New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-17
DOLLAR-OUS DENVER-FORT SCOTT
THE CANVASS.

From Our Special Correspondent
LECOMPTON, X. t., May 8, 1853.
have just been informed of triHing circuu.
stance that throws little light on the otherwise
mysterious character of the present Territorial
Executive. The Governor, in the pursuance of his
Territorial might has thought proper to charge
officers elected by tie people 81 each for their
commissions. I have just seen some gentlemen
from Anderson County, elected to some of the
county or township Offices there, who have repudi-
ated the demand and the commissions together. and
who 90 back to their constituency with the convc-
ton that they can do without Territorial offices
about as well formerly. The quetness with
which this has been managed since the people got
this matter in their own hands, leads me TO suspect
that the dollar must have been paid in large num-
Der of cases. 1t will be recOected that there was
an election under Territorial law for county and
township officers some time ago. The number OF
officers then elected it would be difficult to com
pute; but as there were county officers of all kinds
| township Boards of Supervisors with their neces-
sary officers together with Justices of the Peace
| and cOnstabes there must be perfect army OF
them all over the Territory. To levy poll-tax of
81 head on all these aspirants for official honor
| before they can receive the dignifying piece of
| paper from one j. w. Denver" shows an appre-
| catye talent for arithmetic, not to mention that
political economy that Shows nations and indivld-
| ''usls how to become rich" Besides, the dollar
| fleece from this army of official martyrs would
make a very sung addition to the meager $500 n
year allowed bis Excellency by the organic act.
That any rebellious "AbOlitionist should refuse
thus to be muleted is only another evidence Of that
insurrectionary character to which President
Buchanan so patbetically alluded in his message.
| One Of the Anderson County men-Chairman,
think, Of some Board of Supervsors-in abiding to
the dollar, told me in q profanely irreverent way
that he would see the Governor id first" and
added that the " folks down his way had got along
"splenddly without bogus tG,ns," and, he believed
| "wOul1 prefer doing without them yet"
BY referring to the organic act it will be found
that the duty of the Governor in issuing commits
sions is neither discretionary not contingent. In
| section 20 | read:
He shall commission all officers who shall be
appointed to Office under the laws of said Territory
and shall take care that the laws be faithfully ex-
| ecuted."
Nor could its necessity arise for printing blanks
if these latter cost cent apiece, for, by the
thirtieth section of the organic act the contingent
expenses together with the salaries of the TerrO-
rial officers and members of the Legislature, to
be paid by Congress. The people in Territory
generally understand that one of the few advantages
attendant on Territorial Government is that Con-
gress detrays the expense Of if. 1t is therefore
that some of the officers elect refuse, like modern
Hampdens, to pay this ship money" In the
first place it not right; in the second dollars
scarce III these times.
The action of several of the Federal officers in
this respect shows that the people of the Territory
are regarded a flock of geese, which II is the e-
gtmate business of a Federal officer to pluck.
One of the land officers here charged preemptors
s. fee which he was not entitled to- This WAS
finally ineriered WITH but they still contrive to get
a good deal more than they entitled to. All of
these matters are very apt illustration of how of.
| hcers conduct themselves when placed over peo-
| pie TO whom they not amenable. The only
qualification for Territorial officers that the Admin
stration seems to insist upon is that they shall be
deyont apostles of Slavery.
WIN regard TO this matter of paying, the organic
act gives lie Territ. rial Legislature the power of
making appropriations, which appropriations are 10
| De- governed by the acts of Congress aud the
amounts appropriated by it. But we find that in
| former times the amount that Congress appropri.
ated was exceeded, and further appropriations an
| tcipated. For instance the Missouri Bogus Leg
issture appropriated 600 for the Constitutional
| Convention, which was paid by the General Gov
| erpment, although no act of Congress- had ever
| souinted even toward such an object. Noo how.
| ever, We see the change. The people Of Kansas
took the legislative power from their Missouri ON.
pressors, and their Legislature also made an appro
pration for the Constitutional Convention but the