Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-24

w. all the practices which have embarrassed the ac'
counts Of the Navy DEPARTMENT. and perhaps more
difficult to point out remedy
"sometimes it s believed, vouchers. false IN sub
stance as well in form. have been used to draw mo-
ney from the Trea>ury. -,
al have been in this Office about SIX months. anu All
know of past transactions has been obtained by ACCT
dent in the necessary routine Of business or IN tedious
legations What there may be concealed IN the
numerous boxes and files OF papers winch MI the pas
sage the shelves and the pigeon holes OF The cfhce
know nut, nor can ever know, without opening ana
carefully inspecting the contents ct every bundle
What pre- sumption is htr- man'fescd! We
rily "the insolence If Off" is in ol.rable, es-
pecisly when it appears in one whose charae
Ter and cnnduc, rave been such as 10 exct'e inc
odium Of his political opponents and even to
estrange the good will Of large portion oil the
party To which he is attached.
We have in the las quotation an ns'ance OF
The IN snner in which TINS industrious Auditor
has employed his lime, all his Efforts spp'ar 10
have been directed 10 he sols purpose oil hha-
ing cause of complaint against his predecessors
and the former heads OF The Department, ano
delightful TASK no doub, it was to his depra-
we'd appe tie. He not only attacks them en- masse
but the officers OF the Navy themselves are MOI
Zee from his nsidious imputa,ions; he deals
IN Enumeration by wholesale. ii there IS Pur-
ser or an OH er III iEC ANaN| WH' ~" 'S"e WV
following without sharing the di-gust which
we have felt and expressed, or who can. resis'
the temptation of serving the audacious deiam'
er in the same III amer as conspicuous char
ac,er once threatened 10 serve reverend Stn-
a,or, we pity his manness and servi'lty
oTbe minds of officers instead Of being devoted to
the interests and glory of the Navy employ ed upon
the means of persusdpg the Secretary or accounting
officers to exc out their emoluments by additional A.
lowances. levery claim is not allowed which bears
resemblance to such have been allowed to Others
they dissatisfied, and complain OF Partially and IN
Justice !"
"I doubt whether the present system OF supplying
Seamen on board ship with comforts not injurious to
the morals of the Navy 1t affords active temp
tation to Pursers cheat the seamen, and that they
sometimes overcome by it, we have ample proof
But | arm not prepared to suggesta remedy
The officers of the Navy have TOO high a
sense Of honor and TOO cbivalrous regard Tor
their well-earn-d reputation, tamely 10 submit
10 su h N ou,rsgc upon bo'h
In he mex quotation which we shall make,
we see the wor kings Of vindio i've neart and
its secre, re Joe ngs over a fallen enemy who has
no, the power % repel The assault The apPli-
cation is 100 pointed to admi, Of doubt Tor
whom i Was i"t, nded, and we ltave the writer
Of III, paragraph, 10 The full eel 'yment CT his
enviable ,lings.
"Ifan accounting officer be corrupt and it be un-
derstood that claims will be favorab'y considered IN
proportion as claimants minister to his PASSIONS his par
tissn feelings or his necessities il is fearful to think
how poison might spread in this essential arm OF
the national defence"
Aeain-Wrere was the ce,si,y or wha'
the spv-pose of limiting iht enquiry, " bh
IS rnyitrI in 'hr following quo'arIon 10 Tie
/" last four years :" the Inference is too obvious
10 be pint out
"Let any member Of Congress, or other person how
ever talented and intelligent, enter this office and at
tempt to ascertain for what purposes the public money
Ina. been paid DURING rat LAST FOUR YEARS"
So far from this remark being appIes able to
the Navy Depar ,ment alone, we defy any mem
Der of Congress 10 ex anime he files and re-
cords Of any of thr accounting off ers and as.
cer,an wi hout the assistance of oilers, " Tor
wha, purposes the public money has been
paid" 40, only during the last four years, 2"
bu, during any four wears or one year.
The Auditor wisely suggests, shat ,ht :" in
lerp 's,ion OF Congress is absolutely necessary"
to remedy the defec's pointed out pi'cs of
advice which has been often urged but never
needed.
"whether the system be changed not, the inter
position Of Congress IS absolutely necessary "
b., a, il to convince The world that he is
vir,uou, and trustworthy, while all who have
pre-, eedrd him were NOT, the Auditor very
mode.tly I ties tina -
"All the benefits now derived from specific appro-
priations might be reazed without their inconvencn-
ces, BY requiring the Department to present specific
estimates, by approrra,nga in gross for the sup.
port OF the Navy and by requiring the Secretary to
count annually for the expended under each head
of his estimates"
All ITS suggestions are wholly Invested of
4 e leis' merit rhey inlrinsicallv p 'ssess, by
HIS base aspCrs'on Of those who are every way
his superiors IN all the attributes of honor, hon
rsy, integrity, truth and gratitude.
The only pssf'ols Of his user ions deserving
the least consideration or cor6deacr is the
quotation with whi h shal conclude I'll,
hasty but naus-a,ing exami nation 81 one Of the
most arrogant. insidious, and unworthy pro-
auctions that ever emanated from the tead Of
an off err in our country. We believe him
when he says:
N