Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-15

enough tnat the Dlack Republicans should ABUSE ana
malgn an administration which has proved as true
as steel to the Constitutional rights of the South
but the Register, Southern paper must join in this
abuse. Investigating committees will soon be ap
pointed" says the Register, and "things will be
brought to light which will bring shame and confu
sion of face on President Buchanan" So says the
New York Tribune, so says the Albany Evening
Journal, SO says Henry Wilson, Of Massachusetts,,
and so says the Raleigh Register! Well, investga
ting committees haze been appointed by the Speaker
Of the House, who is black Republican; and the
black Republicans, aided by such Southern men as
Gilmer, Etheridge, and Nelson, will see to it that
thorough investigation is had. Let 1t come We
have no fears that any truthful revelations will be
made which will at all affect the character of the
administration for integrity, purity, and honesty.
But if the Editor of the Register will examine the
proceedings of the Senate of the 7th instant he will
find that Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts,, has an
ticipated him on that score. On the 18th Mr. Wilson
introduced the following resolution:
"Resolced That acommittee of - be appoint
ed to inquire into the extent of the patronage Of the
President of the United States, resulting from his
power of removal and appointment to Office and to
that end to inquire and report the number of Off
GERS places Of trust and profit under the control
of the President, exclusive of those of the Army
and Navy) and including such under the
control Of the heads of Departments, subordinate
or inferior officers with the amount paid to those
who are appointed to such offices 10y the President
or otherwise; and, further, to inquire whether, if
in any, and in what cases, such power and patronage
have been exertcd, attempted to be exerted or
ercised to influence the legislation by Congress, or
to direct CONTROL or influence the votes conduct
of oiceholders or Others in the elections of States
Territories and, further, to inquire whether any
and what sums of money have been paid, or re-
quired to be paid, by persons holding offices of
trust profit their contributions in support of
elections and further to inquire into the extent of
the power and patronage of the President of the
United States resulting from the expenditure of the
public money by or through the heads of Depart
ments subordnates and inferior officers and Others
excluding those whose salaries or wages are fixed
by law, and including wages, fees, and compensa-
ton of all kinds not fixed by law, paid to officers of
Government for services or gratutes, or as partci
pators in contracts and jobs resulting from per-
tanning to their official stations, otherwise and,
Also the allowances made to contractors of all kinds
for supplies services without and above their con-
tracts or engagements; to agents employed in pur
chasing selling lands sites for belonging to
the Government; to agents or persons who have
| been employed to purchase vessels for the United
States, to furnish engines, ordnance, or military
stores and transportation for the Army or the
Navy, Of the United States; and to report by bill
or otherwise.
So it will be seen that the Editor of the Register
and Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts,, going hand
in hand in the effort to "bring shame and confusion
of face to James Buchanan" We regret it, but so
it is.
Now let us setback Republicanism aside, and
looking exclusively to honesty and integrity-who
the men are upon whom the Register relies for max
ing these investigations. Why, one at least of the
members of the House committee on public expen-
ditures, appointed by Mr.. Speaker Pennington, was
elected by money purloined by black Republican
State Treasurer Of Maine and in addition this, it is
stated in the last Washington papers, and generally
admitted to be true, that the black Republican nom-
nee for printer to the House obtained his nomina.
ton in the black Republican caucus by promising
to give the party portion of his profits to aid them
in their electoneering campaign in 1860! This fact
was SO palpable that the black Republicans had a
difficulty among themselves in the House on the
subject which led to the postponment Of the election
of printer until Monday last Mr. Sherman pressed
the election, and Mr.. Stanton whose candidate was
defeated by this bargain and corruption, opposed it.
And yet these are the men who are to bring out
this "black catalogue Of corruptions |-these are
the precious guardians of the treasury who are to
"bring shame and confusion of face on President
Buchanan!!"
But let see in what way these black Republ
cans aided and encouraged by such Southern Know
Nothings as Gilmer, Etheridge and the Raleigh Reg
ister propose to reform and retrench and bring the
government back to its original purity and simple
ity. On Thursday last the Postoffice appropriation
bill being before the Senate the following proceed
ings took place:
"Mr Toombs moved to amend the bill by adding
additional section that from and after the tenth
day of April next the ranking privilege be, and the
same is hereby, totally abolished; and all laws OF
parts of laws authorizing the receiving sending
any matter through the mail free of postage, be, and
the same are hereby, repealed"
This proposition led to long debate when the
amendment was adopted-yeas 81, nays 21-as fol
lows: .E.."
YEAs-Messrs. Bayard, Benjamin. Bigler, Bragg
Bright, Brown, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden, Doug
las Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Green, Grimes, Gwin, Par
Ian, Hunter. johnson Of Arkansas johnson O.
Tennessee, Kennedy, Lane, Mason, Pearce, Powell
Pugh, Rice, Salisbury, Sebastian, Slidel Toombs
and Wigfan-31. I .s.@
NAYs-Msssrs. Bingham, Chandler Clark, Col
, lamer, Dixon, Doolttle, Durkee, Fessenden. Foot
Foster Hamlin, Haun, Hempbill King, Nicholson
Summons, Summer, Ten Eyck, Wade, Wilkinson
!, and Wilson-21. ,.--.
/ The bill was then read a third time and passed
and the Senate adjourned until Monday next"
The Democrats voted to abolish the franking priv
ege, and thus save million of dollars annually tt
the public treasury; while the black Republican,
voted to man against this effort at retrenchmen
and reform. The bill as amended has gone to tn
House, and will soon see the course of the blacl
Republicans in that body gaze.
And yet these are the men, aided by Gilmer, Ethe
ridge, and Nelson, on whom the Register relies Il
investigate coruptions and carry out the doctrines