Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-02-24


there was any disposition to practical legis-
ton on this subject, the question might be
readily adjusted, greatly to the advantage of
the new territories and to the peace and
quiet OF the country. But both sections, or
rather those who assume and are permitted
to represent them, incline to extreme views,
and willie they prevail, all attempts at set
Element are useless. VII m
No bill, either tor state or territorial gov
eminent, can be carried through the House,
without the anti-slavery restriction, and yet
If the former of the two modes was adopted
the appication of the ordinance might be
repealets as soon as the legislature of the
State coesened, The principle was settled
by e celebrated decision of the Supreme
Court, that slavery is condition created by
the municipal law, and all the ordinances in
Christendom could neither impose or abolish
it, without the consent of the people of the
State. There is no reasonable prospect that
any measure for the government of these
territories will pass at the present session,
because there is no disposition, OH either
side, TO meet the question fairly and bravely.
The military authority by which California
is now governed is contemplate farce in
all its phases, and has been adopted by the
Administration as means of stocking the
country with political pensioners. Mail
agents, surveyors, engineers, revenue Off
GERS, and other functionaries, have been dis
patched to that distant quarter, without the
color of law, and the Coast Survey affords
the only tangible plea for an enormous aud
understandable system of expenditure. If
the Select Committee which has this subject
IN charge can present IA bill that will over
come the objections that are ready TO be
sprung upon it, they will deserve the honor
and gratitude of the whole country.
The Postage bill was taken up in the
Senate, and Mr.. Allen consumed the day in
n violent speech against the foreign mail
service. Divested of the effort at popular
effect, there was much good sense and some
strong points, in his presentation of facts.
We are now paying nearly million and
a half year, and for whats The returns
at the post Office department furnish no sat
isiactory answer. Contracts under this ar
rangement have been hawked about through
the money markets and made matters of
private speculation, instead of promoting
commercial facilities or benefitting the pub
lie. Ii is time that these monopoles, which,
by some fortunate concurrence of events,
have always fallen into the hands of few
favored individuals, should be curtaied.-
v
which the Treasury is bu inditierently able
TO bear.
Men, who will not vote dollar for inter
NH improvements, who CRU lgIngly dole out
appropriations for the intern II mail service,
and who levy unequal taxes upon newspa-
per circulation, are prompt and forward in
granting mill ions to fill the pockets of par
tisans and iayorites. No promise made by
the projectors of these schemes has been
fulfilled, and Il was demonstrated IN a recent
debate, that heavy broadside from one of
these steamers-whch according TO the con-
tract, were to be converted into vessels of
war--would be more fatal to the ship than
the enemy The experiment has proved
costly failure, and ought to be abandoned or
conducted with some regard to the public
interests.
Afterwards the Army appropriation was
taken up, and Mr.. Rockwell, of Conn, en-
fghtened the chamber with scrutinizing
examination Of Secretary Walkers report,
from which he proved, according to the Off
cial statements, that the Treasury would be
without means at the end of the present ifs
cal year--1st of July next. He also re-
viewed the transaction in New York, by
which Mr.. Walker had illegally drawn
$500, 900 from The public vaults, under the
pretence of reCheming Treasury notes, at a
time when the Government was compelled
to borrow for its actual subsistence, and
when the loan hist negotiated had not been
paid in.
Mr.. Rockwell has rendered an important
service in calling attention to this fragrant
violation of the Sub Treasury laws, and he
ought to prosecute the investigation to the
fullest extent, by demanding Committee,
with authority b send for persons and pa
pers. If half the suspicious were we'll
founded, there has been gross corruption in
the administration Of the Treasury, EXTENT
ing to stock -Iobping operations and other
transactions of doubtful integrity, which
would Justify impeachment and be followed
with all its penalties. Gross partiaity has
been exhibited il the management of the
public loans, and il is well known here, that
others than the contractors have pfofi;cd by
the manner in which the Treasury Depart
ment has been made subserylent to the pur-
pose Of spectators.
1t is understood in the Locofoco circles
that the demands upon the Treasury have
been postponed and arranged so as TO carry
the present Administration through lis term,
and TO throw an immense burtben upon rs
successor, with a view of rendering an extra
session matter Of necessity. Whether this
be true or not, can only he ascertained by
full and prompt inquiry, which should be
undertaken without regard to the sensibili-
ties of those IN power Whenever this
branch OF the public service can be strictly
probed and examined, as it will be sooner or
later, | venture to predict that the deve lop-
ments growing out Of such an investigation,
will aflix a deep and danning stain upon the
character aud honesty Of this corrupt dy-
nasty.
Facts are ia my possession, sufficient in
themselves to convict some Of those high in
office Of criminal offences, and il their
friends are prepared to court scrutiny before
the 9TH Of March, let them Indicate ,such q
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