The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-24
INDICATOR.
For the Union.
For the Union
THE AUDITOR OF THE POST OFFICE DE
PARTMENT.

THE AUDITOR OF THE POST OFFICE DE-
PARTMENT.
| II was to have been expected, as a matter of
course, that the gentlemen selected by President
Polk to fill the more important Offices of the gov
eminent would be unsparingly assailed by the OPP
position. Probably every democrat who accepted
Office was prepared to encounter this abuse pre-
sumo that none dreaded it, for they well knew that
the generous temper of their political friends is apt
to disregard attacks from interested political foes
and that in most cases, to be "the best abused
man" of our enemies, implies qualities which ought
to endear the man abused to his friends. 1t would
be singular, indeed, if we were to allow our bitter
foes to tell us who of our men shall be select
ed to fill offices; more singular still, if we to
permit them to decide for the character and quail
ihcations of those who are thus selected and most
singular Of all, if men Of character and capacity,
whom they choose to dislike, are for that reason, to
be prescribed by Such has not been the case
heretofore with us, and am confident that the day
is far distant when it will be.
To receive abuse from political opponents, then,
is no more than every democrat expects when he
accepts office. But when, in addition to this egiti-
mate abuse, professed friends join in echoing the
ISLANDERS OF the opposition, public officer at this
day may well exclaim that he is getting more abuse
than he bargained for Yet such has been the fate
of at least one of the gentlemen appointed by Presi
dent Polk. allude to the Auditor for the Post Office
Department, p G. Washington, esq. believe no
whisper has been heard to doubt his official capaci-
~. Certainly, such whisper would be idle; for
better qualified, more Industrious, or more efficient
public officer, is not to be found under the govern
ment. At the head of its largest bureau-a bureau
employing nearly seventy clerks-he may, with
perfect truth, be said personally to superniend the
whole work in his office; to be familiar with its
mDuest details; and TO be, in fact its ,corki,gma
The abuse which he has received, the magnity of
which seems to experience no abatement from the
lapse of time, is the cruel, inasmuch as it has
ID
democratic papers; and it is persevered in with
malignity which is evidence of purpose to pursue
its victim within the bar ofthe constitutional tribunal
before which his nomination will shortly be ar
raigned. Mr.. Washington, however, has no friend
who has the remotest fear that these attacks can
have the slightest injurious effect before that trbu-
nal; and is this very feeling of security which has
permitted the attacks alluded to- thus far to pass u-
noticed II is for the purpose of placing the matter
right before the community, who sometimes Judge
that silence is proof Of acquescence in the truth Of
reiterated assertions, that ask you, Mr. Editor,
to hold back for moment the assailants, until a
friend can say word for the assailed.
In the "American Volunteer" a democratic paper
published at Carlisle, Pa, find letter from WASH
ington, which, amidst world Of complaint against
as the writer says) "keeping wings in Office" con-
tans the following paragraph;
"Another, holding conspicuous place under the
government lit is said, and believe not denied by
his friends took the portrait of the patriot Jack
son from his dwelling, and placed it in ON clubhouse
at the same time declaring that the portrait Of
such man should not disgrace the walls of his
house any longer This same gentleman had nu-
merous petitions and strong recommendations from
the principal leading wings in Congress, addressed
to Henry Clay, believing Clay would be elected
Presidency urging his appointment to the station he
now SO unworthily fills"
Mr.. Washington's name is not mentioned in the
u,,lv IL. Al
only because the former of these charges has here
tofore been made against him. Let me say, in
brief, that there Is not iuord of truth contained in
the ADORE extract, the shadow Of it. Originally
attached to Mr.. Crawford in politics, Mr. Washing
ton, with the great mass of that party came into
the support of Gen. Jackson when Mr.. Crawford
was no longer candidate, and was not only politi-
cally, but personally, on the best terms with him,
during the whole of his administration. He
ceived promotion ficice at his handsome before
this story of "the porrat was originated, in 1929,
and once subsequently,. in 1896; besides having
been strongly recommended by him, after his retire
ment from office, for the post he now ,corthiiy
fills. The charge of the portrait was originally
made in still grosser terms. We have seen what
credit was attached to it by General Jackson and
his friends, in the subsequent promotion Of Mr.
Washington, and in the recommendation to his
present Office by the General-evidence enough, one
would Think to put the Islander rest forever The
charge is false, from first last and has never been
supported by any other authority than malicious
rtimors
Equally unfounded is the assertion that Mr..
Washington had Recommendations from principal
leading wings in Congress, addressed to Mr.. Cay.'
Letters to Mr.. Clay he never had one to him in his
life, from wing democrat l am told that Mr..
Whittlesey the former auditor, bore strong but un-
solicited testimony to the capacity of Mr. Washing
tom but this letter was addressed to- and is be-
fore, the President, along with recommendations
from the most prominent democrats in the country
probably as strong as those in favor of any other
man who has been appointed to Office by this adj
mnistration And this is the sum and substance
of recommendations from whigs"
the reorganization Of the Post Office Department in
1886, Mr.. Washington was transferred from the
chief clerkship of the Office of the Treasurer of the
United States to that of the Auditor of the Post
Office Department, by Gen. Jackson, at the request
of Amos Kendall--than whom, no man better knew
the qualities which make good officer and good
democrat. At the time the wings came into power,
in l64l, it was supposed that he would be removed
He retained for The time being, for the same rea-
son that the chief clerk of the Post Office De-
partmcnt was retained--because the persons AT
the head Of affairs thought they could not
get along without them. Strong efforts were made
to procure the removal Of Mr.. Washington, on the
ground that he was democrat. These efforts might
have been successful but for the irmness of Mr..
Whittlesey, who daily became more and more i'm
pressed with the ability of his chief clerk, and who
would not consent to renquish his services In
the mean time, the reign Of the Harrison cabinet
drew to close, and prescription began to be pro-
scribed." The guilotine ceased its work; and the
few democrats who had been spared, were to be
left undisturbed.
The superior qualifications of Mr. Washington
for the Office he fills were we'll known to the pres
ent administration. Ever watchful of the interests
OF the government, and dischargng his duties to il
with zeal and high ability, he yet possessed the
tire confidence and respect Of tho numerous con-
tractors and agents of the department His per-,
sonal acquaintance with these men was very extern
sive; and this acquaintance, with his rare business
capacity constituted him, in the opinion Of those
whose duty il was to Judge, the most proper person
for The responsible place TO which he appointed
The result has amply justified the confidence re-
posed IN him. AT no former period has the business