The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-13
Insincerity of the Administration.

dened and the expenses OF the government have been
unparalleled even in time OF species OF
wrong has been pracsed by the party in power. by the
in which il has sought TO avoid and evade its just
responsibility by pleading insincere excuses, and setting
forth pretended motives, when bad practice has
been detected and complained of.
In conducting our foreign relations, secrecy may al
times be absolutely necessary to the public interests but
in purely domestic transactions perceive how
the government properly conceal its transactions from
the public AT all events, the servants OF the people
have no right TO mislead them by untrue statements
laiing 10 the business Of the government. We
recall instances in which this sefevident truth has been
outraged in which the people should be inform
ed Of so that rebuke and punishment may prevent the
imitation of bad example.
1t is not purpose TO comment on the Justification Of
the pledges of the wing party, or the war which il waged
on private character in lis rutess endeavo to conceal
the unworthy and vndctive motives which prompted lis
prescriptions. We have other matters in view
Soon after the advent of the present dynasty-in the
spring summer oil 1S49a large portion OF
cutters were laid up and their officers discharged from
the service This act OF cruelty 10 the officers and of
injury 10 the exenuated. rather the
sponsbilty of il avoided and thrown the democratic
party, by the allegation that the Thrielh Con gess had
made inadequate appropriation for collecting the rev.
enue which forced the administration TO discharge por
ton of the revenue service. By many this excuse
considered amply sufficient for which opened the
way for fraud the and at the time made
the whole appropriation for collecting the available
to reward pariisans and pot house politicians But this
not madein good faith and of course could no,
last Ii did comport with whg ideas 10 limit the patron.
age derived from collecting the the APP
propraed by Congress- and accordingly the administration
repudated that construction OF the act of Congress which
had been pleaded for dischargng portion of
the service and increasing the chance of fraud
the government. Mr.. Attorney General Johnson being
applied TO- in due form furnished the necessary opinion
and under that opinion the administration acknowledged
no limit to the amount it might legally expend during the
year in collecting the revenue.
A collector was appointed for San Francisco a, the
time when mining companies were being formed and
thousands of persons anxious obtain the means
reach the land of gold The collector had no claim on
the government for his expenses to the OF his Off
cia duties Had it been otherwise FIVE hundred dollars
would have been amply sufficient for his expenses by
the best means of conveyance But the administration
determined 10 send him forth like Roman pro. consul
Under order from the War Department directing the
commissarys and quariermasers department ST Louis
to furnish the necessary transportation and subsistence
for him and his Jniy, company Of thirty persons, with
fourteen wagons and hundred and sixteen horses and
mules with the necessary provisions and equipage, all
furnished at the public expense, moved the plains
to California, under the OF United States troops
When public attention called 10 this illegal expedi.
ton, which bad much the appearance OF a band OF
godseeking adventures equipped al the public expense
the people were told that vas, emigration would 20
overland to California for which the government felt pa.
terna solcude aud that the train was intended 10
establish depos the road to California to assist those
improvident unfortunate adventures whose means
should prove inadequate for the journey they had under
taken. Time passed and il is known that no de-
pots established but that the collector went into 10
California with his train. The was false and
without the shadow OF foundaon-a corrupt preence 10
hide illegal OF the public money and nothing more
About the same time that the California collector de.
parted westward, Indian agent started for the Salt
Lake. Il then believed that gold abounded in the
Mormon county a well as in California The Indian
agent also furnished with requson for transport.
alton for himself and his family, aud he. TOO disappeared
in the West, nj The head OF train like god-minng
company, equipped at the public expense When the pub
lie attention directed to this illegal expedition the
people told that nothing but an Indian agent
going TO The Salt Lake 10 pacy and keep in check the
Indian tribes in that quarter and prevent their ncorsons
into Mexico had stipulated 10 do upder the treaty
with that nation But this excuse was all pretence for
there no Indian agency al the Salt Lake. the laws
relating to Indian Intercourse wsTe not in force there;
was the Oregon border, and impossible mountains
those that Fremonts expedition was destroyed Inlay
between II and the Mexican border An agent stationed
10 the northern part OF Maine would have safer, cheaper
more direct and rapid intercourse with the Indians on the
Mexican border than one at the city OF the Mormons
Repeated ourages on settlements along the Rio
Gande committed by the Indians gave rise to charges OF
incompetency criminal disregard Of the public SER
vice II then asserted that the democrats in Con.
gress would not place the proper force and adequate
means at the command OF the Administrations But then
reference to the public records proved the
pretence for it proved that the force General Taylor
desired had been provided and that the money he asked
for had been appropriated, and that adequate
were opposed by the influence Of the administration.
Indian depredaions continued not only on this side,
but the other side OF the Rio Grande. and became to
be known that acquisitions TO the amount OF many mil
lions bad been filed against this government for losses
sustained by Mexican citizens from onrages committed
across our frontier The administration became alarmed
at The consequences OF it's neglect ncompeency, and Il