Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1844-08-26
2potttteai.
JAMES r. POLK AND TIE PUBLIC DE-
E9II TIERS

u
rlr AND TIN rstGrs OF CONGRESS.
The conduct Of James X. Polk, while he Speak.
rnl The House of Representatives. in screening The
BUSES and corrupons OF the Administrations iheen
OF itseli to dtsiroy all confidence IN hs political pur
pies IL IS we'll kncSn thai the public mud had be
come convinced that tlesa abuses and cnruptons had
long been paeised in secret, behind the protection aud
patronage oi men high IN ofiee II not by The most emf
uent lncttonancs themselves Full aud tar lnvcsiipn
ton aae repeatedly challenged by the representatives Of
'he people; aud n last sk0tr OF II grnuicd IN the
session OF lS36-37, by the locn Foco majority in the
House, with the understanding that the Committee of
Investigation shnnl be appointed by the sprAeER-
i1t" spenherthe INSCRIPTIONS organ and agent Of the
Executive IN the House OF the People. |. had awnya
neen parliamentary aud congressional practice, In rails
M select committees, 10 give majority favorable to
me otJec's which the mover propused But the oco
focos o Congress- knew well What mauner Of man their
Speaker was,--ihey knew he would tNmpln upon par
lamenlary preredcnt with us e pnncrillousnesa as he
hal shawn IN dsfccardug the duty Of fairness aud nl,
Mfiialy Imposed upon the incumbent Of ihn chaIr-
Ahd accordingly he appointed committee. rwo To
ONE against nil inquiry The committee was ordered
ny The House 10 CONSIST Ut nine members. Nj Polk
placed hrun STA ol the must thorough going friends Of the
minlslatan--nmcy. Muhlenhnfr. tsann after ap.
pointed Minister 10 Anstria.) Dneo j. pearee Ca rene
gade that was lahorng IN every way demonstrate his
ne" hern zeal laf Ven llnren) Parks MAN, flanagan.
and Chimney, eannching party men.
10 balance Hen there first, Mr. Wise who
moved Tor The inquiry. and whom therefore he could not
avoid appointing. Bo, he took care to associate with
hlm Two ut the mdest and most moderate " hps IN The
House, hleSsrs, Campbell aud LINCOLN geniemen by
nature anu pursuits avefsn 10 the slIc oi party pules
We remember well when the committee " rs nnnnnnced,
and cannJ; som forget the indignation aud acorn with
which the representatives Of ireemcn heard that the
Speaker had PACKED II with SIX srpponrfas OF rnE
oohRrrrIoNsrs against THREE members III farcr Of IN
qHuY No man doubted that the object was 10 rREvrSr
TUE SCRUTINY which was demanded by the public
a Hfttan H.
step, and 10 keep the accumulated uquc, Of the Office
holders and their hvores and ons covered beneath the
cloak Ut secrecy, The members selected performed the
Office lnr which they CHOSEN. The tllowinn ex
tracts from the report III The chairman (Nl Nlse) show
how admirably fitted the chosen men of NJ Polk were
Tor the business they were expected to perorm-namey
To prevent all inquiry into The misdeeds Of The Admins
iraton and its agents.
On the LIST oi February, Mr. Mnhlcnburs offered the
following resolution:
"RSoeod. That. before any witness or Witnesses be
sworn. the meuber at whose instance he OF til were
called shall slalr in writing, the case for which he nr
they were Sevemlly called as Witnesses The matters to
which he or they are expected 10 testify, and the char
ges witch he or they arr expected by the mruhf Ia
sustain against The Executive Departments, or either Of
hem against any officer officers ngenl or aeens
nr either OF them. by facts within his or her personal
knowledge"
(which was adopted f,ows.
"Ayes-Aiessts. Peafee. lIannfgan, Parks, Lincoln,
"Nays-Mr. Mann aud Mr. Wise-2p
On the lth Of February, Mr.. Pearco offered the fol.
loving resolutions;
"Roored, That This Committee. in dscharping heir
dulles under The resolution u the House of Representa-
lives ot January H. will not in the absence Of definite
specified charges Of corruption and abuses inquire into
the reasons ol the Executive VI the heads of The Exec
ntVe departments, lor appointments to, OF rehuvals
from Office.
mir. W so moved an amendment ne fellows.
fygI Hha ..,.,,, H..
gcs are m 'de that the President of the United States
or clther OF the heads Of departments have removed e
cen aud faithful officers without just Of COM plant
ana appointed others in their places. for opinions sake
or on account oi party services. this Committee III III
qnne into such definite and specific charges ascertain
how far the President. heads Of departments have n.
bused HER authority 10 appoint aud remove officers and
TO What oNien such appointments and removals. have
tended to restrain and ifanme the freedom or opinion;
to affect the freedom and purity If elections IN this conn
try; Ia punish individuals for The exercise of at free
dom; aud TO corrupt and enslavo public officers who hold
aud private individuals who sceF, places under this Go
vernmenl.
The question being taken on Mr.. Wise samendment,
1t WAS rejected ms follows:
ayes lessrs. Campbell. Lincoln. Wise--3
"Says-Mossis. Pearce MuhlenburI Parks Mann,
Chapey-5.
The question recurring on the adoption of The reso-
luton offered by Mr. Peafce, it decided The al
fmalgc, AS follows
"Ayes-- NIessrs. Pcarce, Muileaburg, Parks, Mann,
Chaney-5,
Mays essrs Campbell. Lincoln, WISE"
On the l6lh Of February, Mr.. Wise offered the FOL
lowin4 resolution:
"Resored, That lls committee will inquire whetl-
or the Executive officers, either Of them have eslab
shcd assisted in esablshng presses or newspapers
for party purposes, and have given pledges tie pro
pfcot lhoreof Of tie Government pditunage and have
performed those pledges, by giving such presses or pa
pers the patronage OF the Governments aud whether The
public printing has been taken from long established
presses papers, with numerous Subscribers and aven
to such presses and papers newly established, with
pledges olhe Government patronage, without subscri
bets.
(Which resolution was rejected as follows;
"Ayts--Messrs. Campbell and Wise--2
"Nays--Messrs. Pearce, Muhlenbury Manu-
Ga the lth Of February MI Wise offered the fIlow-
Ing res0luiiun:
''Resoived, That the Secrethry Of the Treasury be
requested to furnish his Committee with the originals
~ copies oil all letters, papers, reports corrcsp5n-
dence, on the files Of the Treasury Department. or in s
possession. relation the Official acts Of himself OF Of
the collector Newport, Rhode Island in RENEWING
David Melville from the office Of wegher aud euseer
1t that place.
"Alr Mann offered the following amendment add
at the eud Of The resolution Except suoh AS have here
t"lofe been communicated to the Senate Of the Uned
States, and except such, aso are Of confidential
Character
(Which amendment rejected as follows
"Aye-Mr Manu-
"Nays--Messrs. Muhleuburg, Campbell Parks
Lincoln, CLANCY, Wise--6.
The question recurring the adoption Of the RESP
~ Was ed fall,