The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-05-26

for the trip out and back, we have the fol-
lowing cost of such Transportation
Purchase of steamboats,, at the
average price paid for those pur.
chased for the Florida war, and
of similar size 10 those employed
each SIS, 200 90
To expenses of these boats, at So
ooo each per month $4,000 60
TO subssiing 1853 Indians Is
IS on the route, a; 10 cents per
ration S2l,S00 0O
For subsisting LOO ponies for 60
days on the trip, that being a SUIT
fciency of time 10 reach Fort
Gibson, at half gallon corn per
day, and cora 81 50 per bushel 1850 90
Add contingencies $4,000 no
Pay for agents, supegntendents, sc. 10000 90
2IS,lsJ 90
But, as the boats would DO as valu.
able after as before, II not retain
ed for further use, they might 10
sold at loss Of one fourth and
deduct their sale CT, $50 90
And we have the necessary expen.
diture of sla6,53O 90
for which the Indians nigh; have been re
moved. This is what frugal admlnistra
ton might have accomplished. We have
seen in the expenditure Of $500 ,440 for the
same services, what pronigate one can do.
The Committee have presented the fore.
going facts, as Illustrative Of the character
OF the expenditures of the different depart
menis 10 which they belong. They cannot
indulge any other opinion, than that they
have not been made 10 pursuance of the laws
which authorize them, because they are
wanting in economy and regard for the pub.
lie welfare. They are not apprized, by
any evidence before them, that any lnvesii.
CATION whatever has been made, or even
any doubt expressed by those before whose
scrutiny they had to pass, as to their reas.
onableuess ard economy. No check seems
10 have been placed upon the will OF the
contracting and dIsbursing officers. The
presumption seems never to have risen when
prices so greatly dlsproporIioned 10 the val.
ue of the articles received have been paid,
and which are not allowed 10 the private
transactions Of life, that the public interest
had been Jeoparded by InGdel,,y or the want
Of proper judgement. Whatever has
been expended seems TO have been allowed,
and thus the discretion Of a subordinate OF.
iicer has given law to the scrutiny OF
higher officer. This want OF accountable
~ has given rise 10 tho most prohgaie
waste Of public money, and help to swell the
enormous expenditures of the Government,
within few years past.
The committee will not discuss now the
propriety OF legal measures to recover from
taithIess agents indemnify for the losses the
Government has sustained by reason Of
their neglect Of lis interests, with which
,hs,, ,pa p. el- ouCtI ueen under.
stood TO be the measure Of vengeance with
WHICH such conduct should be visited, by
examples at the outset, many millions oil
dollars would doubtless aaye been saved TO
the public Treasury, which have been lost
But while the Government may not think
Fl! TO pursue lis legitimate remedies to 10.
demnity tor the past, It's power 10 prevent
for the future IS clear aud efficient.
/ The committee do not believe that any
additional legislation IS necessary to secure
fidelity to the Government. Let the laws
nov existing be enforced, uad the cause OF
complaint will be removed. The most eff
Gent measure for prevention now exists,
and does not rely on the action OF Con.
gress TO give II energy. In truth, over thus
Congress has no power. These officers
are not accountable to that body, nor direct.
" to the people, for their G!eliy; because
they derive their appointments from the
President, aud are subject to removal oy
him for an abuse Of their office. The PEG.
pie hold the President directly accountable
10 them for the faithful execution OF the
laws BY lis subordluales; aud as 1t IS he
who places them in power, as ms aids, to
assist IN the execution Of the duties OF that
station which he has voluntarily assumed,
so does he become accountable to the PEG.
pie for their conduct. Their uiidellty, when
countcnaEced or d!sregarded by him, IS his
inidellty, and the people viii mol dIscrlml.
nate between his ae tand theirs, however
much they be disposed 10 pardon the act,
when they have evidence OF q disposition
on his part &c correct or punish II ia the IN
terlor officer.
He IS liable for prudent supervision to
prevent the exifavagancc and spendthrilt
policy Of his subordinates; for, ii DESTROYS
TO prevent 1t, he has the power; ADD If WI.
ling TO detect 1t, the means are at his CON.
mand. And II those with whom he has en-.
trusted the supervision Of details arc faith.
less to their duty, the misfortune is his, aud
no; the peoples. lie is accountable to
them. Whenever such encouragement
as that Of which tho country now com.
plains, and has complained, exists, il is the
imperative daty Of the President, TO proven.
is recurrence, by Withdrawing from lis