Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-03-17

he now enjoys in all the private and social rela-
tions Of life.
But the reforms to which have above referred,
derive greater degree of importance than their
pecunary amount would en,its them to, on ac-
count Of the earnest which they afford Of what
the W hgs intend to do. The Committees, on
the various Executive Departments, will make
sitting Investigations Of the branches Of the pub
lie service assigned to them respectively; and
Governor Cilmer is hard at work ON his General
Committee OF Retrenchment. He has already
made partial reports, and the developments are Of
an astounding character. You should lay the re-
ports before your readers when they are publish.
ed, and now bcspeak for them u careful conside-
ration.
The Committee on the War Department will
soon be prepared to make partial report, and
the enormties of the Florida War will soon be
brought to.light. The contents Of this report are
not yet fully known, but there are some items
which have heard spoken of which / will men.
ton as furnishing svme idea of the general char
acter of the disclosures. In some instances, per-
sons have been allowed to charge the Government
prices like these which follow:
For corn, per bushel, S4s 90
Fo1 oats, per do. % 90
For wood, per cord, 40 90
For making wagon, $500 90
For'hir OF ii steamboat, $4,000 90
Another very interesting circumstan connec-
ted with the purchase Of the wood was, that il
was bought In N. Orleans and shipped 10 Florida,
and landed in a PINE FoREsr where, in clearing
away woodward to receive it, they were Obliged
TO cut down more and better wood than that which
was imported. Oh! Uncle Sam! Uncle Sam,
How awfuliy thou hast been chiselled!
Every body here has been on tiptoe for some
time, to get the Report from the Commission, ap-
pointed to examine the New York Custom House
but somehow or other it is not yet forthcoming
Some say it is the fault of Mr.. Tyler-oihers that
the blame lies at the door of Gov. Poindexter-
tial hoe,
made by one or more of the Commissioners to the
Executive. Why it has not been laid before Con-
gress, cannot say. II is said to contain sad re-
violations in regard to Mr.. Van Buren's intimate
and trusted friend "the pious" Benjamin +. But
Ter. For example, they say that as Attorney for
the United States, he brought forty suits in ono
case for the Government, and got some four thou
| sand dollars Of fees, when the defendant was i'm
solvent!
1t Is also said that he instituted criminal pro-
ceedings againsta number Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
large sums Of money from them--and then dis
missed the proceedings!
we also have accounts Of judges and clerks
combining together to evade the laws and defraud
the Government. But sooner or later you will see
| these things, and need not dwell on them in
detail.
| 1t has been suggested that these disclosures
willb kept back until il is too late for them to
have any effect on the Virginia Elections. trust
however, that this will not be the case. am We
ry curious to have d peep into the Custom House
Report, for am anxious to see what kind of pa
per i, is that costs the Government 20 per ream
and what manner OF pens those are which cannot
be afforded at less than dollar and quarter, or
dollar and a half apiece! These things will all
come out in good time, for if the Executive does
not vouchsaie to let Congress have the benefit of
the Report OF HIS Commissioners, Congress will
take a look into the matter on its own hook.
pray you, as vigilant sentinel, to keep Your
eyes open to all these matters, and 10 let the Dub-
4 lie be duly advised OF the Developments, as they
are made from time to time, in order that they
may judge of the truth OF the charges of corrun-
4 lion which We're preferred against Mr.. Van Blu
ren's Administration and that of his predecessor
! Q. f. d.