The Native American

WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD—APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE—THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

To the Editor of the Native American.

Sir—A gentleman who formerly lived in Washington has favoured me with some facts in relation to the appointing of foreigners to offices under the government, from which I had wished to prepare an article that might be acceptable to you, and the readers of your paper, but, it is not now convenient. I therefore offer, simply, an extract from his letter. Indeed, I am not sure that the most elaborate article would do the subject more justice.

"During a portion of Mr. Monroe's administration, the General Land Office acquired the appellation of "the Foreign Office," in consequence of the great number of foreigners, who were appointed to Clerkships in it through the influence of the then Chief Clerk who was a foreigner. The late Wm. H. Crawford, one of the chief pillars of the Democratic party, was, at that time, Secretary of the Treasury; and, on the fact being brought to his notice, he dismissed several of the principal clerks who were foreigners and in a great measure controlled the office. Mr. Crawford, although extremely reluctant to interfere with appointments in any of the inferior offices, now felt it a duty to the country to exercise control over the appointments in the General Land Office, so as to scrutinize every nomination submitted to him; and he never did sanction the appointment of a foreigner. The preference which he manifested for natives in appointments to office, was in keeping with the exclusive patriotic devotion to his country, for which his whole public career was signalized. This feeling, so honourable in Mr. Crawford, it is to be regretted, does not seem to dwell in the bosoms of all of the heads of Departments at the present day; but, it is a source of gratulation to the country, that the people at large recognize, and are governed by it in the selections of their representatives, as an evidence of this, we need only refer to the Congress of the United States. The Senate is exclusively composed of native citizens, and it is believed there is only one foreigner by birth in the House of Representatives. The voice of the people is clearly against the appointment of foreigners to office; and, it should be regarded by all, who respect the majesty of the people, as omnipotent and imperative upon this subject."