The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-11

The PRESIDING OFFICER The question u now
'aostUs n S q ao ssa :9 Win j d.
snsadmsnls, nor am sppnzedof whatihsy us. have
not regarded MEASURE that was favorable 10 the at
Ss my Sssa s fS s os. q
=: s ssss e s Ss e. s S Ess
6}n place, il the auditors and the officers now appointed
By law arc not SUFFICIENT for the adjudication Of me &C.
counts. icaano perceive that any Advantage wili tesu
to the country nom the creation Of TINS Doau' =
necessary 70 render any additional assistance or create
any additional officers for the despatch OF bnsiness
10 The various Offices ready and willing a all .mes
g 1Ss Sy ,s aas % siff enable he dssasnss 70
frsnsact The necessary business. am willing, II Con-
sfess. with The aid 81 the officers Of the several depart
,ss5y for existing evils think il would b throw
ing greater responsibility upon omcers created Tor
this special purpose than they shoai be required to
bear II they created, sir, independent OF the gov
eminent with moderate salary their integrity will De in
perous condition. The remarks which | will make
this occasion can % 2 70 o.. \ n as
appointed with moderate salares the urgency OF claim
ants and the appeals that win be made 10 feelings and
The wants created, and The change Of situation OF the
members Of the board, who will have to transfer their
residence TO this place from remote section Of the
country-and think, sir they could moi leave for the
would b well that they should Be appointed for life,
il possible for two lifetmes. The plan forciby sug.
gested TO me the fable Of the fox and the swallow. If
you 10 appoint officers OF this board for life, they
might after willie accumulate sufficient from the APP
pIisnces 10 enable them 10 live very independently and
become rich BY brides and appliances but il you change
the officers from time to time, and make the period OF
holding the Office Short the consequences will be, that
every gentleman must aggrandize himself as Tar as ne
can This will create exorbilant demands upon the
treasury have some experience, and have made some
observation in relation to the manner Of settling accounts
in this city II the accounting officers not honestif
they not capabe-if the experience for years, and
the revision Of the successive heads Of the departments
are not sufficient restrain them, and they have not
facilities 10 aid themadd to them, but do not
~ ~
Claims have been pending here since to this Senate
know the qualifications and influences upon and be-
yond what is calculated which to be around this
city, where individuals are concerned, connected and OPP
Grating with Indirect influence, only attempted
upon this floor. but upon all the officers Of the govern
could wsG aSev s
for corruption, and perhaps accounts rendered OF suf
fering families and great wrongs inflicted upon them
their high claims OF justice may induce these gentlemen
10 yield to decisions prejudcial to this government.
know that in Texas board of this description
formed The executive officers OF the administration
were at the head OF that board; and well remember
that in six months-although that not difficult
task-Texas was bankrupt The law was repealed
Whyl Because allowances had been made by that board
TINT were utterly destructive not only 10 the interests OF
the country and its treasury, but to the moral condition
Of the country and claims OF every description
sted Throughout the country which were brought there
After the invasion Of this city BY the British. in 1914
atemPoray board was created for the purpose Of set
thing here; and the wrongs manifest and the
Knocked Il in the head the first opportunity il had.
Sir you may depend upon il the evils growing out Of
instution OF this kind win be ruinous, III the safe
guards that have existed during the period this govern
ment has existed are not sufficient, do not hope in
modern times 70 ind out an expedent that will supply
the defects Give them more aid, il necessary increase
your salaries that will engage the highest talents the
highest integrity The highest capacity in the country and
where the responsibilities will be direct without running
through ali the lumber Of Congress Congress- viii have
to revise the acts of these commissioners II will form
chain too long and strong to resist when is wound
around this government The treasury will be open and
accessible only by who influenced by extraneous
circumstances and appliances unwholesome to the char
scter Of this government They say that France has
tors OF accounts; that is, they have board Of accounts
and what is the consequence The French treasury is
always empty Laughter always Begging borrowing and
repudiang and all this is occasIoned by the board Of
accounts Well until we see, failure and Con-
gress cannot get along with the business that necessarily
dsvplvss upon T. e., US adhere e The system which
OF Congress II Congress has to revise the acts OF these
commissioners, what sanction can they give their actsl
and what committee would be appointed that would
20 into strict scrutiny and revision Of their actions in
such manner to detect the frauds that may be prac
Used upon the goyernmenti
would say, II am not myself more delinquent than
othes thai we are all TOO remss in examining claims in
this body and in committees II is taken for granted that
they are all right Sir II we looked into them, might
Honest men have been lingering here for years-for
nine yearswhout being able TO get their
ted owing 70 the laxy and remissness Of auditors and
here all hands claiming division Of their property
with them for aiding them TO urge their claims through
Thus there are honest men waiting here, borne down
and ground down by penuy and want because they
not get the attention OF the government TO their honest
cIaims, while this government is approprating
Thousands and tens OF thousands OF dollars 10 the paw
ment Of the claims OF those who enabled command
the influence OF vgilant attorneys and agents in their
prosecution and all because the authorized agents OF the
government have not energy, Independence and manli
ness enough 10 do justice 10 the claimants.
II You establish this board, you will 6nd that the at
torney OF the board will become the medium for this
immense current OF influence. bese by every species OF
Establishment on the part OF claimants and who ask
power which enables him determine by the mere ex-
preston OF his opinion the fate OF claims for thousands
and tens OF thousands OF dollars Why, sir, he must
poseess unapproachabe purity OF character he must
DC dvested OF the very elements in his nature which
temptation can address itself he must stand in the
majesty oil an integrity far above what has ordinarily
been known to the world among men who have been
placed IN positions subjectng them to be tempted by the
comoined Influences OF power and wealth. And, SIR
wnere VIII you get such men am glad that my re-
marks cannot now apply TO any individual No one has
believe, been suggested TO FIJI these important stations
ana you DO appoint men, and give them these petty
aries are not sufficient the dignity OF such posi-
ton, and 10 enable live in that comfort and luxury
and elegance and refinement which the place. aud The
station, and the surrounding influences will seem to de-
mand and the Congress must take another step, and
augment their salaries 10 the point OF satiating the
most ravenous appetiies, or else you will find your
men immersed in deep corruption, revealing in the spois
Of dishonest administration, and dispensing the treasury
OF the country with liberality which win know no