The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-11
FOR PRESIDENT,
VIM. HENRY HARRISON
OF OHIO.
roR VICE PRESIDENT,
JOHN TYLER
or yUpcINIA
ALARMING EXERCISE OF POWER
BX TIE EXECUTIVE.-GLA
OpPR ESSION
OF VIRGINIA


that has distinguished the history OF any admi-
nistration has Just been brought to close IN TINS
city. A Court of Inquiry was ordered by the Pre-
sident of the United States, at the instance OF !
committee of selcStyIed democrats, to examine |
into the official conduct Of two OF the most up !
right and faithful agents connected with the |
War Department-to fix upon them the most |
fag7ant and objectionable CRIME, OF having |
EMPLOYED members of the Wing party, to carry |
cut the purposes of the government. Such an
Enquiry, gravely instituted by the head of de-
nartment, would have been degrading to the
army, under circumstances, and at any period
of our history but in these enlightened times
and at the instance of such men. 1t is difficult to
find language sufficiently strong, to express the
indignation with which it has in this
community, to whom the parties are personally
known The gallant officers thus dragged be-
fore the public, at the suit of this worthy demo-
cratic committee, are Lendrum and Dusenbury,
officers of the most unexcephonable characters,
and the highest sense of honor and what is
remarkable, of singular precision in all their bu
siness transactions. They have never on any
former occasion, incurred even the shadow of
suspicion, from any human being-either in their
relations with the army, or as gentlemen The
The object of the government in giving Its coun-
tenance to such measure, can only be account
ed for on political grounds. If the President
had suspended his judgment for single moment,
and sought information through private channels
from respectable members of his own party,
these officers might have been spared the morti-
fication of being thus subjected to the suspicious
of the public, and arraigned before Court of
Enquiry. Any honorable man to whom they
known, either personally or officially,
would have borne ample testimony to their f.
deity and efficiency. But, alas, for private cha
racter, when party interests are to be subserved
The patronage of the State of Maryland was
not to be despised on the eve of great contest,
in which all was at stake. The application of
Hartner and his friends was not to be overlooked,
at such time, although it might do violence to
the feelings of two gallant officers, by exposing
them to the suspicion of having violated their
duty to the government. They are, therefore,
wantonly arraigned, Court of Enquiry ordered
to assemble in this city, and these officers, who
CRAFTY the intolerance of party favorites, COM
PEELED to answer the charges such as, we ven
ture to saw no Court of Enquiry ever before had
the misfortune to record. 1t might well be en-
auired, by what authority, the President of the
United States, or his Secretary of War, could
step forward, to give their high sanction to such
proceeding, without some positive and tangi-
BILE proof? What just right have they to call
in question the conduct of an officer, at the in
stance of any man, or body of men, or even
committee of those who are wont to call them
selves the democratic party of this city, without
the smallest semblance Of evidence, upon which
to base charge Suppose in the case before
u.s. this patriotic committee had fixed upon these
gentlemen the daBanisg crime of having en-
rloSea Wings, in preference te their own politi-
friends, under a religious conviction that the
government would be better serced, are they to
be arraigncd and degraded for an act OF justice
TO that government, which even the President
and those who WELD its patronage, would thus
disregard, by directing the interest of partizans
to be consulted without reference to the public
benefit !? Surely this would be sad doctrine
for anv well-wisher of his country. The true |
natriot must turn from it with loathing and dis
gust The effort, we say then, to degrade these
meritorius officers, in tho honest discharge OF
their duties because they failed TO distribute the
patronage entrusted to them, among the pd7tt-
sans ofthe DEMONSTRATION, is one of evil omen
to our free institutions If the feelings of honor
able men are to be outraged at the will Of greedy
noliticians seeking 70 better their conditions, at
tbecost of the government, with no other recon-
mendation than their servility to party if
roclless prescription is TO be intrudcd into the
business transactions of life, and public officers
fed down in their relations, to those who advo-
cato certain political tenets if spirit of ntol
lerance and inquisition is thus to be introduced
among us, and all countenanced by the over
( weening power of the President and his minions
farewell, long farewell to the liberties of the
people.
NOTE ALTERED.-Th Philadelphia In
o,rer Of June LIST, says: eve were yesterday
shown a one dollar note, on the Cumberland
Hanl. at Bridgeton, N. j., very ngeniously al
..~.a ~ q. Changes had been made in five
a;s,;net places ON the note, viz in the figures at
,be ton-at each end, and in the body OF the
- The alterations were made with great in
vsnu;tv. and could only be detected by very nice
sw.,o;nation. storckeepers should be ON the
lookout.
Arr .Nrlc SrEAMERs.-The New York Herald,
..f tbe 10Th. saws: The Unicorn leaves Boston,
<e5a~ Cor Halifax. She does not return to
E,gisad. It is yet uncertain whether Mr.. Gu
nard despatched the Achilles, on the LIST instant,
from Liverpool, or not. Il ne did, her news Few,
In nrobabIy reach this city in company with
49, h fJe Great Western At any rate, there
won't won Be many hours difference between them.