Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-18

want Of suitable qualifications is eeper.
ally III the ratio Of the partizan intem.
perance, which, with the appointing
power. constitutes his chief. II not his
sole recommendation. Such. upoups.
tionabiy, was the fact in the case OF
Samuel Swartwout and Wm. NJ. Price.
the deiaulting Collector and District AT.
torney OF N. York. in relation to whom
there Is now general concurrence of
opinion, as well among the supporters
as the opponents Of the Administrations.
that they were alike irresponsible in
Pecunlary means and in personal char.
acter. Yet, notwithstanding the suspi.
cions which are acknowledged TO have
been entertained by the present Presi-
dent, of Mr.. Swartwout's integrity Il !,
a remarkable fact. that for nearly three
years-from 1884 to lS37-he sdminis.
tered the duties OF his office, as collector
OF the customs, without giving bonds Cor
their faithful performance Nor should
II be forgotten that this shameful and
slaring omission was in direct violation
OF an imperative law of the land. which
requires that such bonds shall be given
within three months after the collector
accepts his appointment, and enters upon
the discharge of his duties.
Other Instances, (for they are numerous
might be referred TO, il il were not ,lesirabia
10 consult brevity in this Address. in
which the Secretary Of the Treasury. in
some cases evidently with The know ledge of
'he PRESIDENT himself, has winked al IA
grahiiy corrupt NAL practices Of public Off
GERS, particularly of the receivers in land ol.
hces IN the South and Wesi-no, unfre.
queniiy re appointing and retaining detaul,
lets IN office, especially when thew were
supposed 10 be men OF extensive popularity.
ana influence, knowing them 10 be deisul.
lers wnen they were so appointed or re-.
or retained! The public ;.easu
ry has been thus exposed 10 plumber, aud has
In ruin been subjected 10 heavy losses and
widespread scene Of official! DELINQUENCY
and corruption has been cnlpabIy connived
at, and Indirectly sanctioned by those who
should have been prompt to detec, and nun
lsh It's earliest developments.
In the course of the investigations yrow.
ing out OF the 1efalcation of MIR. Swsriwout.
another abuse OF great magnitude and ;m'
portanco has been brought 10 light, II was
by the testimony, under oath
o oihcers IN the Custom. House, that an an,
hoai TAX Is levied upon them, proporiioned
Id .he amount oil their respective salaries. in
oraef TO raise an eleciioneerjne fund. 10 be-
expended IN sustaining the candidates nom.
mated Tor Municipal, State and Federal of.
noes, by the Administration party. TO ihs
amount OF this tax, deducted from The office
ho'ders salaries, therefore, practically. an
annual appropriation of money from The rub
nc treasury, TO be employed in achieving
pam.V !flomphs: True, no appropriation
pm Is introduced into Congress, and passed
through all ais stages That would arouse
'he Indignation OF The country, and would o.
Vef"heim any party which resor,ed t. this
means OF corrupting and controlling pubIi,
opini'n. beneath an avalanche Of popular dis.
pleasure. But what is The essential differ.
ence, When, from The salaries of The public
'ulCers, drawn from The treasury, a certain
'er cehtum is deducted, 10 be applied 10 The
;orruPt purpose OF maintaining liz bower The
men upon whom those officers are denen.
lent, perhaps, Tor their bread. II their sal.
'ries are too high they should he reduced
ana The excess should remain in the lrcasu.
ry. But il they be not more Than an sde.
juate compensation Tor their services. then
!! Is Unjust 10 them, as wei! as a fraud upon
ne country, TO, require that they shall pay
hat per ceninm for the purpose OF sustaining
10 administration to which they are indebt,
u might here be asked, TOO, if :his odious
md corrupt practice of taxing the ofIice-,ol-
'erS, dues moi lead inevitably 10 The ,nier-
'bce, thai their personal eXeriIons are called
nio requisition as well as their purses, with
he express design Infringing the patron.
igc OF the Federal Government into conflict
with the freedom of elec,ious:" Air. JEFF
erson declared that Federal officers, who
ntefiered 10 elections, whether OF tho Stale
u General Governments, should be reEov-
ID because, Che said) the constitutional
emedy, by the elective principle, tecomes
loihing, II il may be smo,hered by the epor-
nous patronage oftheGeneraiGo err .?ept."
a nd Mr.. Jefferson enforced this doctrine ef.
lcient!y, by issuing a circular 10 the holders
u ONCE, under his Administration by which,
heir interference with elections was forbid
zen IN The most uueguIyuca! Terms When
zen jackson was Exaggerated, he likewise
ieciafed That the interference Of Federal of
heers. With '1he freedom Of elections" was
,"e OF The abuses which II was part OF bis
delegated missiaI 10 reform. Wha, broad
contrast does The practice OF his Adminis-.
tation present 10 these professions and pro-
mises 1t openly josiihes and encourages
The very abuse Which, assuming he fact Of
us previous existence, il voluntarily pledged
Itself, when il came into power, 10 reform;
and II even deDOunces, as 4 aev edition Of
The Sediii0n law, an act modelled uror The
and in the provisions Of wbich !,
was proposed 10 incorporate the very Ian.
guIge OF Air. Jeiierson's Circular, Facts
Ike these Illustrate The striking difference
between The pledges and Tie practices = fine
poIiy I'D power, and demonstrate with how
81. Il. L