Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. Kirkland submitted for considerati,
the following resolution

wv hT6tdHd submitted for consideration
tne following resolution
Resofred, That the committee on tEc Judiciary h,
Instructed TO inquire into the cxpcdiency of proydnr
u" law Tor the punishment Of such officers of the r
otates as are entrusted with public MONEYS Inv yiru,
ol theIr oihce, who shall apply the To any pnr
pose or purposes Incompatible with the duties OF tei,
ohce Whereby the United States shall sustain loss
Nj. BasseH was in favor of the resolution.
hlt wished To extend it to those who had the
public property in keeping, and he proposed
modilicatlon to that effect, by inserting in
The body of the resolve the words " or with
the Sale Keeping OF public property :" which
modification was assented to by the mover.
Mr.. Hardin was apprelicnsye that the
punishment which seemed to be contemplated
10y the gentleman from New York mr.. Kirk
iind) would be found too severe-and, in such
cases, a law, Ut too severe for public sentiment
~ sustain, would become dead letter. Mr..
ii. did not think public sentiment was such rs
to brand the public defaulter. with nfamy. On
Inc contrary, the proceeds of his deE,Ication
support him and enable him tD drInl, his wine
ana give his dinners nor would ii he possible
10 put man IN the peniicDtiary merely for
being defaulter. Mr.. ii. advcrtnd particular
Iy to the case of the District Attorneys. and
thought the only course in relation To them
would be TO make them give bond for the
ihIthiih performance Of their duties, and also to
require, ilthey fail to account that that failure
should vacaie their Offices
Mr.. Wdi,corM moved to insert the words
or agent" after the words officer" which
was assented 10 by the mover.
Mr.. Smith moved further to amend thc re-
solution by inserting after the word "shaH," fine
words, UM intention 10 enJezzIe he sinner
Tie motion WAS opposed Ivy Mr.. Cocbe aud
Hr; HardiH. and supported by the mover,
and lost.
Mr.. Condict moved 10 strike out words Z" hy
which the United States SHAH sustain los. ),
Hlr. Z. was disposed to repress au spcculn
ton by the holders of the public MONEYS
The public moneys should be kept sep,rate
and sacred for the public service, aud he wond
not suffer the public agents to use them for
any other purpose, however well able they
might be To replace them wheR called for.
Mr.. htrk'nad was mt inclined to carry his
prohibition so far Ifthe officers and agents
81 the government can and do respond, accOr.
dnS to law, that, he thought, was all that need
be required ofthcm.
Mr.. CONFLICT replied. Mr.. F. johnson also
made few remarks ia favor Of the proposed
amendment
Mr. Mitchell, Of g. G. also EXPRESSED him
self Ia favor Of the amendinc1t Lo,kinr
over the document which had been referred
tot list VI unsettled baldnces) he thought !
IT'S contents were disgrace 10 the govern |
ment--a libel ON the country. Until he saw
That document, he did not think that the coun-
Try vas capable Ofproducing such one.
Finally, Mr.. Kirktdnf asserted to the mo.
d'iicaii"n proposed by Mr.. Condici.
NJ. C~ss proposed to add " t!ip scso!4:iUu