The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-30
CORRUPT INTERFERENCE IN ELEC-
TONS.
Mr.. Ewing and MIR. Tyler.

mrs EWING ana hr. Tyler.
AT the time of the election of General
TAYLOR, out of some eighty clerks in the
General Land Office, there were not more
than ten or fifteen Vines. 1t was not
that there had been any prescription for
opinions sake, but because a Wing was
not permitted to hold office under the late
Administration, except in cases where his
services were indispensable. But, after
the result of the Presidential election be-
came known, things began to assume
better aspect Several Wings were ap
pointed to hard duties and small salaries.
and on the 9th of July instant the clerks
in the General Land Office were so pro-
portioned that the removal of nineteen
Locofocos and the appointment of nineteen
Wings left the numbers nearly equal.
Now, during the canvass of ls4S, there
were from sixty to seventy Locofoco clerks
in that office; and however it NAV have
been at their desks, in the election, at least.
they were not idle. Those of them thai
did not go abroad and engage actively in
the campaign, furnished the sinews of war.
The election n Pennsylvania was supposed
to be the one which would decide the
contest. 1t was important to carry that.
and, in order to do it, voluntary contrbu-
tons were raised by the Locofoco clerks,
and forced contributions were levied on
the few Wings in the office to furnish the
means by which men could be transported
from the District Of Columbia TO pote IN
Pennsylvania. To this fund the nineteen
clerks removed on Saturday contributed,
every man of them, without exception.
We have the names, with the sum paid
by each, but do not think worth while to
give them. Suffice il that we know. ON
the most undoubted evidence, that every
man among them contributed money to
perpetrate this deliberate, monstrous fraud
on the elective franchise; and these are the
men for whom the Union claims impunitv,
because they did not interfere in the cleo
ton.
But this is not the only reason for the
removal of these men. The Union is their
organ, their mouth-piece, the exponent of
their opinions and feelings. It's frenzied
passion, its base falsehoods and scurrility.
are theirs How could an administration
live that would retain in confidential places
men actuated by such deep malice towards
1T, and so little scrupulous as to the means
of wrealSing their vengeancel General
TAYLOR never pledged himself to retain
such men in Office, and he cannot do il
and yet administer the Government safely
and successfully.
But the Union denies the power of the
Secretary OF the Interior to make removals
in the General Land Office, and advises
ITS partlsans and clients there to disregard
his letter Of dismissal, and hold on to their
Offices. The reason we do not pretend to
understand; but we suppose IT is by sort
of divine right of Locofocoism. The lar
is clear enough as TO the power. The act
OF 1912 creating the General Land Office,
provides that there shall be established "in
the Department of the Treasury an office to
be denominated the General Land Office
So that the General Land Office is not a
Department, but a mere "office" or bu-
reau in the Treasury Department; and ON
It's reorganization, in 1886, it remained
subject TO the control and supervision of
The Secretary of the Treasury, as decided
BY Mr.. Attorney General BUTLER after.
he passage of that act.