The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-04-01

! pear that he and his party are in fault, #
every wrong which is committed in the col
duct Of public affairs. A committee of inve
tigation discovers that the government has bee
cheated by some Of It's subordinate agents, an
: at once the cry of corruption is raised again
the present administration and the Democrat
: party. Matters are laid 70 their charge f.
which they are in no wise responsible. Trul
the appointing power issone of great respons
, bility, bat it cannot be denied that the preseu
administration has exercised it with great saga
city, and a careful regard for the public wei
fare, All that human judgment and foresight
all that the most careful personal investigation
of character could do in the matter OF selecting
men for positions of public responsibility, ha
been done by Mr.. Buchanan. He has beef
peculiarly fortunate. During the two year
that he has been at the head of affairs, ther,
has been most careful watch over the publ,
servants, and few, very few, whom he has ap
pointed have been found derelict in theiI
duties.
Bot the.game ofthe opposition must be play
( ed. 1t is the same system of tactics which has
preceded past presidential elections without
success. True or false, it must be made 10 ap-
pear that the party .in power and its leaders
are corrupt, otherwise there will be no chance
of a successful opposition.
The President, as the head of the admins
tration, is boldly charged with extravaganza
and corruption. The motives and considera-
tions are obvious, but the public judgment will
not be swayed by these partizan SANDERS As
Sertions are easily made by those who have but
a slight regard for truth, but facts are stubborn
things and easily sweep away the morbid dis
position which sometimes exists in the public
mind, TO give credence to wholesale state
ments.
In what has the present administration been
eXtravagaat? We freely admit that extrava-
gance exists and reforms are needed in many
OF the departments OF our government Our
consular system and our foreign policy general
ly, might BE- more economically conducieJ.-
The amount spent for display upon our public
buildings is wrong. There are chronic abuses
nent and The land system are cbargra5le with
errors. Congress itself is too expensive
luxury. It is not likely that perfection exists,
or can exist in any Of the departments OF
government, in regard to economical eXpendi-
ture of money. But these things have existed
for years. They are great evils, and we rejoice
at all efforts made TO reform them. But why
charge them upon the present administration :
II did not create these evils. 1t cannot pre-
vent them. 1t can only advise, as it has done
The President and the Cabinet have no control
over the expenditure Of money. Congress, The
constitutional representatives of the people,
alone have that power. TIE expenses OF
government, it is true, are enormous, but
neither the Administration nor the Democrat
ic party have made them so. 1t costs more to
govern tbiry-three than it did thirteen States,
but the chiefs Of departments under Mr.. Buchan-
ans administration, have been guided and
governed by rules Of action and laws, which
have existed for maoy years, and which they
had no influence in enacting. The charge OF
extravaganza is a partIzan scheme-a political
game ofour opponents
And as to corruption of that The
confidently asserted accusations made by the
opposition press 50 freely against the President,
of using his power other than in an honest and
honorable manner for tie public good, ha We
quite as little foundation in fact as the charge Of
extravaganza. The various committees of in
vestigation which have been instituted during
the recent session of Congress, have resulted in
placing before the public some facts which are
most disgracefu 10 the parties who have CON-
mitted the wrong, but for which Mr.. Buchan-
an and his party is in DO wise responsible. He
has done his duty. His admiuis ration has
been an honest one, and no distorted statements,
no erroneous insinuationS can tarnsh lis history
in the clear eye of truth.
The Superintendent of Public Printing,
appointed under former President, and repla-
ced by Mr.. Buchanan with an honest man has
failed in his honest duty. Is the present ad
minlstration responsible for this Is it not ra-
ther entitledto the credit of having been the
cause OF the discovery ofSeaman's speculatlons,
by appointing Mr. Bowman to his place p
Such is the case in reality.
/ Never, since he has been in office, has the
President, by work or act, controlled or in
fluenced, directly or indirectly, the giving out
of any contract except to direct that it should
be done in the proper manner and according to
law.