Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-17

case the decision Ol N1f. JC'aCi 'oh "n>A NV
this letter would have been the authority
for the allowance.
Thus it is seen, to the eternal disgrace
ofNIr. Smith, that the remuneration OF
two and a half per cent, amounting to
%, ss2 dollars, which Mr.. Erving was al
lowed to charge, did not amount to an e.
quiyalent for the loss Of the assessorshlp,
and that calculating it even as an addition
al annual compensation, as Mr.. Smith has
done. his salary fell short nearly $4,000
per aun. of what had been allowed his
predecessors forperformingt the same func-
tons.
1t is proper here to observe that all the
officers of the treasury department allow
Mr.. Erving's accounts to be the most cor
rect and satisfactory of any that have ever
been exhibited to that department. This
is highly honorable to MIR. ErVins, par
ticularIy when it 10 known that upwards
Of a million and half of dollars OF pub
lie money passed through his hands,
Those merchants of the U. States VINO
were witnesses to the promptitudc and a.
bil;ty with which he brought forward and
s,pnorted their claim, have been uniform
in their applause of Mr.. Ervins and the
hoard ofcommissfoners, we have been told
by one ofthem within these few days, were
highly satisfied with his activity and Vlsi-
lance: by which alone great sums were
saved both to the government and citizens
Of the u. States. This same gentleman
assures US that the business Of the board
was greatly accelerated by MIR. Erving,
and that the mastery manner inWllich ne
cIassed these claims and pursued them
through the different stages, must have
established his reputation with the govern
ment. as it did with all those who had re-
oourse IN him as man OF business, OF IN
tesrity and talents.
Wien in the December following that
renowned epoch, his accession to the de
partment oil state, Mr.. Smith made tie
discovery so very distressing to his 1eel-
iuss. that several American claimants un
der the British treaty had in vain present
ed these claims for payment because Mr.
Erying had deducted two and halt per
cent. from said claims, why did he not
pursue his enquiry and discover what
would have relieved his distresses and
sratifed an honest secretary OF state, that
q great unclaimed surplus, (say 100000
doilars) still remained IN the Treasury
arising from deductions made by order of
the board of commissioners from award
generally. for the purpose OF re'mburslns
10 the U. States the cxpences incurred IN
the prosecution Of these claims. Why
could not Mr.. S. discover that MIR. En-
wing. in closing his accounts with the go
yernment, had charged this two and half
per cent to tie "award account instead
of charging it to the " expence account
and that in order to adjust this error and
render Justice to MIR. Erving, to the 60
yernment and to individuals, all that was
wanting was an appropriation authorizing
th;s sum of go, s92 dollars to be taken from
the " award account" and placed to the
expcnce account? Why did he not disco
7,cr that in closing his accounts with the
nublic. Mr.. Erving noted this item in these
words. Balance remaining in my hands
retained as a commission of two and half
mar cent on awards received and paid by
me, subject however to the decision Of 60
vernment as per voucher" which voucher
was no other than this identical private
letter of the former Secretary OF State |!
We know how every honest man will an
swer these questions.
But ifthis charge of two and a half per
cent. was so heinous crime, why did
Mr.. Erving's accounts pass Were they
not submitted to MIR. Smith, explained to
his apparent satisfaction, signed and ap-
nroyed by him and sent to the Treasury,
accompanied by favorable letter! Did
thew not pass the Auditors office, the
Comptroner's office, and we're they not
reported on by Mr.. Gallatinto the Presi-
dent and stated b. him as {" correct i" erery
,espect,'' and by the President, ON spe-
ciai call, laid before Congress, and there
debated and past Yet, notwithstanding
all this. and six months after these &C