The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-07-16
[From the Ohio Statesman.
ARSENTEEISM. 4

From the Ohio Statesman.
ABSENTEEISM.
We don't feel disposed to question q
moderate exercise oi the reserved rights
Of personal locomoton by any man or SET
of men; but there is nothing subject 10 fair
complaint in our reminding SO much OF
the country as our paper reaches, OF the
culpable degree of "absenteeism" now
constantly perpretrated by the whig cabl-
net, after, too, the same party had set US
the example Of denunciation when their OK
was gored. We defy utterly, any men to
point to time when the members OF
cabinet or Executive have ever absented
themselves so much for such palpable OBJ.
jects Of political nature.
We are determined to deal Justly
Nearly every member Of the cabinet and
the President have, during the present sea-
son visited some portion Of the land on
the eve Of a State election, or the open.
| ing of a Campaign, and not even scrupled
to interfere publicly with the sectional can
vass. Instance for one Mr.. Webster's
quasi -official action in the "$9 900, 900
Bill'' election in New York and the tour
Of the whole cabinet through the. affected
districts at the ''nick Of time" We can
think Of no exception 10 these remarks but
tho Treasury Chief although he has Wis.
tied his home during his incumbency, we
have no disposition TO attribute any other
purposes to him than those declared by the
Especial Organ" But it is not COM
mon opinion thai the best place for the
greater part OF official time to be spent is
away from the office. We commend the
following remarks on this subject, from the
Washington Uhion:
ABsENTEEIsM.-We see from the west.
ern papers that Mr.. Corwin, who is now
on trip to Ohio-the second. we believe,
since he was placed in the cabinet-is tel
ling very good story on his travels. He
represents trust that Mr.. Meredith
will see the representative-that when he
went into the Treasury Department he
found everything in the utmost confusion;
that the clerks were sick half their time,
&c.. that he (Mr. Corwin) undertook to
prescribe some sanitary regulations for the
benefit of the Treasury Department, by
issuing an order that any clerk who was
sick for given time should have his pay
reduced accordingly; if he was sick be-
yond week, he should be required to die
or resign. Mr.. Corwin adds that this or.
der has had most salutary effect, and
that the clerks in the Treasury Depart
ment are now as healthy as any men TO be
found.
We have heard of this order before, but
we could not believe in its existence
Least of all could we believe that Mr.
Corwin had authorized it. But il seems
from his own statements that he claims the
paternity of it. Now, speaking from menu
ory, we venture to say that Mr.. Corwin
} himself has been absent from his duties,
} on the plea Of sickness, at least one.hal
} the time he has been Secretary of the
Treasury. If we overstate the time. we
} ask the Republic 10 correct us. and to say
whether Mr.. Corwin has followed the rules
F he has prescribed for his clerks, who have
nothing but their salaries to live on-no
Mexican claims, or anything Of that sort
, We ask the Republic also to say whether
; Mr.. Corwin has ever refused TO receive
} his salary during his weeks, nay months
, of sickness. or thought he ought to be re-
quired TO die or resign for not attending to
T his duties. If our memory is not faulty
, at least three-fourths Of the instructions
5 &c., emanating from the Treasury De.
{, partment have been signed by Mr.. Hodge
, and not by Mr.. Corwin.
c While we are on this subject, we may
e mention that we have heard something o
"traveUing cabinets," and Of whig abuse
. of them. Mr.. Corwin is now absent-a
), political canvass having just commenced
2 in Ohio. Mr. Crittenden is absent-a
canvass being in full blast in Kentucky
1 Mr.. Webster has Just returned from the
: Capon Springs in Virginia. Mr.. Fillmore
. Mr.. Hall, and Mr.. Stuart hayesjnst re
: turned from Eastern Virginia. MIR. Fill
r more. Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Crittenden, MIR
. Graham, and Mr.. Hall have but recently
: returned from New York, whittier they hat
: gone on the eve of the $4,000 600 elec
: lion. The cabinet has been flying ant
!, speechfying al all points Of tho compass
. East, West, North and South. to say moth
ing Of Northeast and Southeast, North
west and Southwest. Verify, we dout
/ whether Mr.. Fillmore's cabinet has eve
. met together. We do not speak positive
: ly; but we doubt the fact whether Mr.
Fillmore and his seven whig counsellor
ever met together in one room at the sam
/, time. VIII the Republic enlighten us
Will it condescend to tell when and hov
long such thing was possible! VIII
dare to tell the country what time eac'
member of the cabinet has been in Wash
y I'M gton since he took the oath Of office!-
: We will see.
n SALE OF WIVES IN ENGLAND.-The Eng
i lish papers not unirequenty contain ac
n counts of the disgusting practice which