Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-04-09
DEMOCRATIC flNANCleRlNG.
REMARKS or
Albert H. Estes, Esq, Of Woodstock.
Ia the House Of Representatives, on Wednesday
March 2iih, 1853.

MR. SPEAKER. hm hrm oelleNtr Wht
practical legislation does not always consist
In numerous or long speeches, and hope the
gentlemen Of this House will pardon mc for
claiming their attention for u Few moments,
Mt the present timo.
The subject before the House for investi-
cation, Of very peculiar character, and
needs TO be trcatcd rs such. a disposition
has been exhibited aud. am sorry Ia say,
prac,iced 10 too great an extent, by the
Maine Democracy, Tor the last few years, To
ccnsurc. hinder the execution Of and finally
TO repudate all that IL moral and good. un-
LEES il cmanatcd from their party, or was
named democracy, no matter how sound u
might be- In principle, or how well It might
accord with the past history OF the Demo-
cratic party. The time was when this party
had high aims. and was the embodiment Of
noble principles and was animated by the
patriotic and generous impulses oi the rcO-
pie, and the leading men were aetuatcd +y
moro worthy aims and purposes than the
attainment of their own aggrandz'ncnt the
spoils ni Office Tor themselves and their per.
sonal friends, and mere selfish ambition, re-.
gardlcss Of all consequences Ia the State and
the nation. but all this has. after years Of
gradual decay, finally died out, and nothing
Of democracy, n 10 once was, Is left but its
she'll. and this is broken and di.hgured.
IL is Of this party and it, dUings. thus
dcspoiled Of ITS glory, emptied Of every "a.
triotic. noble and generous sentiment and
principle. gone down n tho lowest depths
Of political inlamy. the representative OF the
slave oligarchy and borior.rulTani.m, that
I Il TI.ta EfEtUss
time aud occasion 10 speak on this suh,cct.
and 10 sp.ak plainly. too. ID IL proposed
o. create new officer in the administration
of our State aiIiir---a State Auditor Of Ac-
counts. Why j. this innovation ON past
usascs rrop6.cdl answer. 20 CORRECT
abuses which have grown up under the past
administrations OF the democracy, as u las
bccn descending 10 IL prcscn, dcgcneuted
and loaihcslme position and most OF all
has such u measure bcen prcciplthtod upon
US hy the ernwnins rascIliiy OF the admin.
istration Il 1856. known NJ the wells
Dynasty" Somc such measure seems alb
sjluicly necessary 60 protect the State Treas.
ury from the rapacity Of such . cormorant
tribe. should g great a calamity cycr again
bciAll the state, by any casualty, as 20 have
the administration in the hands Of such .
democracy.
Asa general thing, | prefer 10 let the
"icad pas, bury IT. dead. and 10 leave IL,
ashes undi,lurbed, especially when 10 dis.
iurb them can DO only Tor the shame and
confusion Of living connexions. but when
the interest Of the State AMI humanity de-
mand ID, cannot refuse the duty. disagree.
able though it De, Of nking open those
ashes and exposing TO the light ul day the
rOttenncss aud corruption frsietin; hcnratb.
Tho Administration of lsj6 has left a
record Of unprinciplc,I recklcssncss, after all
the efforts OF 10 agents To conceal their
track, unparalleled in the history OF our
State. That administration LEI, the treasury
blnkrupt, and, In my opinion, the rrpeti.
ton ~ IT. like would leave the State strip
ped ut it, funds, ITS credit impaired II not
destroyed, is prosperity crushed, and is
inhabitants ilcring lrum their native state,
made unpleasant, aud forbidiing. not by IL
cold aud vigorous climate. or any want Of
natural advantages. bot by the doines Of
corrupt and shameless parliIans IN the adj
minl.irllion ~ public affairs.
The-c men were placed in power hy the
IF1Iltt W khhlA ANA IiHi'NR N' iN''lNH'H w
the State, promote is welfare, and guard
its treasury. The people supposed them
honest and capable, interested them with
their interests, AMI gave thcma iair com.
p-n.niion for their SERVICES compensation
that would satisfy honest and industrious
men. How we'll they discharged their trust,
We shall attcmp, to show, as warning to
future transgr,ssors, and the reason for the
appointment Of an Auditor Of Accounts
against the State.
The man OF whom propose irs, 10 speak,
and whose INSCRIPTIONS administration
creates an especial demand foran auditor Of
accounts. il one james Walker. formerly Of
Lowell. Oxford County. who was Land Agrn,
ia 1856. (Scc S1n. doc. No. 49, Accord
ing % the rcp1r, " the JOIN, Standing Com.
mii,ec on State lands and State roads, to
which was referred hi-accOunt. Mr.. Walk
cr appears 10 b. wonderful parsonage, one
who has very especial regard for his own
interest, without manifcstlng any very par.
ticular attention 20 thosc of the State u
man Of unboundel ubiquity-a sort of ON.
niprcscnco ia every conceivable locality
where an opportunity presents 10 abstracta
few dollars from the public treasury, for his
own benefit, and am sorry o. say he found
too willing instruments in the Governor and
bis council. II not IN aiding his plundering
propensities, in allowing hls charges To pass
withOai proper scrutiny.
The OLD statutes specified the duties and
fixed the salary Of the Land Agent. The
law under which the sad Walker was APP
pointed and under which hc acted. provides
Tor his compensation in the words follow.
Ing "The Land Agent shall receive an
annual salary Of : 600 from the State, ~
IULL CONVERSATION TuR ALI MS SERVICES. "
In the face of this, Mr. Walker presents q
claim for 40 days extra labor, at $500
per day, amounting u $3.50 for extra labor,
which was allowed and paid, notwithsiant.
ing the State was entitled u ALL the SER
vices Ct Mr.. Walker, for that very time, aud
according 10 the report Of your committee,
the Governor and Council had no right 10
allow this extra expenditure, IL being at the
option OF the Legislature 10 make the al
lOwance or not. But 1t appears that they
did 80, and this, too, as IL would appear,
without knowing OF even questioning the
correctness or legality Of Mr. Walkers ae-
counts and charges.
Nor is this all. Your attention is direct
ed particularly to Mr.. Walkers settlement
with tho Governor and council at the close
Of the year 1856. lie then held IN bis pos
session S13S which should have been paid
into the State Treasury at that time.
also find that between the Above settle
ment and the Seth Of Jan. 1857, Mr. Walk.
or collected the sum of S7,276,3G, making
ing in all the amount OF Ss,0li 80, which
this very magnanimOus and economical ser
want OF tue public held in his possession un-
til Dec. 30ih, 1857, it being II months and
four days, without allowing the State any