The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-11
Mr., walker, the Secretary of the Treasury.

The honor of Executive office scarcely compensaes
its We regard the presidency itself as post which
no wise man would desire to obtain. In the hands OF
conscientious man it is full of labor anxeties, and re-
sponsbility The members of his cabinet share with
him his tolls and his cares and these increased. per-
haps doubled in period of war The Secretary Of the
Treasury has probably trouble than any of them;
and his direction OF the treasures OF the government make
him an object of jealousy and suspicion We are
scarcely astonshed therefore, in these fiery party times,
when the opposition is desperate in their ends and
OF them reckless in their MEANS that the shaft of malice
has been aimed at Mr. Walker, without cause, without
Justice; for no Secretary has ever given of his
time, and his anxiety, and his talents to the public
vice. and none could have been more careful to do his
duty without spot or tarnsh upon his escutcheon We
have heard of anecdotes about him which prove him to
be sngulary chary and cautousnot only to be chase,
but above suspicion Still Robert j. Walker is SANDER
ed by men who do not know him, but whose vocation is
iabricae the most charges against their OPP
ponens
The following article, from the 'sNew Orleans South
cner,' pays such Just and beautiful tribute TO Mr.
Walker that we cannot withhold it from readers. 1t
is the best reply all the ISLANDERS which have been cir
culaed against him.
From the n O. Southener.
The SECRETARY OF THE TREAsuRY.--We have seen
nothing in the history of the party contests that distract
our country, entirely unprovoked or uniustiable
the attacks the Secretary of the Treasury within the
last lew days. There seems to be morbid disposition
,oqueston the integrity of public No previous
eTnon no crcumspecton, no morality, however uniform
or scrupulous operates barrier against this fatal ten
aeney to sands! and it is almost enough to disgust one
with the public service Not satisfied with struggle
ioT Office, with of systems and principles, the
scavenger of party seize the ghtest petext assa pr
yae character, to hold up highest officers dshon-
est and corrupt and thus to dsparage our institutions
throughout the civilized world They neither good
men nor good citizens who pursue this course. They in
nct deep wounds virtuous minds, and subserve the
views only OF those who at the idea OF merit I'M
connected with fortune and pedigree. We boast justly
o. our country and of the door that throws open to in
aaua EFFORT; but there is no country in the world where
pubic men meet with so poor a reward They sacri-
nee domestic case, the comforts OF retirement, and the
ohts OF professional pursuits they turn their backs
,ne nch fruits that almost invariably indemnify attention
70 any branch OF business and pass long years toll
some office, and the strife of the Senate, 10 reapwha
NM pension for life; not decorations ORDERS not
pncey fortune or permanent station, but oboquy and
uSpclon, abuse, modification. defeat broken Spirits and
hopeless poverty, along with the infrmihes of age.
A Athenan orator once proposed that, instead OF nine
MAGISTRATES they should annually elect nine ambassadors,
posen from the poorest citizens who might be sent 10
rerSla and return rich This the corruption
y 'nat day has no application under government;
hn we wSre called on to feer man with perpetual
ohdage, and initiate him into career OF debt and
assneni, we would give him the thirst for Office, and
ne curse Of popularity. Many of our most eminent
men' from Hancock, Jefferson, Hamilton Morris, Nun
, Jackson, and Harrison, down, have gone into Office
ea and retired from poor This melancholy fact,
oul certainly is high ealogy their personal integrity
Ta dlslnierestcdness The present Secretary of the
eury will constitute exception to the rule. When
le hs commenced political life, he possessed splendid
uiune accumulated by well-directed energies and in
sIents, and by practice at the har of almost unpre
ueh'ed extent and value He had passion for office,
having never sought, but often declined political prefer
%ent His ambition for professional distinction ex-
uslVey, and he sought II with the enthusiasm and per-
myeance that strongly mark his character Private
e mad for him thousand charms and he posse ssed in
az eminent degree the moral and mental attributes that
%lon and dignity it. He literally dragged into the
political arena, in emergency, when his talents and
weight of character indispensable to the democrat
he Hon. George Poindexer, statesman of great ex
penence, Of the most commanding ability, and long
popular IDOL had thought fit TO abandon the adminstra-
uoa OF Gen Jackson, and after assalng it with vgor
The Senate, had returned home TO vndicate his course