The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-23
Communications.
ron THE MADIsoNAN.
PROPHECY, PRODIGALITY, AND PUBL
DOcUMENTS.-No q

rotation 81 the Constitution orerf0oked.
To prove the ample fulfment Of the solemn warn
ngs of our ablest statesmen the reckless gay Of
the Executive and the reckless corruption OF the
party recourse is again had to the public doc,
menfs which thus bills Of indictment against
our rulers.
Passing over for the present masses Of corruption
set forth in documentary form, il is proposed call
the attention Of the people 10 fun confession of the
Executive, and to their plea of gully.
The exact phraseoogy Of the second clause 9Th
sec, art. Constitution Of the United States is-
No Senator Representative shall during the time
for which he elected be appointed to any civil of
fee under the authority of the United States which
shall have been created, the emoluments whereof
shall have been increased during such time and no
person holding any Office under the United State
shall be a member Of either House during his con
tinuance in Office"
The proprety Of such provision met with no oppos
ton among the patriot fathers of the Constitution II
was vindcated the highest grounds Of public policy
though there doubts whether these disqualifca
lions were sufficient guard against renality,n or
dishonorable traffic in rotes, if il should ever become
the engine of party in our country.
The actual provision, however does not go to the
proved its evasion which, practised under whatever
Administration, have uniformly called forth the denun-
Citations Of the press, the people, and of Congress
Amendments to the Constitution have been proposed
which should altogether eradicate this great abuse.
Against the Administration of John q. Adams il
one of the ,oatchrords Of reform which hurled
his party from power.
The celebrated committee on retrenc,ment" de-
| 49, A.: - ii n
tives Of the 18th May, 1928.
ITO this report the incidents of the present day
point with serious attention.)
Gen, Jackson denounced this abuse, yet under EVIL
advisers his practice far overshadowed the precedent
of his predecessors.
Martin Van Buren,, with far less of the confidence
Of the people, has outsrpped The footsteps Of his IL
htstrious predecessors with giant strides
A long list Of appointments of ex-members of Con-
grcss and of excanddates for Congress, already dis
figures the annals Of the few short years Of his Adj
ministration So that, in whatever shape form,
the rejected Of the people" appeal to the party" il
would appear their reward is certain by the present
Federal Executive.
Yet no "public document cmanatng from the
party has hitherto confessed the violation of both he
spirit and the letter of the constitutional prohibition
until House Doc No. 2O5, May Is, 1910. G. Letter
from the Secretary Of War" transmitting information
relative TO the progress in eectng treaty with the
Wyandot Indians pleads guilty to the soft impeach
ment."
By this document il appears that 81 600 appropna.
ted, Act 3, March, 1887 to negotiate treaty with
the Wyandots for fertile tract of land, IA miles
long and IL wide, in the centre of Crawford county
Ohio, became +" exhausted, and The Department
compelled to terminate the commission" Not how
ever before protest, impeachng the correctness Of
the proceedings Of the commissions received from
the head chiefs and counseors Of the tribe"
Now, toe quote the Confession
The act Of the 7th Of July 1888, having appro-
priated 81 500 for the continuation of the negotiation
a letter addressed on the Oath Of that month to
Hon w H HpNrEa and Mr. swayne, request.ng
OBJECTION TO the appointment Of Mr. Hunter, rho hen
held a seat in The House Of Representatives Of The
United States, at this time Overlooked n! but
barring been afterwards Observed ~! he was piscoN
TINuED commissioner On he I'm Of October
1888, more particular instructions given to Mr.
Swayne and another project Of treaty sent to
hl exhibiting the general character of the provisions
deemed admissible Nothing haring been heard. from
Mr.. Snaync, up to the Sd Of April, 1889 upon the
subject, he advised that day that his appoint
ment would be considered terminated from the date
OF the reception of that notice and Mr.. Hunter who
was then free to accept the trust tras ediately a
pointed ohoid the tredty'i!
Further comment is unneccssary-cxcept, perhaps
to remark that this ex-member has nearly exhaust
ed the appropriation and that TO continue the ncgo-
tiaton, afurther appropriation Of funds ,ril be ne
cessary. The sum of $1,000 mould, doubtless be
sufficient for he purpose appears from this doc,,
meni"
OF other public documents"
MORE ANON
Though :" Mr.. Swayncn did not condescend 10
notice the appointment for which Git is inferred from
the phraseoogy) it determined to allow him about
SIX months pay, for, on the Sd April, 1899 he was
advised on that day that his appointment would be
considered as terminated, from the date Of the recep-
ton 81 That notice Yet, this is presumed be the
same gentleman who has been recently "heard fran
through the press active in favor of Harrison and
Il