The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-04
Oae PresidentiaL term.
- READ THE TRuTH.

occasioned by the reported resignation Of the Post
master The cause is len 10 conjecture, but II Is
certain that Treasury drafts have been made on The
office from the Department al washington, which
have been dishonoIed.p
Robbers Of The Treasury and peculators on
the public funds, pass in quicker succession
before our ewes than the descendants Of Ban
ono did before the vision of the afrighted
Macbeth. A moral leprosy has spread SO far
and wide among the agents OF the govern
mont, as to threaten its speedy and total dis
solution, unless it can be snatched from the
corrupt hands that at present administer 1t,
and be placed with those who have respect
for their own honor, and feel their responsible
ty to God and their country.
In relation to the fact above quoted, we
may say we. were made acquainted with it
more than ten days ago. The defaulter was
in this city when portion of his alterations
was detected, and he then admitted to Amos
Kendall that he had used the public money
for private speculation, but that it would be
ultimately safe ~ Was this man arrested on
the spot? Oh no-he was too good Loco
foco 10 be dealt with in that summary manner
That sable and industrious officer" Whose
moral sense was so much shocked at the dis
covery Of defalcation Of few hundred
dollars, when he was mere auditor, to
induce him to persecute the poor delinquent
with savage and unrelenting zeal,) merely
gave one of those cold and lipless grins that
SO peculiarly distinguish his physiognomy,
and replied, "hs hoped IL pould be safe for the
sake Of the democracy"!'
While this case is fresh in our ears, we are
startled with the robbery of the funds at
New Orleans The Postmaster there, too,
is said to be defaulter for thousands-and
thus. whether it be in the custom-house, the
land office, the Indian department or the
Post office, there is the same result: robbery,
REGULATION, fraud, and swindling! The times
are so out Of joint, that honesty and capabili-
~ are no longer merits worthy of regard in
public officers; ilching public money has
become so common among the agents of Go
vernment, as no longer to excite surprise or
demand rebuke. They act on the principle,
that to the victors belong the spoils and,
conceiving the public money part and parcel
of the spoil, distribute it among the official
high priests Of the party, telling the subordi-
nate Loco-focos, that Sufficient for them is
the honor Of being permitted to serve in such
company"
These facts so startling, so alarming to
every man Of common honesty Of every par
ty, may well induce them to inquire how such
state OF things can be permitted in country
like ours and ask what's the correctiye9 We
answer, remove the cause. Vain will be all
attempts to bring back the government to its
pristine purity, so long as the same deep and
damning corruption exists in the appointing
power. No man has chance for office un-
der the present state Of things, that will not
prostitute that o6ice at the will Of his patrons,
toparty purposes. Another great and leading
canse is the vile system so often repudated
by the people, IAN independent treasury,)where
the public money is not submitted to whole
some restraints Of law, but is left under the
control of individual agents. Before this
higb-handcd measure was in operation, the
Postmasters in large cities made their depo-
sites weekly to the credit of the Treasurer for
@e use Of the General Post Office, and sent
ona certificate of such deposite. The Presi-
dent, however, saw fit to change this system,
and in his famous Message Of 4th Of Sept.
tells Congress s~..., "
The collection, safekeepng, transfer and dis
outSement OF the public money can is believed be
We,i managed by officers Of the Government. Its
toiecloh, and, 10 great extent, its disbursement
also nave indeed been hitherto conducted solely by
lnem; neither National nor Stale banks, when EN-
F'oYtu peing required TO do more than keep il safe
Whe IN their custody and transfer and pay il in
Such portions and at such Zines as the Treasury
Shall dircc'. 1920
Surely banks are not more able than the Govern
meh TO secure the money in their possession against
accident, violence or fraud. The assertion that they
ave 80 must assume that vault in bank is strong
CT man vault in the Treasury; and that directors
CASHIERS aud clerks, not selected by the Government
nor under It's control, are more worthy OF confidence
t''d' ohcerS selected from The people and response
We 20 lhe government officers bound by official
",1S aua ponds Tor faithful performance OF their
@ueS, and constantly subject to the supervision Of
Congress-"
Vow, what has been the fact? Why, that
The Treasury has been plundered Of millions,
and he who takes office under the administra.
uon, seems to do so with the understanding
that the public funds are entirely at his private
disposal.
The Postmaster General, in his report Of
the same period, wherein he impudently told
Congress that "no legislation tras necessary
to maintain the credit Of his Department or
manage ITS fiscal concerns" said:
The poStmasters who will not close their ac-
counts quarterly will not, probably exceed one hun
ured and the balances in their hands, from quarter
W nd a m