The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-12

'We have seen, recently gazetted among the official
appointments that of James Lawrence Day, Agent
the coast of Africa, for receiving the negroes mu-
lattos, or persons Of color, delivered from board
vessels seized IN the prosecution of the slave trade by
commanders of u. s. armed vessels" Now, we are
so distrustful of this Administration that must be
excused for asking to be informed of the legal author
rity for this appointment Is the Office one created
by law, is it of those constructive posts raised
up by an ingenious corruption, as an exempliicaon
Of the potency of the rewarding power? Or is it not
bald sinecure Where is the agent to reside' Is
he to be located 'on board the armed vessels. If
So the appointment is supererogation-for the ''com-
manders of IT, s. armed vessels supersede the neces-
sity OF any agent Is he to be set down son the
of Africa'" We scarcely think any salary in the
gift of the President could induce any person, loving
life better than money, to entrust himself to the
deadly climate of the African coast. And if son
the coast of Africa" at what point the coast for
it runs many thousand miles.) Is he to tarry at
Sierra Leone, at Monrovia or at Capetown, or on
the Eastern coast, or the Western the Northern
for we anxious to know the ,chereabout of this
most novel appointment. 1t seems to us as rank
sinecure as ever prohigate Government allowed"
The paper whence the preceding article is extract
ed is called The Independent, and published in the
city of Washington 1t is an ultra Wing paper es-
ablished for the express purpose of opposition to the
present Administration; and the appointment of the
agent upon the coast of Africa FORMS in its opinion
Gifts reasons forts opposition. AS the editor how
ever has written in ignorance alike of the circum
stances, the law the policy and the character of the
case, will give him some of the information for
which he inquiries. In the first place. it has been the
practice of the Government, for nearly quarter of
a century, to have agent for recaptured Africans
stationed upon the Western coast of Africa. Such
an agent was certainly appointed during Mr. Mon
roe's Administration and was continued until after
| the accession of General Jackson-by whom, for
few years, the Office was discontinued. Yet it was
subsequently revived, and perceive by the ap-
pointment of MIR. Day, is still continued
The place of residence for this agent is Monrovia,
in the colony Of Liberia and in connection with this
fact may well state. that from the planting of
that colony, it has been the practice of the Executive
to designate for that agency, matter of favor to the
Colonization Society, of its officers in the colony
thus to small extent indirectly contributing to
the funds of the Society In regard to the character
and qualifications of the gentleman whose appoint
ment has given offence to the Independent remark
that Mr.. Day is a physician late of New Jersey. He
is gentleman of character and standng-enjoyine
the confd and esteem of the best citizens of his
own State and of those who know him in this No
farther evidence of this truth need be adduced than
the fact that at the late meeting of the Board of the
Society, DR.. Day was strongly recommended by Chan
cellor Frelinghuysen and Others for the office of Gov
ernnr of the coony.-N. Y. Com. Adp