Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-26
RICHMOND.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.. MAY 40.

Inc commissions Instituted to investigate al.
esed ABUSES IN New York and Norfolk, have
na' one good effect at least-Thay have moderated
'"e reuerai Glamour against Proscrption-or ra-
'''e' inverted IL into new channel-Thc cry is
"o"' S'er Chdmoer," "in9uisiiicn, )" &c.-and al
enough the guillotine continues to stream with the
ooou o' immaculate pitrio,s-Ihe living are in such
''''''nent peru, that they claim all sympathy, and
'ne'e Is no time to give thought or tear to the
deadl
In this Federal outcry against the appointment
OF Commissioners, to see that the public money is
not stolen, and that the laws are faithfully execu-
'eu we have, to our mind one of the strongest evil
ue"ees OF 'hat infatuation which precedes destruc
oo". io object to such Commission, is of itself
VIC" calculated TO excite suspicion in the public
"'"u' ua' all Is not right-thai there is something
ro''en, which shrinks from the gaze OF day. The
man whose conduct has been risdly correct, would
court scrut'ny-eertainly he would not shrink from
IL. 10 oppose and denounce the investigation pro.
posed by those Commissions, IS virtually to adyo.
cate ohca responsibility, and to connive q, those
gross POPULATIONS which for years past have been of
such frequent occurrence as 20 bring n stigma upon
the national escu,cheon. There is no duty resting
upon the Executive more plain and imperative than
that OF seeing tina, the laws are faithfully executed
by his subordinate agents, and that the public in.
teres is not subjected to injury by their neificieney
or dishonesty. If the present Executive were TO
neglect this important duty, as did his LocoGoco
predecessor, he would deserve the same fate IL is
not competent to President to be liberal at the
public eNpense-to wink at the remssness of pub
nc asents-by which the public is to be damaged
IL is his province to see the laws faithfully execu
ted, without fear, favour, affection. uarshness
may o.ten be vlrtue-for although il may bear |
with severity upon the fat and pampered office.
holder, 1t rebounds to the good OF the people
We~ill put case TO these brawlers about Star.
Chambers, &c. Suppose frequen, rumours should
reach the ears Of the President that at one of the
Custom Houses, the public money was wasted, or
stolen, or corrup,ly used to influence elections
suppose he should disregard all these rumours-
relying upon the known and characteristic honesty
OF Locoioco othce-hoders land in some months. |
the Locooco ofhce-holder should prove deiauIter,
or "Swartwour with sumo hundreds of thousands |
OF the public funds--Would the President be held
suttless1 Would these boisterous patriois-al. |
though the abscondIng ofhce-hoder should he
a Loco, whom a misplaced clemency had SPAR |
cd-con,end that the President had been dill. |
gent and faithful in the exercise of his duties |
NO. they would be the first TO ring the changes up
on the objectionable remiSsness. They would ex |
uIt at the opportunity of procaming, that as great
roguery had been committed under 4 whig AS n |
Loco FOco President
This Loco Focoopposition to investigation, willis,
1t wears very suspicious aspect, springs from
cause but little creditable either TO the patriotism or
the morality OF that party. IL springs from total
and radical misconceptions their part, of the ma
ture and duties OF public ofice-a misconception
which has distinguished them from their FIRST induc-
ton into power. They regard public Office not
rs trust, TO be administered for the benefit Of the
trustees, (the peoplel but personal privilege
held for the sole comfort and convenience Of the
otice-holder-a sort of spoil won in battle and ap-
proprated to himself, and which cannot be touched
without invading his personal rights. This notion
OF the nature Of offices and the rights Of Office. hold
ers, which is not tolerated even in monarchies. can
alone Justify and sustain the Loco Foco doctrine Of
Investigation.
If Office be indeed designed for the personal emol.
ument OF the ofeeholder, then may it be commended
with some show Of justice that any scrutiny into the
manner in which he conducts it, is an infringement
OF his personal rights-anj not otherwise
We rejoice that these commissions have been in
sti,uIed. They will exert n most salutary inAu
enee upon the public service. II they disclose no
ma.pract ces in the past, they will tend TO prevent
them IN future. They may save hundreds of thou.
sands by lettering public agents from appropriate
ing to themselves the public money-and this may
be worth millions, by infusing greater energy into
every department Of the public service, and incu-
eating the idea that the Administration is determined
to exact at the hands Of every executive agen,
faithful and honest discharge Of his duties.