Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-08-23
POLITICAL.
From the Nashville (7onn.) Banner.
JAMES X. POLK AND THE PUBLIC
/ DEEAC LTERS.


JAMES X. POLK AND THE PUBLIC
r DEFAULTERS.
His SHAMEFUL disregard ofMe acM ftc People and
the usages Of Congress.
The conduct of JAMES X. Polk, while he was
speaker Of the House Of Representatives in SCREEN
ing the abuses and corruptions of the administra-
ton, is sufficient of itself to destroy all confidence
in his political principles. 1t is well known that
the public mind had become convinced that these
abuses and corruptiens had long been practiced in
secret, behind the protection and patronage of men
high in Office if not by the most eminent function
aries themselves. Full and fair investigation was
repeatedly challenged by the Representatives of
the peoples and, at last ID show of it was granted
in the session Of 1867, by the Locofoco ma
jorty in the House of Representatives, with
the understanding that the Committee of Inyestga-
ton should be appointed by the Speaker-their
Speaker-the Inscriptions organ and agent Of the
Executive in the House ofthe People. 1t had been
always Parliamentary and Congressional practice
in raising select committees, to give majority ia
vorable TO the objects which the mover proposed
But the Locofocos Of Congress knew what manner
of man their Speaker was,-they knew he would
trample upon parliamentary precedent with as little
punctllliousness as he had shown in disregarding
the duty of fairness and impartiay imposed upon
the incumbent of the chair. And accordingly he
appointed committee, TWO TO yONE, against
all inquiry! The committee was ordered by the
House to consist of nine members. Mr.. Polk plac-
ed upon it six of the most thorough going friends
of the nislration-namely, Muhlenburg, (soon
afterwards appointed Minister to Austria Dutee J.
Pearce, IA renegadef that laboring in every way
to demonstrate his newborn zeal for Van Buren,.
Parks, Mann, flanagan, and Clancy unhnching
party men.
To balance them, there were, first, Mr.. Wise,
who moved for inquiry, and whom, therefore, he
could not avoid appointing. But he took care to
associate with him two of the mildest and most
moderate Wings in the House. Messrs Campbell
and neutrality-suspicious. by nature and pursuits
averse to the strife of party politics. We remen-
Der well when the committee was announced and
cannot forget the Indignation and scorn with which
the representatives of treemen heard that the Spea-
ker had PACKED it with SIX SUPPORTERS
OF THE CORRUPTIONISTS against three
members an favor of inquiry! No man doubted that
the object was to PREVENT THE SCRUTINY
which was demanded by the public voice, to en-
barrass the friends of investigation at every STEP
and 20 keep the accumulated iniquities of the office
holders and their favorltes and tools covered be-
meath the cloak of secresy. The members select
ed performed the Office for which they were chos-
en-. The following extracts from the report of the
Chairman Mr.. Wise,) show how admirably fitted
the chosen men of Mr.. Polk were for the business
they were expected to perform-namely TO PRE-
VENT ALL INQUIRY INTO THE MIS-
DEEDS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND
| IT'S AGENTS
! On the lst of February, Mr.. Muhlenburg offered
the following resolutions:
RESOLVED, That, before any witness or witness
es be sworn, the member at whose instance he OF
they were called shall state, in writing the case for
which he or they were severay sworn as witness
es the matters to which he or they are expected to
testify, and the charges which he or they are ex-
pected by the member to sustain against the Ex-
ecutive Departments, or either of them or against
any officer or officers agent or agents, or either of
them, by the facts within his or her personal knowl-
edge"
Which was adopted as follows;
"Ayes-Messrs Pearce, flanagan, Parks, Lin
coin, Muhlenburg and Campbell-6
"Nays-Mr Mann and Mr. Wise-2."
On the 18th Of February, Mr.. Pearce offered the
following resolution:
" RESOLVED, That this Committee in dlscharging
their duties under the resolution of the House OF
Representatives of January II, will not in the alb
sence of definite, specified charges of corruption
and abuses, inquire into the reasons of the Execu-
tive, or the heads Of the Executive Departments,
for appointments to- or removals from, Office.
Mr. Wise moved an amendment as follows
Resolved, That whenever definite and specific
charges are made that the President of the United
States or either of the heads of Departments, have
removed efficient and faithful officers without Just
cause Of complaint and appointed others in their
places for opinions sake, or on account Of party