Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-11-28


or contempt. -ssz-af
Next in magnitude to this question OF slavery
among the causes of embarrassment which sur
rounded the Administration Of Gen. Taylor, wa
one to which have slresdy briefly advertcd, a
rising out of appointments to Office. lie wa
charged by the opposition press with proscrip
ton Of his opponents; and many Of the disap
pointed Office seekers Of his own party, of cou.s
joined in the clamor against hin. 1t Will b,
found, upon an examination of the facts, tia
during the whole period of his Administration
he did not remove sufficient uuu.ber to Civ,
bis friends an equal share of the offices of tn,
government and as to the propriety of the no
limitations TO Office made by him, one single fac
is sufficient to put at rest forever the ISLANDERS
his enemies. Although he necessarily made
more nominations to the Senate than any orhel
President of the United States ever did in ar
equal period Of time, yet fewer were rejected
by that body than on any former occasion aftel
a political revolution. .(Applause.) -
When Gen. Jackson came into Office, ia 1879
he was sustained by large party majority in
the Senate. Twenty years after, when Gen.
Taylor came into power, there was large ma
jority in the Senate opposed to him. Yet more
appointments we're rejected by that body in IT,
30 80 than in that of 1880 1t IS a very
proper partlality. Few are willing 10 admit that
their own peculiar merits do not entitle them to
preference; and the accusation of injustice is
too often a tribute due from an uncuccessiul ap
plicant, to his own wounded vanity.
Another difficulty which presented itself at
the outset OF General Taylors administration,
consisted in the number of private claims against
the government, which ought to have been de-
cided by the preceding administration. but were
left as so many egacles of trouble to their pre-
decessors. The decisions made under the ap-
propriate heads OF departments upon these
claims, whether for or against the claimants,
were of course seized upon as subjects of COM
plant. decided in favor of one OF these claims,
after fully investigating all the facts myself, and
after takiGg the precautIon 10 ascertain the opin
ion of the Attorney General on the subject,
which concurred with my own. Blcked also by
the opinion OF the former Secretary of the Trea-
sury, Mr.. Walker and the Hon. Joseph r. In
gersoll, formerly Cha r,nan ofihe Judiciary Com
mlttee in the House. as well as Of several Com
mittees of both Honses, and following long
list of precedents in reference to the subject,
decided in favor of the claimants COR a part OF
their demands and rejected the other part.
The columns of the party press were forthwith
opened against The Clam, which was as papa-
as any claim that ever existed. This was the
De la Francia claim. was assaiied with still
greater ferocitw for disailo,cing the tobacco
claim of NJ. Porte. 1t soon became apparent
that no decision could possibly be made by any
head Of Department, whether for or against the
government, which would not become the topic
of malignant censure. One of these old claims,
which had been referred to previous Secretary
OF the Treasury, came before Mr.. Meredith. He
referred it to the proper law officer of The gov
eminent. the Attorney General, who, after full
review of the whole subject, decided the ques
lion in favor of the claimant.
The Justice of lis decision would never have
been impeachcd but tor the unfortunate, fact as
1t turned out after the money had been paid, thai
The Secretary of War, Mr.. Crawford, of Geor-
gia, was interested in 1t; circumstance which
was entirely unknown TO any other member of
the Cabiner al the tine Of the decision. did
not know that there was such claim in exist
ence until many weeks after the money had
been paid. | suppose the motive which induced
The Secretary OF War to conceal his interest in
The ciaIn was one of delicacy, but have per
iect conviction, without entertaining doubt of
the Justice OF the demand, that had the fact of
his personal interest been know or mentioned
at any CaoIne; met ting, before the payment OF
have been made while Mr. Crawford remained
member OF tie nnis ration. (Aupause.)
His conduct. IN offering, as he did, to Congress
20 abide the judgmen; of the Supreme Codrt OF
The United States upon the legality OF the claim
Ito waive every advantage of defence except
that arising out of the law itself, and 10 return
The oney in The event of a decision against
HIM by tie Court, should have exempted him
from that abuse which has been so proiuseiy and
unjnstly layished upon him.
Indeed, my fellow citizens, so constantly was
my attention occupied with the proper duties OF
my own department, that very little time was
left me to ok after those o. others. But |
must in Justice add, that SO far as my observl-
ton extended, the business ut every other de-
partment, during the administration Of General
Taylor was conducted, Notwithstanding the I'M
exampled ennbNras >ments which surrounded him
and them, 18th degree OF energy, and industry,
and integrity, which has never been surpassed.
This tribute Is Justly due from ne TO my asso-
cates In that Cabinet, whose kindness and cour-
tesy to me, on all occasions, merlted my warm
est Acknowledgements
There has never existed an administration in
this Government in which there was grea'er har-
lnony and concer, of action. In the gentlemen
who composed it the President entertained IN
bounded confidence, and they retained that
fdence to the last moment of his lite. False
hood aud calumny, directed against them, as it
was, from SO many quarters, failed to make any
impression on his mind and he adhered to them
with tenacity which was increased by per-
feet knowledge of the injustice with which they
were assailed. Coinciding in sentiment with
him on all important subjects, his wish was their
law; and when he heard so often the pitifu as
PERSON that his Cabinet ruled him, knowing as
he did, how faithfully they carried out his own
will, while they were often made to bear the
whole responsibility of his decisions and actions,
he scorned the attempts to ALLEVIATE him from
those whom he aad selected as his advisers.
II would be difficult for any man to know,
standing outside OF that Cabinet, the extent OF
the injustice done to It's respective members by
the device, which was as cunnIngly conceived
as it ives industriousy propagated, that the APP
puintnients and even the actions of he execu-
tive government, were dictated by the Cabinet,
and mol by the President himself. | have re-
peltedly known Cabinet minister abused for
months by the whole opposition press OF The
country, on account of an app ,intment which he
had meyer suggestedor recommended, but which
had been ordered by the President alone. The
unsuccessful apple INT for Office often found a
balm for his wounded feelings in the belief,
which he chose fondIy to cherish, that he was
the victim OF some Secretary, though he was a
favor,te of the President T.iuse ard similar