Year: 1862

|
OIa Ones Asstered Out or she service.
We hear from Washington that President
Lincoln has ordered the appointment Of seventy
three additional paymasters for the army, and
that no has also ordered the dismissal Of twelve
paymasters for dishonesty, incapacity, want OF
energy, and other reasons too numerous to
mention here. We naturally expect an imme-
diate Improvement as regards this branch of the
service, and shall hope to hear no more oom-
plants as to whole regiments having remained
for months unpaid, their families suffering ma
feeling great Inconvenience from the detention
of moneys due them. II is, to say the least, q
strange result that inefficient and incapable
paymasters should have been allowed to remain
for months in Office; and we. contend that tho
blame lies upon the chief of the Treasury De-
partment, whose duty it is to see that the money
for the pay Of the army is provided at the pro-
per time, and also that it be duly paid cut. 1t
is not alone sufficient to findthe means it is the
paramount duty Of the chief Of the Department
to ascertain, beyond all doubt, chat the claims
to be satisfied have been duly attended to- In
efficient paymasters should be detected at
once and replaced. There can be no excuse


for their continuance in Office.


All large establishments must have a con-
trolling element upon which the regular rou
tine depends more or less. For example the
HERALD employs vast number Of persons, all
Of whom are paid regularly each week We're
the cashier of this establishment to neglect for
a single occasion his duty the proprietor would
at once be made aware of the delinquency and
all errors would be Immediately rectifed In
like manner other vast establishments in New
York are conducted. In one and all
supervision. keen and constant, exists,
and errors or omissions are at once detected.
Just so should all the departments at Washing
ton be Conducted, but more especially should
that of the Treasury be strictly administered.
1t is the bounden duty of Mr.. Chase to see that
our soldiers are paid at stated intervals 1t is
his duty to provide the moneys at those dates,
and it undoubtedly is as much his duty to ascer-
tain that the moneys have been duly paid.
There can exist no more certain method of
causing disafiection among our troops than
keeping back their pay. 1t is dishonest, as the
government is well aware that many of the
men engaged have families dependent upon
their pay for support. To keep back that pay
is to injure not only the soldier who is bravely
risking his life for his countrys sake, but, at
the same time, it is causing his wife and children
to feel want and distress, all of which might be
avoided by strict attention to the simple
duties Of the Treasury Department.


This ID no light matter to be disposed of
with promise that all will be right before
long. All must be right constantly. The peo-
pie are awakening to the fact that great and most
dcplerable errors and frauds have been COM
mtted by the departments; that carslessness--
guilty carelessness-has been too common, and
those at the heads of the departments in ques-
tion will find they will be held responsible by
the people for all future shortcomings. We
are inclined to submit to no more such errors
ard remissness as were exposed by the late
Investigations at Washington; to insist, in the
name Of the people, upaR strict fulflment of
duties, and to blame unreservedly all persons
who, having an order to give or transmit, do
not ascertain that it reaches its destination
and is duly>carred into effect. There must
be responsible person, and there must
be no attempts at shifting the responsible
ty The duties Of all government Offices
are clearly defined. Those entering upon those
Offices must be prepared to attend to their
duties actively and faithfully, else the people
will hold the heads of the departments as Of
Tending through their dependents, and the Pre-
sident himself as guilty towards the people
through the shortcomings of his chief officers.
We must have unity of government, full and
complete action, or we will fail: and the people
are determined they will not fail, and will hold
responsible those who stand between them and
final success.


We must sweep aside all inefficient or ucapa-
able persons now in the employ Of the govern
mcnt. This is no period admitting of delay.
No time can he allowed a shortcomer for i'm
provefent We must have at once good and
serviccable men in all the branches of govern
mental service, and they may easily be found.
A strict supervision will put an end to whole
sale abuses such as have existed up TO the pre-
sent time; and in the name Of the people, who
have given their lives and treasure without
stint, we insist upon that supervision. We de-
mand the punishment Of those who defrsud the
government or its agents. we demand that
for the future all swindling in the
matter Of furnishing stores, uniforms. arms
or ships for the use Of the government
be severely punished, and that competent and,
above all. responsible persons be appointed to
see that these matters are duly attended to. To
conclude, we demand from the administration a
show of earnest determination Of purpose, such
as will satisfy the people that their cause 10 not
lost, is not trifsd with, and will give them the
patience and courageto to endure the trials which
they are called upon to endure ere the success
ful termination of the present contest may be
achieved. We want efficient psymasters, ef-
6cisnt subordinate officers OF every description: