The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-30

honor, tnht tue ieoerai government wrongs Auu
cheats its own citizens; which reproach is attriba-
table to the neglect and Incidence. and want OF
business ha bits. and pa city, and absence of
sceDtiousn esq, sense of moral obligation as to
the funment Of their public duties, on the part of
ubsrs of Cong ress and other public funcionares
in this city. When / say this, do not mean to
apply it to those in office, more than to their
predecessors for years past except that the causes
Of compl Amt have continually grown IN magnitude,
and increased in number.
The very fact that claims could originate and swell
up to the number and amount stated, is convincing
preof Of the existence Of radical defects In the
organization Of the departments to which have been
delegated the administration OF the government,
Of the malconduct, blunders, remissness, or
ncapacity % the officers who conduct those depart
ments Il may be safely asserted that eight out Of
ten Of tho just claims have originated in the
neglect or blunders, or ineficicncy of public Of
fcers. The difficulties can often be traced to the
non-exercise by them of powers that they ought to
have exercised; or to the nonperformance of duties
that they should have performed Sometimes they
not conferred by law though all this is immaterial
in most cases. for whether the Is Of nstten
ton, ne glect or lapse Of duty from any cause,
imperfect fulflment of duty or of laundering, orig
norance on the part Of an officer here, or q case Of
an unwarrsntsble usurpaton Of power, the citizen
has to bear the responsibility, and to sustain the
loss. The ready excuse for public functiouary, if
located in this latitude, to his Official acts If in
derogation Of the claim Of citizen, viz: ''hs re-
gard for the public interests entrusted to him." is
always at hand for his protection and the c,prr d1
corps influences to give him immunity ct the ex-
pense Of all others The departmental itgs No"
soipto, which, like the British constitution,
can be construed to allow or to prohibit any
thing prompted by the whm or caprice, or pre-
JUDGE, or malice or partially or favor, personal
or political, OF the men appointed to do Justice be-
tween the government and those who have transac
tions with it-and which rules are as plastic as
gutta percha in their hands-are effective weapons
wherewith to repel claimant, however equitable
his demand, when all others fail.
Were the public departments and bureaus, and
subdivsional arrangements, less imperfectly orya-
nized, and were the public officers more intelii-
gent and impartial, and more faithful, diligent,
and effective in the discharge Of their duties, but
very few of these claim, could ever have arisen.
The legislation Of Congress should, therefore, be
directed to the reorganization and reform Of the
mode and manner Of conducting the public bust
ness and to securing 6deity, and strict attention
to their duties by public officers. kemissness OF
official duty is the disease to be cured This Is the
evil which must be eradicated-ths Is the cancer
to which the caustic must be applied Proper legij
lation on this subject ia the only preventive Of
these claims being hereafter made. II public
affairs are rightly conducted, there is no necessity
there cannot be any necessity-for these claims
arising, except in very rare and extraordinary
emergencies, and they can be promptly adjusted
| and satisfied.
influence, generally meets in the prosecution of his
demand against the United States, however just it
| may be-ths delays and expenses he Is obliged to
submit to-the certainty OF his claim being i'm
! peached as fraudulent, by some one VIII, 10 ambi
tous ofobtaining character for scrupulous integ-
rity, at the expense Of others, more than by any
merit Of his own-the probability that his reputa-
ton will DO assailed-are causes for the preferring
Of demands for extravagant and unrss sonable
| amounts and, in fact, for the attempted commits
sion OF some Of the frauds sought to be psrpe-
trated, by urging spurious claims Retaliation
upon the government is provoked, by the system at
present practised In this city. Upon the principle
that il is lcss ~rong to cheat rogue than an ho-
nest man, fsuds upon the United states are, BY
many. pallisted, and, BY some, justified. The pre-
sent system of things has the effect, too, Of oom-
pelling the government to pay larger prices,
for all that it purchases; for the risk Of dis
pute with officers, and OF becoming another Of the
to month, seeking settlement and payment Of
claims causes all who are prudent, to exact cor
responding price or compensation. The public
credit is now lower than that Of merchants ia good
repuie in any Of our commercial cities, except With
those who seek transactions with 1t, with the fixed in
TENT take Of themselves from the outset ppas
rsfas But the most serious effect Of the present
state Of things is the moral effect it has upon the
citizen. His respect for, his attachment to- and his
confidence in the government u weakened, and ulti-
nately destroyed. His patriotism becomes eItin-
guished II be does not regard the government as
an engine Of oppression, or Ms an instrument Of in-
ustice and wrong, he learns to despise its imbeci-
lily and incficiency which cannot establish right,
and do right In vain may you talk TO citizen,
who is writing under sense Of fragrant injustice,
Of our :" free and happy institutions" Of our glo
rious Union" and the like; he will tell you 1t Is al
a mockery, and that the whole establishment Is for
the benefit Of political asprants, and Official drones
ID otice, and demagogues who want to get IN. The
CALLING sense Of wrong be endures stifes his Aztec
ton for the government, and win, If anything ,an,
make him factonist have some means Of know
Ing, and do not hesitate to express the conviction,
that very great degree Of the disafeotion to the
federal government and even to the UAon-nay,
the hatred Of both, that is manifested in some ex
treme sections Of the country-is attributable TO the
present system Of things, founded, IL would seem,
upon the errone ous Hypothesis that the fun ctona
RES IN Office are the government Of the United
States, instead Of being tho servants Of the govern
ment. All reform must commence by the eradca-
ton OF this error.
Parado1icI a. IL may seem. under the presen.
order Of things, fraudulent claim, ald especially
II for large amount and somewhat ancient, aud
10 can be made 70 appear at oil plausible, stands
better chance Of being favorsbly considered aud
decided, than many honest claims for small amounts
large claim will admit Of division and sub-divi-
sion into shares amongst seyeral persons Specua-
tors can be got - be,ome interested in IL. Dex-
trous, busy, and influential men, generally politi
cians can be secured, usually a. secret. thossh by
no mesus dormant, or silent psrtoers. Large fees
can be distributed TO judiciouLy selected sgents
and attorneys, and powerful combinations created,
especially IL consaoguinitcs, aud afinities, and
associations looked TO, all increasing the chances
Of securing It's allowance, by mesns direct and ind
rect As in thu world q great deal Of " kissing
goes by favor, the we and prudent choice OF
agents IL the priaeipai matter. In claim for a
large amount, extraordinary care be well
afforded as to the preparation Of the papers. All
vouchers and proofs be prepared In the stretest
fsrm-secu,pfcTu orfev-sdornod with the due nun
Der o. certif aztec, and seals and, foreign decu.
mont. with all s1rts Of imposing suthebtiostions,
attestatioDs, coats Of arms, stamps, c)uniersgna-
tures, rubrcs parstcs and hourishcs In such cases,
ALSO perjury can be paid for, assistant knaveIy
pnsatei, and fals6cstion and forgery receive their
fees. The honest holder Of q claim fc< q small
amount, ooniding in the justice and fairness Of his
demand, and relying on the honor Of h. country,
and the intelligence and OF Justice Of her Sc
ccted functionaries. L. perhaps careless 10 the
technical form Of his vouchers adtcstrnones. Ho
connot afford 10 enlist n horde Of "inaucntia,'
agents, 70 be known and unknown. 10 further bis
claim. lie cannot afford 10 dispense champagne,
sherry and jgleps, or vcoison, oysters. and canvs,
back ducks satisfy the stJmachs, in lieu Of srgu
ncns addressed 90 tie heads 20 the hearts fthose
vine decide his claim. Specalstors fnd little 10
In kn.nraa inlarc-tcd In kia i..l-na.