Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-04-11

'"ou du, iof years WINE they are daily pefpetra-
ting extensive frauds. Aud again--Whle the BaoL >
give the simplest security to all depostors, whether
general or special whether aovsrnnents or individ-
uals. for the safety Of the sums deposited in their
vaults It Is impossible that individuals always can,
and very rarely that they do, give security at all
comparable with the magnitude Of their aciuaI re-
sponsibiy II. indeed, this assertion had ever been
problemaiica. the recent defaie atoms in tho Wcs-
! tern Land Offices. and in the New York Custom
House would have placed II beyond The reach Of
| doubt and II is rendered absolutely certain when
an Administration acts upon the corrupt aud demon
all1'ng principle, openly avowed BY the friends Of
the present that tho offices of the Sountly Instead of
being high aud responsible russ 10 be conferred up
on The most capable and worthy are the leaitifnato
"spoils Of victory" 10 be- bestowed upon the mos,
chinorous aud influential parzans. who display tho
greatest zeal and activity IN behalf Of the President,
~ who can bring TO his support the largest number.
| oivoiers. When such maxns prevail and eonst-
tu,e the almost uniform rule OF in aproi, me ps
to Office the security for the faithful and homes dy
charge OF public duties 10 necessarily diminished =,
for tho obvious reason that the avowa OF such doc
tine IA almost sure 10 attraei 10 the standard Of The
| dominant party every needy and pro1isafc pocai
! ndvenuIsr, whose want of suitable qualifications il
generally in the ratio Of the pafliaan int
winch, WIN the appointing power, constitutes HE
CHEF. II bot his sole recommendation. Such, nm
qncslionaby, was the fact IN the OF Samuel
Swartwout aud VIM. M. Price the defaullinp Col
lcctor and District Attorney OF New York IN rela-
ton to whom there is general conc urrenre
OF opinion. ~ well among the supporters Us tho or
ponents Of the Administration. that they were alike
irresponsible IN peehhiary means aud in personal
character Yet,not withslandng The suspicious winch
arc Acknowledged 10 have been entertained by tho
present President OF Mr.. Swafwouts integrity IL
is remarkable fact, that Tor nearly lliree wears
from 1884 to l537--he administered the duties Of
his Office, and collector Of the customs without
giving bonds for their faithful performance Nor
shall II BIO forgotten that this shameful aud glafng
omission was IN direct violation of ap mpe raye law
OF the land, VIII ch requires that such bonds should
be given within three months after the collrrfer ac-
cepts his appointment, aud cnler upon the discharge
OF his duties.
Other Instances (they are nnmerous,) might DO
referred to. If il were not desirable 10 consu bfcv-
~ in this Address, in which the Secretary Of the
Treasury, in some eases evidently with the knowI-
edge of the Pesdent himself has wiuked at fla
GRAVITY corrupt nal practices of public officers, par
cularly of the receivers Of land oo in the South
and Wesl-not unirequenily s.appoinius aud re-
tanning deiaulien in Office, especially when they
were supposed to be men of excessive p,puIar-
'iy and influence, knowing them TO be detaulters
when they we've 10 rc.appointcd OF retained Thu
public treasury has been thus exposed 10 plunder,
and has IN truth been subjected heavy losses; and
| a wide spread scene OF official dcIipouonc, and
corruption has been culpably connved AZ, aud in
directly sanctioned by those who should have been
promptto detect and to punish its earliest develop
ncnts.
In the course Of the inves .ations growing ON, cr
the dea'onuon OF Mr. Swartwout another nbnse Of
great magnitude and importance has been Lioupb,
10 light. II was ascerIancd by the testimony, un-
der oath, OF officers IN the Custom. House, that an
annual tax is levied upon them, proportional 10 tho
amount OF Their respective salaries, in order to raise
nm e'setioneerlng fund. TO be expended in sustain
ing the candidates nominated for Municipal. State
and Federal Offices, by The Administration pary.-
To the amount OF this tax deducted Il ON the Office
holJers' salaries there is therefore, practically nm
annual appropriation OF money iton, The pubic irea-
sury, TO be employed in achieving party uiumphs,
True, no appropriation bill is introduced into Con
gress. and passed through all its stages That
would arouse tho indignation of the country, and
would ovcrwhelm any party which resorted to this
means oil corrup'ing and controlling public opin-
ION, beneath an avalanche of popular displeasure
But what is the essential difference. when. from
the salaries OF the public officers, drawn from tho
treasury, aceftan per ccntum Is deducted. 10 be
applicd 10 tie corrupt purpose of maintaining in
power the men upon whom those officers are de-
pendent, perhaps for their bread lflheir salaries
are too high, they should be reduced. and the ex-
cess should remain in the treasury. But If they be
not more than an adequate compensation Cor their
services, then II Is unjust 10 them, we'll fraud
upon The country. 10 require that they shall pay
that per cenium for the purpose of sn.tainlng am
Administration TO which they indebted for their
commission.
it might here be asked, too. il this odious and
corrupt practice OF taxing the office holders does
lead inevitably TO the inference that their personal
purses, with the express design Of " bringing the
patronage oflhe Federal Government INTO conflict
with the freedom of electionl I" Mr.. jefferson de-
clared that Federal officers who inteerrcd in ecc-
tons, wheeler Of the State or General Governments,
sho aid be removed; 'bccause, he sad) the const-
tuopal remedy, by the elective principle, becomes
nothing, II 1t may be smothered by the enormous
patronage Of the General Government" And Mr..
Jefferson enforced this doctrine efficiently by issu
ing a circular to the holders Of office under his Adj
minisraiion, by which their interference with cleo
lions was forbidden in the most uneqnvocal terms.
When Gen. Jackson was lnaug uraled, he likewise
declared that the interference of Federal officers,
with " the freedom of elections, one Of the cry
ing abuses whcht was part of his dele aicd mis-
sion TO reform. What broad contrast does he prac-
tIce OF this Administration present these profess
sions and promises 1t openly justifes and encour-
ages the very abuse, which. assuming the fact OF its
previous existence. it voluntarily pied sed ITSELF when
II came into power, to reform; and IT even denoup
ces, new edition of the Sediion law, an act
deed upon the prnci pes and in the provisions Of
which II was proposed TO incorporate the very Ian
guage of Mr. Jeffcrsons Circular! Facts like
these illustrate the striking difference between the
pledges and the practices OF the party in power and
demonstrate with how little justice propriey they
chain to be the nheritors and exposors OF the pm
cipes of the Republican, party.
Not less abhorrent TO the genius ituc KepubI-
cnnism. IS that proscriptvo spirit which seems !"
have been recently re-awakened. like giant from
his slumbers. The free exercise oil opinien - one
of the birth. rig hts of an American ci,iz-n. While
we depree ate the " interference" OF Federal officers
will, elections. ia such manner 10 bring TIE pa
ronage Of the government, into conflict with the M
H.. 10 r.. otsaI-