Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-03-15
PREPARATORY REMARKS OF THE
,.s COMMITTEES REPORT.

House Of Representatives. on the l7ih and
10Th ultimo. 10 investigate the declarations
OF Samuel Swarwout. late collector Of the
customs al the port OF New York. and Of
other officers, have devoted 10 the faithful
discharge Of The duties assigned them the
limited time allowed for the purpose by the
shorlness Of the present session Of Congress.
1t was most obvious, however that the
whole field Of inquiry presented BY the reso
luton appointing the Committee. could net
be properly traveIsed TO report thereon, eli.
Their satisfactorily 10 the country or 10 the
Committee. during the shor remainder Of
The present Congress. This impressed Up.
on the Committee ai once resolution, which
has been rigidly adhered 10, Of limiting the
investigation to such branches Of the subjects
referred TO them as had most deeply excited
public anxiety and alarm. and to undertake
only so much ofthese as might be thorough
y exhausted within the alloned period Of the
Committees researches But the important
results which have been attained, notwith-
standing the disadvantages ndverted 10. can.
no, fail TO inspire the country with conf
den, hope. that the high obligation which
will rest upon The successors Of the present
Congress in the Legislature Of the nation,
10 resume and complete the great work Of
Investigation and reform Of the alarming
condition and abuses of the Executive
departments Of the Government .hom the
highest 10 the lowest. and from the nearest
to the reinotest func,ionaries. will engage the
prompt and efficient attention which its mag.
niude demands.
Guided solely by the character Of the
Developments which the investigation i'm
posed upon them by the House has eluci.
dated, the Committee cannot resist the con-
viction that at no period in the history oItbe
Federal C;nvernnIent has there been deeper
or better founded cause then exrsrstn pres
eni moment, for every patriot heart TO desire
prompt consummaton Of that signal task
OF reform" which public sentiment many
years since inscribed on the list OF Executive
duties, in characters too legible 10 be over
looked. requiring. particularly. the correc'
lion Of those abuses that have brought the
patronage Of the Federal Government into
conflict with the freedom Of elections. and
the countcraction Of those causes which have
disturbed the rightful course Of appointment
land have placed or continued power in
UNFAtTHFUL OF INCOMPETENT
HANDS,
The first procedure Of the Committee, al
Ter organizing itself for business, was to visi
The city of New York. 10 inspect there. IL
person. the original records and papers 0
1.-The custom house. in conjunction with thu
examination Of such witnesses as might b
supposed capable Of shedding light upon ih'
inquiry involved by the defaIcatons Of Mr.
lSwartwout. Thenceforward this branch o
the investigation was conducted pursuant e
The resolution Of the House. viz touscertalr
The causes & extent" OF those delalcntions
the length Of time they have existed thu
correctnrss OF the returns which have beer
made by Mr. Swartwout and by the nava
officer a, ~ ", and by other officers con
nected with the adjustment OF his accounts,
Il Conveniently with the investigation OF NJ
|, ISwartwout's defalcations. those OF william
NJ Price. a,e district attorney in N. York
were likewise kept in view and the fulles
practicable extent OF information respeciin!
Them has been obtained, and will be adyerte,
: 10 in the sequel Of this report
The correctness Of the returns which hnv
+, been made by the present collector OF Gus
toms and the naval officer at the port of New
4 York, was also sought to be examined b,
: the Committee while in that city. Consid
: cring that the customs collected at New
York equal nearly two-thirds Of the who'll
. amount in all the United States" as stale'
in The special report Of The Secretary Of tn
Treasury on Mr. Swartwouts def.lcaton
blouse doc. IS. p. 6. Of the present session
: the Committee did not suppose that the.
should faithfully discharge their duty to tn
House, or pay proper difference TO tina
patriotic dislrust which pervades the conn
: try at the present time in regard TO the a
fairs of the custom house at New York
were they 10 limit their inquiries 10 the r.
Z turns of the late collector and naval office
and neglect entirely those Of their success
$ sors, which must, at all times. be to the cour
try Of equal interest with the former. enf
I al the presen; time, ofeven more immediat
Importance TO the security Of the nalona
Treasury. But, in The execution Of so MUG
Q OF this part oftheir inquiries as related 10 %
9 present collec,or OF New York, they wer
I compelled 70 encounter most unexpected q
i obstacles, interposcd by the collector hin
i self and setting vi defiance The puthQrlt
6 delegated 10 the COMMITTEE by the Hous'
q The facts connected with The bafied cndea'
sInaugural Address Of President Jackson