The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-22
Wings only nine, with balance of compensation

-
In the bureaus now constituting the Department
of the Interior including the Office Of the Commits
sioner of the Public Buildings. the balance the
other way on the 4th Of March, is45. The whole
number Of employees in those bureaus at that time
was one hundred and thirty -one, Of whom seventy
one were Democrats and sixty Wings; the former
receiving compensation Of Ss3 ,637, and the lat
ter of $74 300 Majority OF Democrats eleven, and
balance Of compensation in their favor $3.50.
In the General Post Office the state Of the
was on the 4th of March, l845, much more in favor
Of the Democratic party. There were then, as now,
forty nine employees in that Department, OF whom
| thirty five were Democrats, and only fourteen
Wings; the former receiving a compensation Of
$65,s0O. and the latter of $4,000. Majority Of
Democrats Gas now) thirty five. and balance OF
compensation in their favor 100000.
So that il appears that under President Taylor's
administration the General Post Office has only
been put back to where it was on the 4th of March,
l845!
The State Department is known to have been, on
the 4th of March, lS45 largely Democratic, as Mr.
Buchanan removed only two Wing clerks, and yet
left his Department almost wholly in the hands Of
his political friends.
The Navy and War Departments at that date
were believed to have been about in equipoise; 30
that the preponderance in all the Departments was
decidedly in favor of the Democratic party. There
was not the slightest excuse for Mr.. Polk and his
| cabinet resuming the proscriptive system. But
they did resume it, and prosecuted it with unex-
ampled rgor; and the spirit with which they were
actuated will appear from the following letter from
the late honorable Secretary OF the Treasury:
mot oficiall
"MAY 4, 1886.
"DEAR SIR: On Saturday last directed your ap-
pointment to be made out. Since that period it
has been made known to me that you are and al
ways have been, Whig. This was very unex
pected intelligence to me. You never did repre-
sent yourself to me Democrat, but took it for
granted that such the fact 1t is impossible or
me to make the removal contemplated for the pur-
pose of appointing Wing. have felt constrained,
therefore, to revoke the order for your appoint
ment. regret this occurrence very much. Our
short acquaintance had made strong impression
on my mind in your favor; and still believe that
personally, you entitled to my respect and es-
TEEN; but, under the circumstances, cannot make
| the removal and appointment as intended.
III take pleasure In saying that your department.
throughout has boon correct and honorable.
yours very 's'pss'f1'.5y' SR' ). WALKER.
GAMES L. CHILpREss, esq"
BY removing heads of bureaus and clerks, al
ready stated, and by uniformly filling vacancies
created by deaths and resignations with their own
friends, Mr.. Polk and his cabinet threw the Depart
ments substantially into the hands of the Demo
cratic party, leaving only few Whigs-such men
as Peter Hagner and Stephen Peasanton-whose
services, by reason of great experience and long
tried integrity. were indispensable to the Govern
ment.
This course would perhaps be of little import
ance, had not the public interests been compro-
from the state of things which President Taylor
found existing in the Second and Third Auditors
offices on his accession to power.
Second auditors Ofce.-It appears from letter
from Mr.. Clayton, the present auditor, TO the hon.
orable Secretary of the Treasury, dated April IS,
lS49, Ia copy of which hold in my hand,) that he
found, being appointed, that there were no less
than thirteen thousand four hundred and twenty
one items, matters Of business pending in that
office that remained unattended to unfinished
He remarks as follows:
"With regard to the causes Of the condition Of
the office, have only to report from the short time
have been in office, the entire want of system,
and the great want Of capability well as willing
meas the part of some of the clerks, apparent
reasons for the state Of things that have found
II is true that the business has increased during
| the Mexican war; but believe, with proper mate
rials and new organization in the system, or, in
| other words, giving system to that that knew no
system, great alteration can be made for the bet
| ter"
1t appears from House Doc, lst sess., Both Cong.
Reps. of CONS, No. sos, p. 8, that General Mccall
la, the predecessor of Mr.. Clayton in letter ad-
dressed TO the Hon. John A. Rockwell, Chairman
of the Committee Of Claims, called for the appoint
ment Of twenty -four additional clerks, 10 enable
him 10 bring up the arrearage Of business in his
office. IL appears, aso from the act of the 18th Of
August ls4S, (civil and diplomatic bi,) that Con-
gress granted thirteen additional clerks for the pc
nod OF twelve months, in conformity with the
views of General McCalla. And l now produce
here letter from the Second Auditor 10 the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury, dated 3lst OF December last,
| in which that officer observes that
"The business Of this bureau has been so far in
that il has required all the time and energy
of every clerk employed to bring il up, and they
have necessarily been usefully employed.
''In addition, have the honor 10 report that,
from and after the lst Of july $780, the services OF
the thirteen additional clerks allowed by act Of Con-
4 gress entitled AN act making appropriation for
/ the civil and diplomatic expenses Of Government
| for the year ending the Both day Of June, l649,
| a.~d and continued in the act
making appropriation for the civil and diplomatic
| expenses OF Government for the year ending the
3Oih day Of June. $780, passed Sd March, ls4s will
not be required in this Office"
| So much for reform under the auspices OF u. Tay
| lor.
| And here would seem 10 be the proper place 10
| introduce the case of Mr.. b. r. Brown, who was a
clerk in the Second Auditors Office, and dismissed
for neglect Of duty and brawlng at the late Presi-
dental election. Soon after, he addressed 10 the
President, through the public prints, the following
insolent letter:
"WAsHIseroS, June 4, lS49.
"sR: On the first day of this month received a
letter from your Secretary Of the Treasury, notify
ing me of my removal from Office. Having dis
tinctly declared in your inaugural address, with
the oath Of Office fresh upon your lips, that you
should make honesty, capacity, and fidelity, the
requisites for appointment TO Office, and the want
| Of them the soe cause for removal; and II being
repeatedly stated by your principal organ in this
1t would be presumed in the transactions OF honor
able men, that have been removed for dishonesty,
incapacty, and unfaithfulncss in the discharge OF
my official duties. II is due To myself. and TO those
| who procured my appointment TO office, that dis
prove such charges ! was appointed upon the
Recommendation, among others, OF General Thomas
l.. Hamer, who fought by your side at Monterey,
and sacrificed his lite in the which made you
President. II is due 10 his memory that those foul
and uemous imputations upon my character be
| rcpecd. Upon receiving notice OF my removal,
addressed the following letter TO your Secretary;
"swAMIsoros, June I, ls49.
'SIR have this day received from you dis
missa from Office respectfully request OF you a
copy Of the charges against my honesty, capacity
and fidelity, In the discharge Of my official duties,
II any exist.
avery respectfully, B. T. BROWN.
1 Colon. WILLIAM MEREDITH,
Secretary of the Treasury.
"To this letter have received no reply, for the
reason that there are no such charges. ] was re.
moved for my political opinions alone. Were this
given az the reason for my removal, should sub
init cheerfully, proud that am considered worthy
to be sacrificed for my political principles. But
you have neither the disposition the honesty ia
Al e ID LII.