, 1840-08-22

%eonfnins donors to his opn political acct, but by
Furnishing MEN o DARING TO OPPOSE
HIS ELECTION AND PRINCIPLES; and depri-
wing them Of Offices to which they were entitled, in
order TO bestow them upon wretches who have pray
ed upon the vitals of the body polite.
Now,who but a past saving Fed now
believes a syllable of the vile accusation, thus
boldly and ~unscrupulously published against
nne of the best men and purest patriots that
ever trod Americans republican soili Yet
how many, with republican professions on
their lips, believe similar chargsy made, on
no better authority, and in terms rs vague,
against the Jeffersonian President of this day,
Martin Van Buren,? and made, on what evil
dence? l asked, in debate, the other day
with a distinguished Wing orator of Indiana,
for the evidence; and his reply was. sit is
written athwart the whole horizon of our
countryw | demanded proof; and the de-
mand was met by 4 pretty rhetorical flour
ish.
Next in order, let US take up the charge OF
corruption among public officers. Let us
hear how the Federalists Of 1910 spoke Of
the Lg-tredsures OF Jefferson's administra-
ton; the public thieves and defaulters ofthat
day. With the alteration of 4 few m
and sums, it may save some Wing who is
looking up documents in a hurry, the penning
of a paragraph on that subject for his next
stump speech. And even one Of the names
may remain. Jefferson seems TO have had
Swartwout too; the "Collector of our first
seaport" will suit in 1910, as it did in 1910.
At page lie, we find the following:
"This conduct, of which Jefferson set the first
example, is neither uore nor less than downright
r~enaLity. L PUBLIC OFFICES ARE SET UP
FOR SALE; aud men of talents are invited to be-
come bidders by sacrifices Of their principles and of
their party. Thus We have seen many men OF distin-
guishcd abilities entering into this auction OF chaac-
ter, and ~bartering their virtues and their God for
paltry profit and di.graceful honos."
Here the assertions are certainly as gross
and abusive as any which even the virulence
Of the present day has poured forth against
Mr.. Van Buren,. And facts are appealed to;
amounts are specified. The "honest and
weli.disposed part Of the People Of Massa-
chuset,s'' are informed by a gentleman, pro-
Tossing to require Substantial eridenoe' for
every proposition he advances that in the
first fire ycars Of Jefferson's administration.
his public officers were defaulters TO the a.
mount Of HALF A MILLION. Yet, by a recent
Congre ssional Document, containing official
returns Of all defalcations from Washington's
days to the presen, document No. 10 House
Representatives Of the presen, Congress) we
learn, that the entire deialcations by all col.
~lectors, receivers and land officers and all
others through whom the public money was
collected, in the eight gears Of Jeferson's
administration amounted to S293,496; little
more than a quarter Of a million. And the
false charge is made by a partizan Of John
Adams. Yet the same document mo. TO-
informs US, that under John Adams's admin
istration, the defaults in collecting the reve-
nue. averaged secenty.tuo cents in the hundred
dollars, while under Jefferson they averaged
but tnentyJfue cents on the hundred dollars;
about one third as much under the Democrat
as under the Federalist.
Such were the falsehoods manufactured by
the Federalists of 1910, 10 prove the profit.
gacy of Jefferson's administration. Such
are now got up against Mr.. Van Buren's; an
administration under which (f we omit Mr..
Swartwout's case alone, who was neither ap-
pointed nor confirmed, but only detected by
Mr.. Van BUREN, the defalcations in collect.
ing the revenue HAVE AVERAGED LESS
BY NEARLY ONE HALF THAN IN
ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION
SINCE THEDAYS OF GEORGE WASH
lNGTON. This fact | pledge myself TO
prove ina subsequent number, when | come
to speak, in detail, of defalcations; and to
prove it, from the authentic, official, undenied
and undeniable documents Of Congress.
What charge shall | take up next9 The
prostitution Of official power to subserve par
ty purposes? The accusation, for instance,
against the post-oifce department, by Mr..
Bolts and his associates, that in the %circula.
ton of public documents one party is favor.
ed, while the documents Of the other hardly
reach their destination? To reply to Mr..
Bolts charges would be a mere waste OF
words. He has fallen into the hands of a
giant, and terrible has his punishment been.
But merely as a curiosity, | copy from page
1872:
NJ Jefferson had not principles or feelings to
resist the cravings of his minions, or the demands oil
party; and when Offices were to be the rewards solely
Of political fidelity, it is no wonder that candidates
were not required to be |" capable or honest" When
corruption is the price Of place, it is a gross absurd.
ity TO require integrity in the discharge Of its duties.
sin considering this subject, it affords no triumph
to our feelings, but a miserable presage ofour- fortunes,
that, among the heads of a party who seem destined
e. =