The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-09

OF INDIANA,
Delivered IN the House Of Repr sentafives ON inc 18TH %
March, the Loan BsA
fcONCLUDED.)
OF INDIANA,

March, on the Loan Bill
fcoNcLUDED.)
The gentleman from North Carolina Mr.. Stanly)
has furnished the House with statement of expen-
ditures of the last administration. He will find, by
reference to a speech made by me- and which he did
me the honor to read in this House some few days
SINCE in that speech prominently set forth those
expenditures. think they have been harped on long
enough and often enough, and shall therefore now
say nothing about them. But to those who say that
the friends Of the Administration have become luke
warm In their investigation, l would point to my
course during this and the extra session OF Con-
grese.
During the extra session the ex-Secretary OF war
(Mr. Bell) sent a message informing that most
gross and scandaous frauds had been perpetrated IN
the Indian Department and that large sums OF mo-
ney had thus been embezzled. After waiting some
six or eight weeks for the Secretary to give us the
names Of the persons who, as he SAID, had abused
their trusts introduced resolution calling upon
him for the names of the denquent and the amounts
thus purloined, sc. The resolution was voted down.
sir, by Wing votes yes, sir, by those very men who
now, upon this floor, tell that we have lost our
taste for Investigations. And to this day we have
been able to ascertain to whom the Secretary
of War alluded or what amount the Government
according to his account, had lost And the grave
charge thus made against those connected with the
Indian affairs of the Government remains to this day
unexplained.
Having ascertained that officers of the customs still
contrved to hold large of money in their hands,
under the head Of fines, penalties, and forfetures,
notwithstanding the law Of Sd March, lS4l, intro
duced resolution of inquiry the subject, deter
mined, always have been, to hold the officers of
this Administration to strict accountability. This
solution was objected to by Wings; and they now
Of supineness.
l offered resolution calling for information on the
subject OF moneys paid to district attorneys another
on the subject of the vast expenditures for the New
York custom-house; and many other resolutions, all
having for their object strict investigation into the
expenditures of this Administration All were OBJ
jected to by the Wing party But, sir, this is in per-
feet unison with their general course They one mo-
ment the friends of the Administration of be-
ing faction contemplate for number; and the next
moment they accuse us Of being sufficiently powerful
to arrest the action of this House They say that
are servile followers of the President and in the
next breath accuse us of opposing his measures.
They tauntingly exclam that are not worth their
notice, and then, by way of proving their assertions
they spend days and weeks in abusing They OPP
pose all our efforts to aid the Administration in fer
reng out abuses, and then insist that officers of the
Government are improperly protected by the Admin
istration and its friends. Such are the inconsistent
cles that will always mark a factious opposition.
They refuse to do any thing themselves and yet will
not permit others to effect any good They seem de-
termned that all the members Of the House shall be
Unfortunately involved in the censure Justly due
only to themse YES.
Sir, if the gentleman from North Carolina really
thinks SO lightly If the friends of the Administration
why should he travel so very far of his way
tack US? Not of us had uttered word which
should have incurred his ire In truth not of the
friends of the Administration had opened his lips
cept the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr WlsE,) and
he had said but few words AMI yet the gentleman
must sheer at US as the "corpo1ars guard as party
30 small hardly TO be worthy Of Well,
sir we small party, but permit ME to tell the gen.
leman that we are, compared with his faction, IKE
silver shilling among dozen cents-smal, indeed,
but worth more than the whole Of them.
But, sir before this session Closes will show gem
tlemen whether have lost my former fondne.s for
investigation l will show them whether the officers
of this Administration screened by the friend. of
the Administration this floor. will open your
custom houses TO the light of day. will investigate
your lighthouse system, and your revenue-cuter sys
tenn, &c. and solemnly that while hold seat
upon this floor will expose any and every Delinquent
cy that may by dint of industry detect, matter
who may be the delinquent, and reg ardess alike of
who appointed him or to what political party he may
belong They who have received Office from this Ad
ministration shall be most closely and rigidy held
to responsibility, as far lies in my power; and in
uttering this determination, but speak the sent-
ments Of every friend Of the Administration in this
House.
One word more, sir, the subject of the extra
sion, to which should never have alluded at all had
not other gentlemen thought fit to do Its results
and the unhappy state Of things which have arisen
from il were all predicted by the &c ntleman from Vr
ginia (Mr WIsE) recollect that he made speech
few days before the close of the last session of Con-
gress, in which he first advanced the consequences
which would result from an extra session. He gave
il his opinion that 1t would be better to await an ex-
preston of public sentiment the subject of bank,
tariff, distribution, &c. and that in the then excited
state of the political world much hasty and imperfect
legislation might be anticipated. differed with him.
thought his fears ILL founded and expressed to him
and others my regret that he should thus anticipate
evil Experience has proved that he had more fore.
sight than myself. He had studied the character Of
Wing politicians more closely than had His fears
have been more than reazed-his predictions more
than accomplishment now acknowledge that he is
really Wise and no Prophet.
The gentleman from North Carolina has boasngly
informed us that there no fragments in the Wing
party-the only fragment that he knows offs "the
corporaps guard" What necessity could exist, sir,
for this unprovoked sneer at u.s. who had uttered
word relative to party politics But, since the
gentlemans vision is very obtuse, and his know
ledge of the situation of parties very limited,
think it my duty to enIighten him the subject
No fragments, sir! Why where is your majority in
Maine7 Some thousands of Wing minority now
greet you there2 How stands New York She
who, in 1889, arrested the triumphant march of the
democratic batalions, and who, in l840 gave to the
Wing cause thousands of majority Her Legisla-
ture is nearly democratic unit, and thousands
Of the popular voice against you. What cheer is
there for you in Pennsylvania? A majority for
Harrison in 1910; now tens of thousands of majo-
rty for democracy. No fragments, eh Is the sky
still bright in Maryland? Alas! her Wing majority
of thousands longer exists; she gives her vote
against you How is Georgia She who, by her
majority of thousands for Harrison, astonished the
nation, now gives her thousands against the Wing
And even the favorte of your party when
this hoor-he who was considered invlcibe is beat
on for Governor. /, sir, admired that man. He fell
victim to his own silent acquiescence in your many
weak acts of legislation. Let the gentleman from
North Carolina look around him, and he will see three
members on this floor from that State newly rein
stated in their seats by democratic victories Where
is your twenty-six thousand in Ohio7 A majority
now against you. Where stands Mississippi p
Where Michgan2 No Fragments sir Why in
this latter State, am informed that there is but one
Whii left In one branch OF the LepislatnreI Not