Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-31
POITpIpAMa

SirSomc Of the most gross ins,snce. of negliyenc.
ana anuse, II MOI OF corruption with which the las,
chargesbls exhibited in their
agemen' OF the navy hospital and navy pension funds
IN this letter shall conne myself to single transac-
ton connected with the former
The navy hospital fund was established bv act Of con
gress m ISL Its funds arc made OF the moneys teu
heonging TO the marine hospital fund.- which had accu-
mus.-d q ON deduction OF 20 cents rer month from
The pay OF every officer, and marine the per-
wee OF TIE Cuited Sta,cs and Of like deduction still
continued The management of the fund vested
IN commissioners composed of the secretaries Of the
navy, OF war and OF the treasury, for the time heng,
who were authorised to rccure sites and build hospitals
Tor The accommodation OF SICK, disabled and decred of
! hcers, sesncn and marines Al the moneys Of this
fund were the property OF the donors and designed TO
be sacredly devoted 10 their benefit, that Of their
noor' di'aoied companions The management CT the
iund, Was trust which ought 10 have been attend.
ed to Win the same fidelity which honor and religion
exact from tho depo'tories Of the sacred Charity
VINO could neglect or misappy the mite which the gal
liant tar has confdri his government to make his
rious, o.
Upon spo, of poor land adjoining for, Ncls,n. near
Norfolk the public saw splendid naval hospital aris
ing. upon which bad already been expended more than
hundred thousand dollars No could have enter
tanned doubt that the commissioners had secured an
inspushle title 10 land which they were expcndpg
so profnseiy the sailors mites. Was !. so. No hev
had neither deed, nor written contract, any thing
ee gwen them, or the government, shadow of title
ihey were erecting this splendid edce and incurriny
enormous expenditures on the lands of private citi-
Aen VINO was not bound by any written contract
vey 10 the government.
Some years ago. correspondence was commenced
ny the Secretary Of the Navy, first with the navy agent
at Norfolk, and then with Mr. Thomas Newton rela.
I'VE TO the purchase Of piece Of land adjoining fort
Nelson as The site of Navy Hospitals and one letter
on 1ccord in The Navy Department Offering the latter
have ceased. The Office affords no evidence of anv e.
. nal bargain whatever.
On the memorable third Of March last, the day on
which all the secretaries resigned Mr.. Newton called
at the NAVY Department and presented deed convey.
hg'o ,he y s. " piece Of land in .Norf0ik county
oy0"nS forf .Feison being 81 acres, less
hese arc the very words OF the deed and th, is all
the decripon IL contains of the land conveyed Not
word is said ne TO houndariesit has neither begin
ming, lines, courses corners nor is il specified on
what side, end, or angle il aduins fort Nelson Cuid
cd by the deed alone the most as;ute sheriff after
.earehng Tor the land mus, make return Of non est
habl'aion or name Mr.. Newton demanded nine
thousand dollars The hospital fund was exSaus,rd :
ne lasi sweepinSs o: had been drawn faw days lie
Io.e oy MT iiieeTowD to make bs Commissions
here was not dollar in the treasury out of which This
demand, had it hccn just could have henn lawfully
paid. Wha, was 10 be donei II was the Sd Of March.
Mr. Newton's friends on the eve Of iaying down
me scep're OF powcr and should The reforers come
hPiore he got MS money, ten chnnces they would
not consent TO give him $4,000 for a worthless pine
shruebery In this dilemma, Mr. Charles Hay the chief
clerk, writes TO Mr. Southland, who was confined TO his
house by illness, as follows:
MIR. Newton is here, and wants his rnonev Tho
hi Tor The hospital fund is passed. but will take some
daysf get IL certified and in operation can advance
flIlebrown the sum necessary, or advance il 10 Mr.
Newton, and have the settled afterwards. Shall
20 ~" 10 which Mr. Southland answered--'' wish
you wo"apeThars the pay had better be made to L.
Now. there is positive law Of Congress- we'll known
to MIR Southard and Mr. Hay. which declares that
ne sums appropriated 6Y ia,ofor each branch of
Pema"We IN the several departments shall be SOLELY
applied 10 the affects for ,chich they are respecipey
appropriated. and NO OTHER" Yet these sworn ser.
wants oil the Executive. who himself sworn 10 see
the laws faithfully executed, for tho purpose Of ac.
commodating friend, determine aside the law al
together put their hands into the treasury and apply
"a flnn 10 k..-lr
moi appropriated can alliance Fieby0tc,l the sum
necessary says Charles Hay IL HE mower was ST.
perIor TO mar OF the President! However. lac asserted
no more than he performed. Taking OF Mr. South
ards signed 6ldnkS he made reouisi,ion for nine
thousand dollars payable 10 Thomas Fllebrown, ont of
the money appropriated for the pan of the ynru FIJI
lebrown drew the money from the treasury and paid il
over to MIR. Newton,
This requisition was tissue If Eapsehoods nm tbe
FACE o. u. IL represents Fillebrown az creditor or
dishurslng officer Of the government, and affected to
piare in his hands nine thousand dollars be devoted
TO the pay OF the navy 10 which, by law, il solely
TO he applied FilIebrown's name thrust between
Newton End responsibility and the fdisehoods on the
lace OF the paper necessary TO enable him to get
the money Had the requisi;ion stated that -os far
hospital purpr'es Il would not have been paid at the
treasury; Tor, there money in the treasury an.
rropdted 20 such purposes. But there money APP
propa'ed TO the pay Of the nary; and to get This mo
ney for fhe purpose designed, il necessary for the
navy department, TO send TO Tho treasury folSc requi
Sifion u is the opinion Of many that such paper
comes within an act OF congress, which Furnishes with
confinement in the penepiiary, The making causing
to he made presenting false writings at the treasu
ry Tor the purpose OF defrauding the u States Certain
II is that regulations and bearing such palpa
bic iaechoois on their face be used Or Lawful or
honest purpose.
But MFR. Newton got his money, and Mr. TileArown
stands charged the public books to this day with
10000 OF the money appropriated for pay Of the navy
hen called on To show what part Of the navy has
paid with H. he produces Mr. Ncwtons recent shelving
that he paid It for piece Of land,
know IL has been said that $9000 had been specG-
cs'y appropriated by congress 10 pay for this land and
that Ibis transaction only anticipated that money few
days " this true, il would be no justicat for
Tar from it, Mr.. Southland bad represented 20 congress
that the lands purchased at Norfolk for hospital pIrpos
es had been paid for This object therefore, w DO
stivey excluded from the view Of congress in making
the appropriation. These things will prove by the
bOfh
On being applied 10 by The committee en- naval affairs
TO state what disposition had been made Of the moneys
belonging to the navy hospital fund, &c. MIR. Southland
replied, under date Of January 22d 1920 as follows:
There has been expended prior to October,
1921, SiO652 IS |
Since tina, time in purchasing lands, erect
ing buildings. &c. &c. at PbiIadelphs, 1872 1856 50
DrrTo ct .NOyfOik, 12I 200
Diito at Brooklyn aud Chelsea, 30,Ii0 % |
Contingencies incident IN The management
serters. 1880 40
S325.3lO SO
Leaving balance in tho hands og q c com
Inissioners on the eOh Dec, 1929 OF g,257 81
By these erpfn9iiUres, lands enough have been pro
cured for Hospital establishments at all me stations
where they win be required, crcept at Pensacola"
Itooud hardly be stated n palmer language ihai the
land which the Hospital erected at Norfolk, was
for tc1