their committees by ballot. The
same reason exists for its use here. If it is
wrong for us to elect our committees ip secret,
then is the constitution and the practice Of the
Senate wrong.
IL the friends of the Administration were
in majority, we should hear no complaints
against the ballot The House were about
to appoint an honest and independent commit
tee to try the Treasury delinquents, and pub
lie plunderers, from the highest to the lowest,
for whose official conduct the Executive is
accountable. Hence the disposition mani
tested to stave off the inquiry and violate the
rule Of the House, pr, sclibing the mode Of
elections They struggled hard to put off
the evil day, and yielded with a graceless sub
mission.
"No rogue e'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of The law"
One word as to the Conservatism of Mr..
Swartwout. | object to the manner of stating
the account The whole amount of this
mammoth defalcation is charged to the Con-
servalive side of the ledger. 1t does not APP
pear from what epoch the Conservatism Gf
any Of the sou d,Sant Collector dates. In
the absence of all proof as to that point,
shall assume that he took ground with the
Conservatives when they first rallied at the
extra session. If so, the 100000 alb
s,racted previous to the lst of June, 1887,
should be put down to the Jackson and Van
Buren, side Of the balance sheet, as Swartwout
was appointed to office by the former, and
continued by the latter, From the 4th March
to Dec. 81, 1887, knowledge of the Con-
sentative propensites of the magnificent Sub
treasurer could not haye transpired at the
White House. Had they been known, he
would have been Immediately notified, that
the President had dispensed with his services
What a traitorous Conservative continued
in office, with the privilege Of plundering,
sad hbh UNI" the peoples money? Monstrous
Absurd None but genuine Loco. focos are
entitled to office, and the high prert gative
of stealing from the public purse.
Sir, have consumed, already too much of
your time. would be pleased to speak of
some other topics referred to in the message,
of the banking and credit systems Of the
country, and TO inquire into the alleged "anti-
republican tendencies of associated wealth.
hut forbear. Should fit occasion present,
| may claim the indulgence OF the House for
a few moments if not, there will be nothing
lost