The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-22

'Your fellow-citizen, b. F. BROWN
ellis excellency ZACHARY TAYLOR,
President Of the United States"
The Senate cannot fail to be struck with the coin
cidence that exists between the reprehensions of
this letter and those contained in the speech Of my
honorable friend. The same premises are assumed,
and the same conclusions drawn; so that, by ana
lying, they would be reduced substantially to the
same elements. will only add as sufficient com
mcntary this letter, that Mr.. b. +. Brown, after
being nominated Il suppose as martyr) for door
keeper Of the House by the Democratic party, at the
commencement of the present session, found il ex-
pedient to leave this city suddenly, and he is now
under several indictments by the grand jury of the
county of Washington, for obtaining, after his re-
moval, a considerable sum of money from the Trea-
sury of the United States by fraud, forgery, and
false pretences. hope he will prove himself inno-
cent otherwise, that he will be brought TO condign
punishment. So much for this item Of Whig per-
secution
Third 4uditor's Ofiee-This was in condition
not less deplorable Mr.. Polk had removed the
best clerks in that ofice-nine in all; appointed
in 1871, one in lSl3 one in 1916, one in 1918,
in 1893, one in 1884, in 1885, one in 1887, one
in ls46. and one in lS4S; the appointees of Madi-
son, Jackson, Van Buren, and himself Some Of
these were invaluable servants of the Government,
particularly the old clerks, and the consequence
to throw the business of the Third Auditors
Office into the utmost confusion and this appears
from letter from Peter Hagner late Third Audi
tor dated April lS49 to the Secretary of the Trea
sury, in which, after observing that the business Of
the office was enormously in arrears, he adds
that
"Many of the quartermasters' accounts are ex-
ceedingly volumnous, embracing quarter yearly
accounts, rendered since 1876, involving vast
amount of money. The accumulation in that
branch has in part arisen from the increase in the
number of disbursing officers made necessary by
the Mexican war, and greatly by the removal from
Office of several of the old and most efficient clerks,
and appointment of others without experience, re-
quiring instruction and time to make their services
useful-instruction only to be obtained through the
remaining experienced clerks. In the engineer
and typographical engineer branches, there has
been but little if any increase OF disbursements
since 1886. The accumulation in that branch,
think may be mainly imputed to the removal of
most intelligent, efficient clerk who Heretofore
had these accounts solely and exclusively for
many years committed to his adjustment, and who
uniformly kept them up-his successor, promoted
to fill his place. being not at all familiar with this,
his new duty. After time it was found that the
usual prompt adjustment of these accounts had
ceased; it was therefore deemed necessary in order
to prevent further accumulation, to assign two
other newly appointed clerks to his assistance.
The result has not been such was hoped for
there remaining great increase Of unsettled ac-
counts in those branches, many of them embracing
quarterly disbursements from 1876 to the fourth
quarter of l648. There is remedy which pre-
sents itself to my mind, othor than again obtaining
the services, far as practicable, OF the old expe
ricnced clerks, and the employment of five or six
capable industrious accountants in addition to the
number authorized by law"
Mr.. DODGE, Of Iowa. Who removed Peter Hag-
nerl
Mr.. SMITH. Oldage fourscore years probably
fourscore years and ten.
lam now prepared to submit an extract from the
honorable Senator's speech. He says that
Ii is worthy Of notice. that while officers
moved who are invaluable to the public, some Of
the departments here are calling upon Congress for
additional force. Ibeg leave to suggest, MIR. Presi
dent that il might be wise economy 10 restore the
former efficient public servants"
That is exactly what President Taylor has done.
He has restored " the former efficient public SER
wants; !" and yet additional force is necessary
TO overcome arrearages occasioned by the miscon-
duct of the last administration.
So much for the Departments in this city and
fearlessy submit the question TO the Senate and the
country, whether, far as they are concerned the
President and the cabinet have done more than
their duty. Many, perhaps, most, of their political
friends, will believe they have not done even that.
Diplomatic sevies.--At the time the paper
made out which / hold in my hand, February
last) there had been recalled from the 4th OF
March, lS49, without request, three full ministers,
and four charges, receiving salaries 10 the amount
Of sac, 500; and recalled by request, three full
ministers and four charges, receiving salaries 10
the amount Of Sl9 900; and there remained abroad
appointees of the last administration, two full min
isters FIVE charges, and the commissioners at Can
ton and the Sandwich Islands. The appointees Of
the present Administration (including ministers.
charges and secretaries of legation) were at that
period receiving salaries 10 the amount of lO3 900,
and the appOlnteeH OF the idst OS,vDO. mOrt tDdn
ono third Of the diplomatic appointments have
manned, during the first year Of President Taylor's
administration, in the hands OF the Democratic
party, and this must be regarded as liberal, in
view OF the fact that not a single Whig, during the
latter part Of Mr.. Folks administration, was per
mtted to hold situation in this branch Of the pub
lie service. The late Henry Wheaton was, ] be-
leve, the last of this class. He recalled from
Berlin, for ne other than political reasons. more
competent or accomplished man never graced our
diplomacy abroad. IL must also be regarded ns
moderate, in view Of the further fact that the last
Congress made provision (as already stately in the
form Of outfits for the return OF the whole corps.
perhaps should refer, additional evidence Of a
kindly disposition Of the President towards the De-
mocrscy, TO the fact OF his permitting Mr.. Hsnne-
gan TO go abroad, when he ootained nomination
to the Senate, and confirmation by this body, un-
der novel, If not extraordinary circumstances. ]
am sensible that both Mr.. Hannegan and Mr..
Eames have recently returned from their respective
missions, and perhaps some other changes are con-
tempated but have seen nothing like purpose
the part OF the Executive TO appropriate all these
appointments, in conformity with the practice and
course OF his predecessor.
Consular servics.-The whole number Of consuls
appointed by President Taylor is forty three [; Of
thesc TO FIJI vacancies, designations, and deaths,
fourteen; new consulatcs, two; held by foreign
subjects, two and vacancies on recall, twenty
four-all receiving compensation OF S54,bOO.
The consuls appointed by his predecessors, and re-
naming undisturbed, receive a compensation Of
SSO, ,O00-balance against the present Administra-
ton, S23 400. There is little persecution here
Naval supice.-Soon after the present Secretary
Of the Navy inducted into office, he discovered
that the affairs Of the Department were in some
disorder-that there were arrearages in the nature
Of defalcations standing the books Of the Fourth
Auditor, 10 the enormous amount Of S652,S44 IL.
This was due from navy agents, navy pension
agents, and pursers, and he Immediately directed
his attention 10 the collection Of these claims and
by good management and great perseverance he
has succeeded in recovering, in all, SlO9,9l5 81,
which has been paid into the treasury. The resi-
due remains unpaid; most OF il will probably bo
wholly lost to the Government. These defaicatons
include the celebrated DENLY case--the amount
due from that parsonage being Sl45,sl9 03, all
gone-the independent Treasury act TO the con-
trary Notwithstanding. There are several other
cases Of aggravated default by navy agents; but as
the particulars before the public, Is not
sary to dwell upon them. In consequence, the
honorable Secretary deemed IL TO be not expedient
to make pretty extensive changes in the corps Of
navy agents and pension agents. He has caused
10 be appointed on expiration Of the terms Of pre-
decessors, four; on removal, two, and both defaul
ters; on resignation, ono; and has discontinued
two agencies as useless TO the public. One Demo
crat holds over, and another George LoyalD has
bccn re- aDpointed. IA great rnistakefl Every