Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-08
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----MaRSEs9A1 MORNING. NAY g, 1922;
SJThe rumours for some time in circulation
respecting defalcatious in the Navy Department Al
Washington, seem at last coming to head. Or
Tbureday evening last, DR.. Tobas Watkins late Atl
Auditor at Washington. was arrested at Phadelphia
ny a warront OF the u s. District Judge, granted
on application from Washington, and conducted by
,Martials escort, to Washington, where he was ex-
Peeted 10 arrive on Saturday night, or Sunday. We
are not apprised his actual arrival The ground
sthe arrest Is a.ledged fraud upon the Government
oFtim u. States Thecase was to be examined and
tined by tue civil authorities of the District Beinp
therefore IN course of adjudication, deIicacy and
justice forbid comments in the newspapers at this
time
The National Intelllgencer of Monday, says not a
weird upon the subject. In the Journal of that day
we ind the Following observations. 1t is not to be
doubted, that the worst construction has been nut
upon Dr. Watkins conduct, for the purpose of cain
ing to the new Administrations US much credit for vi
gnance as possibleand for the further purpose, of
Justfying the numerous removals from office that have
been made D,eout eaase and excusng further reno
"ais osthout cause that Gen jackson Is resolved IN
ON making. This is in exact accordance with lack
eonism, as developed in thousand hues and forms.
ofal the party spirit that existed that of Jack
snnsm is the least nerciu and the least scrupu,ous
Duff in limiting at tho defalcation of Watkins has al
ready covertly and nsdiously appealed to it. as PROV
ing the necessity of prescription, and if it shall .pou
Investigation prove to be real we may expect to see
ie mace the pretence and the Justification of an uni
SeFssl amotien of An1-Jacksouians from Office. Duff
Will certainly prove logically. thai as DR.. Watkins
Committed depreda lions upon the Treasury arioyi,
the whole party are rogues
Geanwhile, we know nothing of, the circumstances
Of Dr. w atkins case beyond bare rumor, and wish
not to be understood being dGsirous to skrecn him
from deserved odium or punshment. We only ex
press che belief that the worst CONSTRUCTION has been
put upon 1t. lie was evidently ON his return to the
District when arrested, and this docs not look like
the consciousness of guilt. We sincerely trust that
the AFFAIR may be satisfactorily explained.
''Welsam, that Mr. TOBIAS WarKIss the late Fourth An
hr was ARRESTED on te night of the , in PHILADELPHIA
city this evening We presume that the Transactions which
oI The case OF his arrest and which have been heretofore
iedai TO IN, this paper wal investigated by tbs Grand jury
70 Ire in session next week.n
Fhe foregoing article from the TeIerraph of Satrr-
day, occasions advert, for the first time to the
Tlinnors, which, for theas fortnight, have been cir
luis !nfegarQ TO the late Fourth Au-
ditor. Learning that they were founded on An ino-
~ Instituted his successor and sware of the inpe
Iuity the vindictiyeuess and the reckless mainDitv
of Anes Kendall, we deemed it but Justice to an ID
sent individual that he should have an opportunity
of being heard, before contributed to rive publi-
city to allegations which are now il is understood
to DE tho.subiect of judicial inquiry. We were con-
hrmed IN our convictions of the propricty of this for
bearance, by Knowledge that the late Fourth Au-
ditor was absent business, unconnecled with his
former official relations to the Government and that
ms return might be expected about the close of the
last month. That the administration believed the bust
ness to be thus uHconnected is apparent from the Te
tegTaph OF 2eth ult md the correctness of our ex
pectation is evidenced by the fact that the late
Fourth Auditor, left Boston for Washinoton on the
gath nit and had advanced this voluntary Journey
as tar as Paiiadelpha, when he arrested under
the authority Of the u States, the President being
unwilling. 1t would SEEM that no should return IN
der any other circumstances, to his home and to his
ftnniiy.
As the charges against him are SO speedily to be
before more solemn tribunal than that
OF Mr.. Kendall. any detailed commentary on them
wonld now be premature. We cannot, however,
refrain from renarking that from the accounts which
We have been enabled TO Obtain they all snscep-
tibie of explanations consistent with the hitherto I'M
assaulted and unsupported honor OF the accused; that
our long established convictions of his integrity lea
us no room to apprehend that they will be impair
@ that he has been subjected to ex parte inuu-
Sltion during ms ah5pnce, and at the hands of his
drest foes; that his arrest based the affidavit
OF a witness who had on former OCCASION obtain
cd unenviable reputation for veracity; aud that
mis- voluntary effort to meet his aceusers, afford pre-
sumption IN his favor which il would require some
thing more than such affidavit to put down. If
any consideration can strengthen belief in bis in
Docence it is the extreme folly in him which implied
IN contrary supposition For the offences imputed
to him are of q pature which would have made them
constantly liable 10 detection uuder the last admins
tEattOu; and he knew too well President Adams and
sts Cabinet. to hope for one moments mpumity to
guilt. In the mind of that illustrlous citizen patr-
otism has ever been paramount 10 every oher social
consideration, and he would have enforced the law
tho late Fourth Auditor, if obnoxious to IT, with
40 little hesitation the unworthy person who
has stcccehcd that officer, any other delinquent
And II may be added that the late Secretary Of the
Nayywould have been the last man in this ration to
stay the hand Of public justice
We shall now only remark, thai five did not be-