Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-04-22

The Washington CORRESPONDENTS Of tie I.sti
siana Courier thus audes to the corrupt'ons OF the
late Wing administration, and the energy. which
characterzes the present administration in reforn
ing abuses
The Treasury Depa rt1nent, under the predeces.
sor OF the Hon. James Guthrie the present Secreta-
ny, was sort of head quarters of fraud Partial
Investigation has disclosed state of things under
Mr. Corvins administration, whichis well calculat-
ed to alarm the country. Happily, however we
have in Mr. Gutherie man of energy intellect and
integrity who will unhesitatingy nterpose his best
efforts between these practices and the peoples mo-
ney A few Instances of his action in certain mat
tiers of equiyocal morality may be interesting
Under the last administration the Organization of
secret agencies of the Treasury Department was per-
united to grow up into monstrous abuse They
were used sort of anonymous hiding place of
certain ayorites, who, under pretext of doing GER
tain duties, received handsome salaries with which
they might enjoy themselves at their leisure The
list of names would exhibit some singular facts
One of those especially favored was Mr. Harvey
an INSCRIPTIONS writer for the Philadelphia North
American, and another was the celebrated Henry
Clay Mudd, of California re1lown. One of the first
reforms of Mr.. Guthrie was to abolish the whole
system, and at one fell swoop to cut off the entire
catalogue of sinecures The annual saving by this
arrangement will be very considerable.
Another source of personal patronage has been
the revenue service which, within the last few years.
has grown into a most expensive affair." and, far
as public interest is concerned, a grievous burden
Mr.. Guthrie has reduced the force upon this branch
of the Treasury Department, to save about
$4,000 per annum.
Another most acceptable reform is the manner in
which the new Secretary of the Treasury disburses
the public funds. Heretofore large sums of money
have been made by certain leading bankers, in the
shape of interest," running up, in each instance, to
some thirty thousand dollars profit annually. Mr..
Guthrie has decided that this labor can be discharged
as well by the officers of his department by the
bankers, with comparative ease, and with the best
results He is resolved, at all hazards to enforce
the law in every instance and he is especially strict
in seeing the provisions of the Independent Treasu
ry Act rigidly observed by all public officers.
The results of Wing Encouragement and wrong
in the Treasury Department. admonish the country
against any further investments of confidence in
Wing professions of integrity and good faith. Eve
ry citizen recalls with indignation the shameless Gar
diner fraud, the Light House contract the lending
of the public credit to SPECTATORS and other wrongs
All these practices have ceased under the present
firm and fearless administration of the public Treas
ury. And the system of economy does not end
here. Judge Campbell early set to work with great
energy in the Post Office Departments Mr.. McClel-
land, in the Interiors Mr.. Dobbin, in the Navy; and
Jefferson Davis, in the Department af War. Moth
ing during past years has been so pregnant of evil
to the true interests of the people, the loose and
wanton expenditures of the public treasure and the
corrupt and lawless transactions of eminent officials
republic, to be firm and effective, must be con-
Quoted frugally and faithfully. Waste and extrava
gance-peculation and speculation the COM
plicty of public men in private operations-wil, if
not severely checked, soon become the chronic dis
of our system, and, if persisted in, will ulti
mately result in the most pernicious consequences
Let the public confidence be impaired in the integ
rity of our public men-let the people once adopt
the belief that The revenues of the Government
squandered upon measures of doubtful utility, or
sequestered by able and dishonest men-and blow
is inflicted upon Republican institutions, from which
they may never recover. This is chief and threat
ening danger, and the whole country looks with
dence to General Pierce and his counsellors, to put
an end to practices that have grown into an over
shadowing evil"