Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-05-21

we gre pu0Hcify To the inform afIon,
which is contained in tbs following ex-
tract from a Philadelphia paper. DR..
Watkins has always been considered
oRe of the most active and efficient off
GERS OF the government, and an imputa.
ton of this kind against bis character
was not expected The public should
be cautious in forming an opinion until
tho whole facts are laid before them.
The accusation comes from foul
source, and therefore should be receiv.
ed with caution. We would be the last
to attempt to screen any man from JUS
tice who is proved guilty Of fraud But
he who could make a stab al the char
acter of bis benefactor, WHO had in fact
warmed him into existence, would find
but little difficulty 10 attempting to as
sassinate the character Of any man.
Should the charge against Mr.. Watkins
prove 10 be false, which we have no
doubt they will, then let the Indignation
of every honest man fall upon his SLAM
derer, Amos Kendall
Rockville Tru. finer.
From the Philadelphia Sentinel of May 2.
DIR Tobias Watkins, recently fourth
auditor 10 the Treasury Department of
the United States, was arrested in this
city late at night on Thursday las, upon
warrant issued By the District Judge,
wherein he is charged with sundry frau
dulent practices in procuring money
from the treasury An order for the
removal of the prisoner to the place of
trial was procured by the district attor-
uey, and yesterday at noon DIR, Wat
kins was taken to Washington under an
escort Of the marshal -Rumors upon
this subj ect have been ia circulation for
some time back, which as the law is Ia
king its course, ought not to be repeated
in public Journal, and we therefore
refrain. The warrant had been out for
some days, and I'VE understand that
measures TO sttain its object, either here,
at Boston, or 10 New York, are 10 &C.
| tive progress.
Dr.. Wasktas.--We request particular stten.
ton to the following letter of the correspond
-nt Of the U. =, Gazette, whose statements and
speculations uTon passing occurrences al Wash
lDgtOn, have been 50 accurate and prophe tic
The Enquirer hinted that the defaication a.
mouhteolto $45 900; il has dwindied it the cor.
respondent ot the Gazette is worthy of csedit.
10 about S4, 300, end even this is matter rather
OF suspicion, aud the suspicion OF enemies too
than Of certainty. We begin to think that the
whole story is unfounded, and that it may have
originated in The excessive zeal OF Amos Ken
dali 10 distinguish has vigilance Rich. Uhig.
Letter fropa Ha8lfngteu.-YLVk
WASHING ros, May 2,1S2s.
CDR Watkins, the late All Auditor, as ar.
rested at the suit of the u. States in Phladel.
phia, about Ii O'Clock, on Thursday evening
lie had been TO Boston on his own private bust.
ness, bat having received a letter from one of
his $685. communicating the reports that he was
defsulter. which had been With great industry
circulated hers, he intsn0y set out on his re
turn to meet the charges; aud was on his way
when ;aken al the Mans on HOUSE, in your CT.
". 1t had been asserted here, with great seem.
ing confidence, by his Political enemies. that
he had ab.conded for the purpose Of evadnr
responsibility and II 10 suspected that TO keep
up This idea, the Older was sent on 10 New
York and Philadelphia, t. arrest him, ,ss soon
as it was disc covered that he was about to return
20 Washington.
"rhe affidavit of Amos Kendall, on which
the process was founded, is dated on Su1tdav
last, the 26th ut. and states his SUSPICION and
belief on examination of the books, and on the
information OF clerks, that BIZ. Watkins had,
on unauthorized acquisitions, drawn money, at
suadry times, in the names Of Mr.. Pauldlng
MIR Harris and others, to the amount Of a ,2OC
dollars. This, il viii be perceived, is fltogeth
or on erbdrte proceeding. 4 little explanation
may clear ep any apparent deficiency OH the
books; and the information OF clerks must be
received with great caution, at a moment, when
every Individual of them is trembling for his
situation, and ready to do much to conciliate
those by whom his destiny is confronted. The
friends of the late administration have the full
est confidence in the integrity of DIR. Watkins,
q confidence which is felt by all who know
him; and they have firm beliesthat he will be
able satisfactorily 10 show that whatever ma,
have been his private embarrassment, he has not
been guilty of any violation of his public trust,
They reason thus, not exclusively on the ground
OF his personal character for inte gritty but also
from bis whole conduct. Had he neen consci.
Gus Of guilt, he would have taken some pains
to prevent exposure, by affecting compPom-
Use with the individuals on whom lie is repoVted
to have drawn. He must have known that &C.
cordng to the system adopted in the public of.
fees, delinquency must be detected; and ,hst
when detected, Mr.. Adams would as inflexibly
have punished him, as General Jackson can,
Should It be established, that Or Watkins has
been guilty of any violation of his trust. the
friends of the late administration will be no
more disposed TO screen him from the lepiti-
mate consequences of gui';, than his enemies.
But they have entire confidence in his honor;
and possessing this confidence, they have seen
with feelings of deem INDIGNATION tha nn,o.oi,,