Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-05-21
a pdiry Proceedingi

When Mr.. Polk assumed to himself the duties
of the petty justice, and issued his circular in re-.
gard to the Clerks, in the Departments, we re.
garded the proceeding as worthy only Of one, who
took pleasure in harrassing and tyrannizing over
The weak and defencelcss. That this dcspicable
motive was the operating one, is made NANTES,
by the manner, in which the rule is carried out.
IL is only those, who are friendless, who are sub.
lected to its harsh conditions. The bankrupt mem.
bers of Congress, and the big defaulters, who have
troops of friends. are still as dear as ever 10 Mr..
Polk and while a poor Clerk is dismissed for
owing $50, the bankrupt speculator to the tune
of hundreds of thousands is elevated to the most
confidential and important posts in the Govern
ment. The same even-handed justice was OBJ.
served in respect to duelling, by this great stick.
Ter about petty matters. A poor Lieutenant in
the Amy was cashiercd for having been engaged
in a blOodless duel; while n rich member of Con.
gress, who had killed his man, under circumstan.
ces of high aggravation, was appointed 10 a lucra.
tive office! This is the magnanimous Justice of a
Democratic President!
The Philadelphia Morning Post has some Just
comments on the unequal justice of this rigidly
Just Prcsident-which are subjoined:
"THE PRESIDENTS CIRCULAR WITH REGARD
TO THE CLERRS-MR. Jas ]. RANDOLPH.
Iii known TO our readers, tina, some weeks since. the
President OF the United States issued o Circular TO the
clerks Of the several Departments. threatening with dismis.
sat all such as had contracted debts with citizens of Wash.
inton, merchants or otherwise, upon complaint OF the cred.
tor. The extreme hardship Of this Executive decree ope.
rating precisely like an er post Jaefo law, and rendering
that criminal, which When IL was done, involved no crime
at all, cannot fail 10 strike the least observing. Many Of
the clorks, calculating on being able. To pay their debts ou,
Of their salary, have very innocently involved themselves
IN PecunIaTy difficulties. and thus exposed themselves TO
dismissal upon the slightest intimation OF n creditor. IL is
a court from which there il no appeal, the President him
self erecting atthe While linuse a sort Of pie poudr, court
tor the tnal Of offenders, and sOemnly sitting in judgment,
upon small cases, which are more properly the subject of a
single magistrates jurisdiction. Ii is moreover q most eS.
eefable tribunal Of inquisiiion, formed for the purpose Of
InquIrng into the private aflirs Of individuals and Is. upon
me whole The very sInhlestthing, veryetd done by a Chief
M9glsunte OF the Union. IL is perfectly evid emit, that il
the clerks have gone IN debt, the men who have given them
credit. have nobody TO blame but themselves. They know
the amount Of each clerks salsTy-are perfectly aware,
that 10 Dinety.nine cases out Of a hundred, he has nothing
to depend on beyond the income Of his ofiee-and are
therefore able To calculate with the utmost nicely the e1.
tent 10 winch they can 90 with safrty.
But the President IL by the operation Of this rule a one
sided Judge. Any person who has malice enough TO d. IL.
may deprive a clerk of his salary. by merely charging hin
with a bi! - eEorbiiani, that In may refuse to psy H. The
CLERK - forced 10 prove u negative, or he must go.
One case Of peculiar hardship under this iron rule, has
come within our observation. IL ~ that Of Mr.. James In
mes Randolph Of Virginia, who was lately dismissed from
" clerkship Of $1,000 a year, because he was unable To dis.
charge lbs debts. some Of the correspondents Of the
newspapers aledse thai Mr.. Randolph would not 10 oil pro.
liability have been dismissed but for certain symptoms Of
impaienoe which he was 90 imprudent ss TO exhibit. The
meuning Of this. we presume, i, that Mr.. X. having the
breeding aud feelings Oi 0 gentleman, was annoyed at hay
Jag his private affairs made the subject Of Presidential in
cushion, and laid open 10 crafty the pfying disposition oil
his EHcelleney, and iho.e least Of oil miniature politicians
tie members Of his Cabinet. IN an atmosphere which
has long been fatal 10 all msnliness or Independence o
spirit. it IL not astonishing that such uncommon evidence
oi both, should have produced sensation.
Mr.. Randolph y a grend nephew of General William
Henry Harrison. late President of the United States, and a
crest grandson Of Benlsmin Harrison Of Berkeley, one Of
the signers Of the Declaration Of Independence. Ills grand
father, by the mothers side, was Col. James Innes, an Of
beer 81 distinguished bravery, who fought by the side Of
Washington during the whole u The Revolutionary war
m orator Of %surp'ssing eloquence. being thought almost a
fair match Tor the famous Patrick Henv-a patriot Of the
most exalted wofih-a man Of a reputation perfectly blame.
lcss. Connected as HE name Is with the stirring incidents,
snd great men Of tho Revolution. ML. Randolph had, more.
over To recommend him, a moat ineproachabls character
a most inCiiensiyc dcmeaOor-onure capacity To GIL the Of
heo, add unfailing readiness to comply with lie da,ies.-
Though stll a young man, he has upIn his hands a family
OF twenty pcfs'ns, oil dependent upon him for bread, aud
not one 81 them capable Of finding II without his assistance.
THIS man IN the struggle 10 msintain such q family, had
gone into debt, and rendered himself, in that manner, ob.
noSisus Ia the executive eT post JaeI9 law. From oil We
can learn, he would m all probability have been able 10 have
cleared scores IN a short time, had he not bean violently
elected from Office. The cold bloodod cruelty of this case.
- only oquallcd by the littloness of mind which could una.
bic ffcsdoni 10 sionp 10 such meanness, nj q time when
tho whole face Of shIfs aewns ~ Indicate that events NJ
the highest importance are already On tho wing, add may
sfIvo at any hour 81 the day.
Let theautniiyo observer only mark tic different conduct
pursued by The President towards those who arc weak and
can do HIN no harm, and those who are strong, and have
itin their power 10 dO1him much. The other day a Lieut.
was dismissed from tho navy Tor doing the very got, which
dd not Prevent a member Of Congress from receiving
highly lucrative Office NJ the hands OF the President, now
clerk is dismissed, for the very sams offence. which the
President has already decided forms no bar 10 the appoint
meni Of . man 10 tho second Office within his gih. Dd
the President bod court, aud 1unmon the creditors oil
kobSItJ j.. Waikor 20 the witness boE when IL was deter
mined to make that individual Secretary Of the Treasury
DID be then send cut, 0r has ho since sent out, his rcscript
commanding that high iuncIDnsy 10 sppesfbcfore him ant
give an account Of the yari Us Liabilities he may have con
tftcted, "a tho countless land spcculadons IN which b,
has been engaged Did he Offer a premium 10 the hatred
q malicious creditors, by calling on them 10 testify seafns
their debtgsf,H this has no, been done. will any man un
derske % hfnish a good reason why The humble cleri
should DO held 10 q rigid accountability L. ~ a gresici
crime 10 be minus n few hundred dollars, Than 10 owe
few hundred thousand, which you never expect 10 pay
Il III thu he tuaftea than 1aya -. al..w.. ...u.l.s.fu. Al.