Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-09-07
pOl.l'YAC Az.
rom The Louisville (Ky.) Pubhc Advertiser.
THE NATIVE OF VIRGINIA..

7 THE NATIVE OF VIRGINIA..
FMS newspaper writer and pam
phieteer deserves he particular attention
OF the people of the United States; no
that there is truth in his charges aeains
our late Presidents, Adams and Jefict-
son, or The present chiet magistrate, Nj.
Mpnvoe--bnt because j, proves, tha
there is a harfy formed against the latter
and bis administration.
Ii any reliance ought TO be placed in
the statements Of the g Native OF Viz
snis," he proves that there has been the
most gross negligence AID mismanage-
menl Of the Treasury Department under
the care and conglol OF Mr.. Crawford
IL states, that Debts to a very great
amount are due by individuals 10 the
government, some OF which are totally
lost; and the payment of Others srealh
endangered, bccansc they nave mol been
put IN SUIT in proper time. He also
states, that law was passed By Congress
at The close OF Mr.. Jcii'crsen's adninstra-
tiot,, requiiihg thal ali debts should b.
reparted to Congress which had reDain-
ed due for three years That the Govern
nent was borrowing money in time OF
peace; and ,ha, the United States would
not have occasion 10 borrow moncy, il the
pubic dciaulteis were compelled 10 pay
thclr debts to the government.
All this may BE- true in relation to the
debts due to the United States but ,he
/" Native OF Virginia" displays his want
of ca;.sor, Justice and truth, and proves
his harty feelings and mahgnHy towards
Mr.. Mouroe, when be censures bin be-
cause those debts have no: been coilcct-
ed or reported to Congress by the Urea
snry Department, as required by tie act
passed for that purpose as before stated :
and he POUNDS his censure on the ground,
hat Mr.. Monroe being the President, is,
by the constitution, bound TO g see the
laws Of the Union faithfully egccu'ea."
The Treasury Department was created
ior the sole purpose OF mona3 ,ag tle
finances of the United States, and 10 col
iecl aud disburse the national r-yenue
pursuant 10 the laws enacted by Con
gress : it was, therefore, the sole and
exclusive dnty OF Mr.. Crawford, as Sc
.cretary Of the Treasury, and not of Mr..
Monroe, TO comply with the act OF Coii-
grsss before mentioned, and to make the
report required by that act. All these
claims were on the books and files ofhis
department and he not only receives q
large salary for the performance of his
official and public duties, bu! has a num-
Der of auditors, clerks and other officers
10 aid him, who are also paid by the pub
lie for their services. If Mr.. Crawford
neglected TO make the report thus re-
quired from his Department, it WAS the
duty efn House Of Representatives o!
the United States, (Which Is the consa-
tutionak guardian OF the habhc hnrse,)
and not the President, to demand il, and
compel him to discharge hisduty.
Z No sound and honest man will con-
tend, that Mr.. Monroe is responsible for
the frauds and mismanagement III any
there beg in every department of the
government, merely because he is the
President Of the United States.
The Post Offices are established by
law and if,he Presiden, was to be re-
sponsible for the conduct OF every de-
partment and officer Of the government,
he would, OF course, be ans" erab!e--lst.