The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-22
From Kendail's Erp0siior
PRESENTS TO PUBLIC MEN.

as 10 make tie dHcfence
The coed will and kind feelings of the officers of
Government, nclinng them to lean, perhaps uncon-
sciousy, to the interests Of individuals, and some
times producing the mischievous effects of direct
bribe secured by presents, personal iavors, and
pecunary obligations.
On taking charge of the Fourth Auditors office,
learned that of the pursurs of the navy and
navy agents in the habit OF making valuable
presents the clerks who examined their accounts
thereby creating advocates in the Office. We for
babe the clerks receiving any present of value from
those whose accounts they had settle, pain of
instant removal
A similar practice prevailed to greater and more
mischevous extent in the Post Office Department
We were scarcely warm in our seat there before
presents from contractors began TO come in upon US.
On occasion whole deer, just killed., came
down from the mountains and made his appearance
one morning in the passage of the Post Office De-
partment. BY letter our table, learned that
it was present from mail contractor Sand we TO
ourself, IN application for on extra allowance IS not
| far behind
The contractor in his letter, requested to send
piece to his old friend, Parson Is. Awaiting our
self of this request, sent for the Parson, and de-
livered him the whole animal-not caring to eat
meat which expected to be called to pay for
out of the funds OF the Post Office Department.
Sure enough, in few days, here came the con-
tractor with project for improvement in his mail
service, which would increase his pay, and IN other
respects greatly promote his private interests. We
present
We not two weeks in the department, be-
fore clerk continuously offered to lend money
In our heart pronounced him corrupt man, and
took the first convenient opportunity to get rid of
him We have since ascertained that he was an
agent and spy Of certain powerful contractors in
the department!
On another occasion, mean to give more of our
observation and experience in the department--hav-
ing said this much only introduction to the mat
ter In hand.
The following we cut from the National Intelligent
| Ger of the 18th instant, viz
eve find in the New York papers the following
letter from MIR. Clay, written in reply TO commu-
nication from gentlemen at Syracuse, in that
State, who forwarded to him present of quantity
of salt
"AsHLAND, Sept. 81, 1912
"GENTLEMEN; have the pleasure TO acknowledge
the receipt Of your friendly letter of the 10th inst,
transmitting invoice of twenty tiiree barrels of
salt, and box, embracing all the varieties manu-
featured at Syracuse, and list of my friends who
have done Inc the favor to contribute it. In nse-
quence of nv experience Of the superiority Of the
Onondaga salt in the preservation of meat, and in
all other to which that article is applied re.
quested my friend, Mr.. Spencer, to have forwarded
me a small supply. had not the slightest eXpecta-
lion that my request would have attracted any other
than the usual attention much less that it should
have elected present SO liberal and which comes
recommended TO me by many iattering and friend
ly circumstances. am advised this morning of the
safe arrival Of the salt at Maysyille and will reach
this place in day or two.
81 know not how to express, in terms cores
ponding with my feelings, my great obligations
for this acceptable present. request you TO offer
for it, to those who contributed it, collectively and
individually, my cordial and grateful acknowledge
ments."
Mr.. CLAY then goes into defence of the tariff in
general and the duty on salt in particular main
tain Tho
Dor on all the salt it consumes, to enrich the salt
maker, is protecting home industry"
In 1880, visited the carpet factories at Lowell
and in the loom we observed incomplete Brus-
sells carpet, with lilac ground and grapevine
with its broad, dark leaves gracefully filling up the
picture. 1t was of & C most simple, beautiful
and substantial articles of manufacture ever saw.
This" said our guide, g is present for HENRY
CLAY " What may be lis paiue?n we asked. Sc
hundred doilars,' he replied.
1t is not long since observed notice of plough
presented to the {" farmer of Ashland from one
quarter, and hat from another. Numerous
Other valuable presents to this parsonage have from
time to time, been noticed in the newspapers (; and
now "TWENTY-THREE BARRELS OF
SALT AND ONE BOX.n
Is not protective tariff good thing for HENRY
CLAY? In part at least,
He gets his salt by it
He gets his pio1ghs by it
He gets his hats by it
He gets his carpets by it
lie gets his coats by it;
He gets numerous other valuable things by it;
And he gets the support of those enriched by his
legislation for the Presidency.
Ii Is natural, therefore. without slpposng him
corrupt, that he should think the tariff a very good
thing
But who pays for Mr. GAYS presentsi Would
the manufacturers be so liberal with him, did they
not get paid for He gets laws passed to tax the
people for their benefit and they, grateful fer the
favor, give him part Of the money so rdised-or a
part of the articles they manufacture with the aid Of
that money, which is the same thing Practically,
and without reference TO motive II amounts TO this
Mr.. CLAY by his votes and influence, laws a heavy
tax the whole people, and gives the money to the
manufacturers, who pay him out of the same money
for his services To the people, is il the same as
if MIR CLAY hired by the manufacturers TO tax
them, on condition that he shall be paid with a part
OF the proceeds Is It not the same as a conspiracy
between the manufacturers and politicians 10 plumber
them IN the name of patriotism and under the color
of law, for the emoument of the con piratorsl
WHO PAYS FOR HENRY CLAY'S PRE-
SENTSl
Let every honest and considerate man ask himself
this question, and ponder upon the subject until he
IS able to answer II TO his satisfaction. IL he
answer himself by saying The manufactures then let
him ask himself the further question;
Way Do THE MANUFACTURERS MAKE
AND PAY FOR THESE pRESENTSi
| correct answer TO that question viii lay bare the
whole subject o every unbiased mind
The editor of the Exeter News e ter states that
while visiting Hampton Beach, few DAYS since ne
saw flock of geese about two miles distant from
the shore numbering more than twelve hundred -
| They were pursuing Southcrly direction and NOV
ed forward, in single file, with the utmost regularity
They ilew in nearly straight line, and the extreme
ends OF the flock estimated by several nersons