Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-10-27
From the Connecticut Mirror.

Science d draining money from the Trra.
sury.-That the people should keep vlGl-
liant and Jealous eye over the Conduct OF
their sagents, in the expenditure OF pubic
money, is one of the first maSims in re-
publican governments. fhey should be eau
tious, indeed, that they do not too easily,
and without examination, give credit to
false and unfoundrd statements and accusa-
tons of pecula,ion, but on the other haad,
they should beware, lest misplaced conh-
dencr should ulI them into too fatal Sc.
curi,y, or the svren voice Of party spirit
should too easily lead them as,say, ind him
der them from examining SUBJECT, which
so nearly concerns their interest. he iaits-
full page Of history has informed US, that IN
ali ages and among all nations, men, who
have been. entrusted with public money,
have, in innumcrable instances, abused their
trust; that they have squandered it, either
TO support their extravaganza, 10 saiiate
ihsiv ayarice, or 10 promote their ambitious
views. IF this were not the case, has not
the short history Of our own government,
taught Us some important and useful les
sons On this subject: Have there not been
instances in our own country, and, consi-
F, tering the iniancy OF our government, many
i instances, where men, vino as patriots have
stood high in the estimation OF the pubic,
! and who have received not ouly the ap-
! n,suse but the votes Of thousands OF their
fellow citz ems, have been guilty OF the
} -. l. ! rc,,l~.:-,->-. ..,'on the
pa ic treasures OF which they have: had
| =. management
| The late conduct Of Thompson Skinner,
and the still later condoct Of Barnabas Bid
well, will not, ard ought not, soon to be
| forgotten. The former patriot is indeed
now no more /; the latter, who has beet, held
up 10 public view as the pattern OF stern ia.
te2ri,y and upriehtness, and for his sup
F., posed rigid virtue by many been considered
as sort Of modern Cato, has, for embez
cling public money, and other crimes com
mitsed TO conceal the fact, lately been oblig-
ed to quit his family aad eountry.
From these and Other instances of ST.
nilar nature, let the people OF the U. States
take warning, be vigilaut, and examine for
themselves; and let them mark the man,
whatever may be his politics, or Of what
ever party he may be, who shall abuse the
trsst thus reposed in him. In for.ne.
number, the attention Of the public was
called 70 report of committee of Con
gress, who during the last session, was APP
pointed TO enquire into the conduct Of gen.
Wilkinson, and particularly &c that 1at,
which related to his drawing money from
the public Treasury.
E One instance only was then par,ic u1arly
stated, with the accompanying documents
and vouchers. 1t seems, by the report of
the committee, that William Simmons, Esq.
the accountant Of the War Department.
was called before the committee, and re-
qnired to give information, relative to the
monled transactions of gen. Wilkinson with
thar department.. Mr.. Simmons, it seems,
gave his deposition to the committee, and
il appears IN their printed report; tina. part
which related to oanetagsaa and tile horses,
was extracted in q former number; the /
whole deposition here follows; and the pub.
tanning statement OF facts coming from T
the government itself-or from a member
of it a. least, who has long held thesolice
he now holds, TO the satisfaction, il is be-
lieved, of every one, exceptit may be &c
neral Wilkinson, and who must have per-
feet knowledge of the facts, about which
he deposes.
Deposition q IViAians Siimmons, Esq.
GENTLEMEN,
AT the time attended your honcra-
bic committee, in conformity to your sum-
mons Of the 9th instant, when was re-