The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-14
From The Baltimore Sun.
DELINQUENCY IN OFFICE.

To the student who cons his lessons in the great
book of the human race, who makes man as a moral
being his study, il were matter of curious if not use
full inquiry, whether the possession of public Office
corrupts the incumbent, or the man carries corrup-
ton with him into Office. Be this as it may how
ever it is certain that the frequent developments of
few years past in this country, has shewn that men,
though they may not have two characters, pursue
two opposite courses OF conduct, secret and the
other open, honest and the other dishonest one
for official and the other for private life The gov
eminent the bank officer, who in his private ca
pacty would cheat no man out OF iarthing OF his
Just dues who in all his private personal dealings
with his fellow citizens, is just and upright, will at
the same time make nothing OF deiraudng the gov
eminent or the bank the people the stockholders,
Of thousands and hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
Such men have been known, discovery, to
have spent years in the preparation Of fraud and
pecuaton, while maintaining before the eye oil The
world enyable regulations. Amiabe in private life,
admired in the social circle, patterns Of morality and
externally at least religious, useful IN the world Of
business, kind and charitable, and highly esteemed
for their numerous good qualities, few would Ven
ture TO even suspect, much less charge them with
any species of dishonesty. True, what has already,
from time to time, been brought to light through the
perse verence of ofice-seeking SCRUTINY, or by the
action Of fear the guilty conscences OF corrupt
ncumbents, as manifested IN theiI flight from the
dreaded hand of justice has had tendency to unset
tie confidence to greater or less extent in all Office
,
nate as to be held above suspicion. Nor can they
complain of this. They take office with the know
edge OF the fact, that not not only the eyes Of
the disappointed seekers upon them, but that as pub
lie office has come to be considered by trading parti-
politicians in the light Of spoils the vigant and
sleepless eye of party constantly engaged in spying
out all their ways If this yglant espionage were die
taed by pure patriotism, il would necessarily command
Approval proceeding however, 1t for the part
does from party spirit and the love ofoce and power it
might yet be rendered useful indeed 1t is sonewh hat
strange that generally fails TO be of use at any
1t would seem to have tendency promote official ho-
nesy by acting the fears of the ncumbents but
seems TO have contrary effect; for such have been
the mutations of power, that from the fear of losing
office by the expected changes the condition of par
ties the ms TO have practised on the principle
OF making the best possible Of their time for their
profit, the outs should take their places 50
that while party spirit has put men into office it
hitherto failed to k, ep make them honest Patriot
Ism then, seems to be the only principle to b. relied
for official honesty, and when this is known to be
the only passport 10 offices OF trust and profit, the
number OF the honesl and capable will increase.
That the present time is propous to attempt the pro-
duction OF such desirable result must be evident to
every -#
The President of the United States is without a
party in the partisan acceptaton of the term indeed
his peculiar enemies have often tainted him with
assurances of the fact but tSen there is vast num-
Der of honest and moderate men in both parties who
are disposed to judge him fairly, to try him by his
acts, and approve or condemn on the evidence OF
these. These constitute good party as any Pre-
sident need desire who looks only to the strict per-
Torrance of his duty, with eye single to the good
of the whole country. At such time this, then,
it would be strange indeed, if there could not be
found in the country suticiency of honest capable
and patriotic men, to perform faithfully the duties
CURED By the public service. That many such are
needed, few, if any, seem to doubt, and though we
ourselves have long felt satisfied of it, we have had
the necessity more forcibly impressed on our minds,
by reading some extracts from MIR, Poindexters re-
port in relation to the New York Custom-House.