The Empire County argus., 1854-06-24
COloma: Saturday, June "A, 1854.
Official Dcreliction.

Official Dcreliction.
There be question of the fact Of growing desire
on the part of the cope hold their public servants to
strict discharge of their official duties This is evinced by
the frequent and anxious inquiries made Of relative TO
the financial condition Of county, and the desire mani
tested to see an temzed Of the disbursement Of
our revenues detailed and tcmized exhibit of the fnan
csl aas of this county, is within the recollection of
the ''oldcst nhabitart'
Now if we would protect official stations from the inroad.
Of corurton and thus return the old sarard nteg
ity and Of unyeldrg virtue which have characterized tie
conduct public in the caerdays of the Rpublc
must first create sentiment which will tolerate
the smallest delinquency in public fdnctonares
And this close surveillance, Ibis and unyieldg
quremcnt in the faithful performance of public trusts
in the most minute particulars should extend the
tire field Of official station Beginning with the highest
Office in the Republic should relax not title in passing
do~n through the descending grades to the humblct official
rank in the township.
1t u.s. perhaps in this last respect that people have
committed their gravest bunder The conduct of high
est officials is scrunized clocly-that of humbcst
scarcely at all derection il high places leads to COM
motion and appropriate censuren humber stations is
suffered pass by in silence, If made matter of
mcnt ALL it is treated in such to amount
70 wholesome corrective Thus corruption and mai prac
ice in Office steal quietly first into the small Offices and
gradually working their way up through the higher grades
will in the end if properly resisted, infect whole
system Of government leading to consequences which
not ll to prove disastrous the best interests of the
people.
The most efectual way to accomplish much needed re-
form in this particular would be select only such
for Office up the old Jeeronan standard Of fit
cho 'honeSt Gnd capa6e' But various Gus
toms of party, added to tie fact that the most arrant
knavc may sometimes the temporary fdence Of
his neghbors place this result entirely Of the question
general thngso that the only practical resource left
is vac ne5S. Let every public officer therefore he made
tn the scrutiny Of the people, whose servant he is
is constantly upon him, and that the slightest deviation
from the line Of duty, Will only be detected but will
place him and forever under ban of popular dis
plea Something like this fail to sau-
tary nAuence Our public officers of popular
WILL and in conduct they will approximate very closely the
standard which those who have made them may prescribe.
Tlis may be laid down of the trusms of popular
government First then, let these public finconarie
know that thc- will be held amenablc to given standard
make the STANDARD light, and the public will have faith
ful # this be not SO, then the many fine things
which have been said upol tn, capacity OF man for
self government is unmitigated humbug and should
prepare ourselves speedily possible for other form
of government.
we to hold up any to condemnation
In this connection but if subsequent should
render it necessary shall shrink fom making the
exposure Our chief object present is to impress the
public with Of te dutyto create public set-
which will demand application of the moral
principles to ofical to private conduct.
One of the fathers Of the Republic has left upon record
tha External Vigilance is the price Of bcy was true
rhen-it is true now-it viii be true through all time
This is the lesson would enforce Upon tho people BE
yigant. Let derection in Office escape your notice
and follow every wrongful act with appropriate punishment
1t s your governmen-Ac Offices yours, and those who
fll them your servants Let them know your will make
thea feel your power, insist upon the faithful performance
of Ufieia duty alike in the trivial in the most i'm
portant Of their public If such be your conduct
your officers will first become corrupt and the insidious
poison will infuse itself through the of the
people.
We have been led to these remarks fom the hitherto
renssness of the people require at the hards Of thei
servants Of their stewardship. This grave
fault in the people, and which calls loudly for reform
We have only to repeat the inaxim-EteaaI ri9!!a"cf
is hep1ce ofA5ety