The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-18
Communications.
ron THE MADlsoslAs.
PROPHECY, PRODIGALITY, AND PUBLIC
nDcITMENTS

| fhOF11EC1, PRODlJALlIf AM OpiiS
| DOCUMENTS.
Those who would investigate the conduct OF the
Executive OF this prosperous and powerful nation
and would seek TO know the OF the prostraion
Of her arts, commerce, agriculture and arms should
diligently compare the predictions OF her oldest abes
and longest tried statesmen, uttered during the last
years with the events of that period in connection
with the documentary history of the country. The
people may now, perhaps, be prepared seriously 10 re-
view the patriotic and earnest warnings which echoed
from the walls Of Congress, and may be ready amid
present suffering, TO acknowledge their prophetic force
and ample fufmcns. That the nation will ultimately
arrive this conviction cannot be doubted-nor Is
there less question that sentence Of condemnation Is
even now about being passed on their unworthy
rulers
1t is not however, to be expected this decision will
be efectually and speedily enforced as is the sum
mary and fragrant infection Of the wrongs because
many of the abuses complained of unscrupulousy
used to perpetuae power and to oyerawe the people
Thus the immense patronage ofthe Government is an
evil that perpetuates itself Degenerating into open,
direct and gross corruption, it only be checked by
the indignant voice Of those from whom power ema-
mates.
Manifold are the evidences of misrue, oppressive
as are the prvatons and harassments provided for all
but the Office holdersnotorious the prostitu
tons Of Executive patronage in rewarng the rejected
Of the people, and insulting is the spectacle Of
twice bought member of the cabinet descending from
high station (however little respected in tha with the
pelf his spoculatons' in his pocket to levy black
mail the credulity Of The party" and on the
dear people" by sophisres, equvocatons and fals
ties, that he may refine his purse, and that he may
again return to the loaves and fishes which he sees
are now endangered disgusting as are these evi-
dcnces Of reckless corruption and unworthness in our
| rulers, yet other and nnumerable the recorded
proofs Of misrule and prodigaity, which appear even
in the "pubiie documents" emanatng from the Exc
| cutive.
One 1.-THE of these would far over-shadew all that
had been charged to the administration of John O.
Adams
These reflections were suggested by turning over
pile Of the different documents of this and the last
session of Congress, and the thought occurred, how
vain must be the struggle Of the present incumbents
for power could the people but have to their
own records Place the whole mass of public docu-
ments before the nation, and they assurcdy would
be awakened to loud and indignant conviction.
|
from the Spoils party" but must bills Of
indictment against them So evident is this fact that
those which are promulgated by their leaders have
had TO be rctouchcd, rcvampcd, and vanished with
alterations, omissions, and emendatons. Few even
Of these be trusted abroad and therefore it may
not be expected that Administration members will an
swer under their franks the calls of their constituents
for official information but they will rather frank
off their perversions, special plcadings and such
argumentsv as DR.. Duncan's speech affords
Nor the g official documents" when emanating
from the Executive, be taken as altogether explicit
candid, complete but only what they Obliged
not the whole of what they ought to tell told in
the most veracious manner.
| These reflections and positions it is proposed from
time to time fully to exemplify and sustain by such
cursory review Of the documents" may attain the
purpose. However hurried and unsystematic the sy-
nopsis, the task may be aided completed by others
at all events the effort may help to point the attention
Of the people to authentic sources of information
which, it is rather more to be hoped than expected
might reach them safely through the post office.
Thus, therefore, to notice that which comes first to
hand-House document No. 2l0.-Ths is message
transmitting statement of payments for negotiating
Indian treaties 1929" 1t processes to complete
on the Goth May, 1910, the answer to call of the
House of Representatives of 2sth January, 1899
Whence wherefore this delay does not appear from
the apparent simplicity of the record certainly it af
fords evidence Of the readiness of the War Depart
men 1t contains long roll of Indian Commission
ers paid eight dollars per day, and eight dollars for
every twenty miles travel and their Secretaries to
whom the q Blue Book assigns five dollars ON the
same terms.
1t affords startling evidence of this being one of the
means of rewardng political parsans with embassies
which, if not honorable, are at least profitable
moneys, speculations or constructive JOURNEYS .
Thus the Reverend Mr.. Schermerhorn received, from
1883 to 1887 the sum of Ell 700 s0!-yet Lo the
poor lndian" blesseth not the pious pastor
X h. Gillct, ex-mcmber of Congress, received IN
part Of the year 1898, IS 17S 2Olli Which is con,
ecurcd to be receipt in full for his rejection by the
people.
S. G. Stambaugh, in 1881 and 1883 and for the
same thing indefinite, pockc,tcd s., 795! And may be
deemed well rewarded editor
Ell. Dodge, in 1896, accepted for about 81 DAYS ac-
tual services, ST. 500 This sum is trife compared
TO others the list and is only noticed in connec-
ton with doubt whether he was not better paid for
the same time in another capacity,
/ See the g document throughout for magnificent
payments" and let il not escape notice that the
mileage" is greatly disproportioned to the time en-
ploycd in negotiating. Thus, in 1886, one gentle
man, w. r. Smith, appears 10 have spent three days
Cor 1874 WORTHY in actual businessman 81 500 !
in travel to that important end
At this rate among others,
J. H. Eaton travelled out 1907 20 for 1923 work