Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-01
Mr.. Ringgoia's Deposition.
U'ashingtOa Febru0ry Ii,

81 uSHHSIOH FS0TtO1Y IA, 1870.
When aIT. Monroe was appointed Secretary of
the Department of War, in September, 1914, he
appointed and selected me the Clerk in that
department TO take charge under him, of all the
money Transactions thereof. Upon entering on
these duiies, 1t was found that large amount OF
drafts which had been accepted by the late Sc
creary OF War, were lying under proies, /;
aa,i tina, traits for immense amounts were hourly
appearing, for The payment of which the Treasury
was totally Unable 10 furnish funds, except in de-
rreciatcd Treasury notes. Mr.. Campbell had re-
signed the Office OF Secretary OF the Treasury, and
Mr.. Dallas had not been appointed 10 succeed
him. The only alternative left for Mr. Monroe
in this disastrous state OF the finances OF the Gov
ernment, was loans, TO be obtained by the Depart
meat OF War, under the sanction of The Presi-
dent, ii possible. BY authority OF Mr. Madison,
the President; loans, amounting about five mill
lions, were negotiated by MIR. Monroe, as Secre-
tary OF War, will appear, reference being had
iU his correspondence, file in the Depart
irent OF War, commencing with his letters OF the
5h Sept. 1914, To Gen Bloomfield, and ending
with a letter TO Governor Shelby, dated 30th ia
nuary, 1915
IL addition 10 these loans, Mr. Monroe borrow
ca large suns from tie Banks Of this District
simply by edgins the faith of the Government TO
ray Iheu, with legal interest, soon the Irea-
sury was in a situation to furnish the funds.
do not present recoect the OF these las,
mentioned loans; they were upwards of million
Of doilaIs; and thus the Government saved 20 per
these loans, that being the difference be-
tween Tie par aad tie deprecated value OF tine
Government securities, al that gloomy period OF
-iae war.
In The winter of 1914 Is, (Jannsry, 1851 /
think the paymasger General received iniormaiion
that his deputies had funds in their hands TO
pay the troops OF General Jackson, defending N
Orleans. | made application TO Mr.. Dallas, BY
x.fA A., f,,. l..
10 New OF!eans, to pay this army. 1t was tolal-
ly out OF Mr.. Dalas's power TO furnish dollar.
Application then made our District Banks
whichs we had before. exhausted by loans: and re-
fG-sls received from all, with the exception
0s the Bank OF The Metropolis, and the Farmers
Bank Of Georgetown. The presidents OF these in
stitutions furnished Mr.. Monroe syilh SIPS goo
each; and Captain knight, a derrity psynlaster, was
instantly despatched with $3.50 ,OU0: and | have
been informed, arrived in time to relieve the pres
sing wants OF Jacllsons gallant army, by paying
She notes Of these Two lille Banks ut JGr; when
the deprecated Treasury Notes OF the government
were refused throughout the cougiry, by the Gre
ditors OF the United States. And this loan was
made the bare word of Mr. Monroe, that the
banks shOt"i he honoFaby paid wheue er The state
OF the Treasury would permit.
Another transaction of MIR. Monroe's, while
Secretary OF War, ought TO be men'isned by me-
as II places his dIsOtcfestcd patriotism in such CO.
lors, that TO withhold it would be sheer Injustice
In tie year 1914, the Payinaster General was pre-
senied with draft from of his deputies in the
Northwestern army for $50 900, belonging las
my present recollection serves mel to The Miami
Exporting Company, who had advanced the mo-
tey in Ohio for the amount thereof. Orders were
given To- William WhaDn. the Cashier of the Bank
OF Columbia, TO whom the draft was SEM for col
lection, to protest and send back insantly If il
was rot promptly paid; and as Mr.. Brent had no
funds to meet II, except depreciafed Treasury
Notes, Whann the point Of sending il
back. Mr. Monroe, however, prevailed on him
10 write to tie holders, that the draft had been
paid, on Mr.. Monroe's accepting, in his private
capacity, a draft drawn on him at short date, for
G53 600, by the Psymaster General, and pIedgng
his word that 1t should be paid when at maturity.
/ have, within few days, endesvored TO fud this
draft in the War Department, but am informed IT
canno, now be found; but the b'l book, now in
the Department, records the draft accepted by
Mr.. Monroe.
short time after, another draft was presented
under similar circumstances and with similar or
ders, and Mr.. Monroe accepted under like fcspon-
sbiii'y in his private capacity Mr.. Wlann is
dead, but | have been Informed that Mr. William
Stewart, Clerk in Toe Office OF the Second Audi
tor has heard him relate the facts as above stated
by me.
All which is respectfully submitted to the
Committee on tie Claims Of Mr.. Monroe, in
oonforsiiy to the letter Of us chairman, dated Fe-
nosry, 1916, requesting any Information in pos
session, in relation 10 loans made by James Mon
roe, in 1914. 1915. TENCII RlNGOLD.