Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-10

ave, nor any member or members OF that roiy.io
settle the accounts of the Auditor Treasurer nor
DO The same laws require OF that Department by
actual tale, or by any prescribed mode tchGtSO
ecef, to ascertain at any period periods of time,
th' amount OF money in the Treasury. The 1884,
section oil th- law of 1919, gives TO the Executive
Coun n con'roul over the Auditors and Tieasur
er's Offices, and invests the same Department
with power TO remove the .Auiitor only, Tor mis-
behaviour.
The same section provides that i committee OF
tire Executive shall have power, and is required,
no! to seize any CONFLICTING accounts, or amy ac-
counts oil either officer above mentioned; but to vi
at and examine said Offices once in three months 81
least, or oitcner and TO report 10 the Governor in
writing under their hands, the siiuation OF the
same; the state OF the books and papers TO the said
officers belonging and what changes or additions,
sha'l III their Judgment be proper for conducting
The business which report shall be by him laii
ogore the board! and entered in their proceedings
and thereupoD 1t shall be lawful tor the Executive
10 usFect such correspondent changes in the bust
ness OF the said offices they shall deeui
ry Tor the better conducting the same.
In 'hls provision ci the-aw il sill at once be
perceived that nothing is specifically directed save
that the examination shall be by a committee oil
the Executives that il shall he reported i'm toritiny
and siSTled, and shall be entered OF the Journal OF
the Executive. All beyond these, the mode OF
enquiry, the recommendation ot changes in the
manner OF rausaclng the business OF the officers,
and the enforcing new regulations, referred
to the discretion oil the committee and the body
before whom the report is TO be exhibited.
So to the third section of the act of Assembly o.
the 18th February, 1870, directing a comparison
between the settlement made by the Auditor and
Treasurer, and the ascertainment of the sums
deposit. and i'll the Treasury, is entirely silent
10 the manner in which the examination shall b.
prosecuted; and 1t is worthy of notice, that the last
provision SO far modtes the proceeding directed
by the law of 1919, 10 declare, that The future
examinations Of the Treasurer's and Auditors
counts, shall take place o,liy at the end OF each
quarter, thereby limiting the power of the Execu-
tive 10 make intermediate examinations.
Neither has il escaped the attention of the coun-
Gil, that literal performance oil that which is
CURED by the third section of the law of 1920,
utterly impracticable. This section declares,
that Tor the purpose OF examining the settlements
between the Auditor and Treasurer, the Commit
tee of the Executive shall repair to the Treasury
Office, at the end of each quarter, SC SC.
The end OF such quarter is the hour OF O'Clock
on The last day OF the quarter The law has
directed any suspension OF the operations either
OF the Treasury Auditor, at any stated period
previously to the end of the quarter.
he latter ofncer then, in di 'charge of his duties
compelled 10 issue warrants both 10 pay and re-
ceive, ill the last moment OF the quarter; and
these warrants the duty OF the Treasurer, requires
him TO obey. IL follows them that OH the last day
oil the quarter, no settlement between the Auditor
and Treasurer, ever has been, or even can be
made; and the committee Of the Executive are re-
fact, is at the period required by law non -enti-
| ~. In order TO accomplish the purposes OF the
law, the Executive, Ii is believed, have literally
ooeyed It, where modes and forms have been
prescribed, and where obedience has been prac-
! tcabie, and in those instances referred to their
discretion, they have, it is also believed, in good
| faith, prosecuted such measures as seemed TO
them calculated toprotec the interests of the COM
| moEwealth.
The reports of the several Executive Commit
IN he
are regularly entered the Journal of the Coun-
eli; these will exhibit detailed account OF the
manner OF prosecuting the quarter yearly exami-
nation; indeed, they are regarded as the only &C.
cudte sources OF information, for "A report profess
sediy based on individual recollection, is at this
time scarce attaiIabe, and ought not it is presum-
ed, to be relied OH, if attempted.
Thus much, however, may be safely affirmed:
that the late incumbent OF the Treasury, never
hesitated to exhibit TO the examining Committee
the amount OF money called for, as in the Treasu-
ry, by the state of the account between him and
the Auditor; and indeed, generally of himself, and
without waiting Tor requisitiOu by the Commit
tee, displayed it upon the counter o; his office.
Whilst on this branch OF the subject, the Coun.
Gil viii remark, that the counting of the money
In The Treasury, "a far as il be designed as
test oil the integrity OF the officer, is one whic
they regard as utterly falacious. provided the Trea-
surer has reason to anticipate regular or stated
scrutiny into his transactions. That Officer at the
close oil any day OF almost at any hor, must know
| VIC amount winch the warrants drawn him,
anu the money on deposit in Bank, will REQUIRE TO
appear IT. the Treasury, in order TO balance hi, ac-
| counts win this knowledge, nothing would ap-
| pear more practicable, than with small portion
! oil out door credit, (much less than NAV be pre-
sumed 10 belong to an individual who has absolute
contToi oil the government of a Bank) to provide
| a sufficient sum for the expected scrutiny and
when that has passed, to return that sum TO the
quarter hence it shall have been derived The
plan OF cross checking upon the deposits in the two
state banks, is believed by the Council TO have
been that practised by the late Treasurer TO eff
anu conceal his use of the public money: and
this plan, II must be apparent, the Committee
| had no power to detect. By the banks il
might have been, and doubt was detected:
OUT In the multiplicity OF their transactions
ana no prominent fact 10 awaken suspicion A.
gainst all officer recommended by an annual q
preston OF Legislative confidence, il might have
escaped the notice of those institutions without
| lmputation Of blame upon them. 1t might have
| been detected by the Committees Of the LegisL,-
ture, clothed as they are, with the penarv now
ers OF The body they represent But how I'M
der existing circumstances, il could have been
| known to the Executive, the Council cannot vel
conceive: they could not compel an exhibition Of
the books OF the Banks; their constant appIicotior
was constantly answered by statements in stiict
| correspondence with the accounts OF the Treasury
Under such condition OF things, it is asked: can
1T be thought strange that with no lust imputation
OF neglect of duty, the Executive or its Commit
, lee may have been deceived? To demonstrate
! the liability to imposition under circumstances far
more Propitious TO the discovery of truth than those
incidental to the examination by the Committees OF
tile Executive, the Council will here advert 10 the
! report oil the joint Committee of the Senate and
rouse OF Delegates made the 9Th of Januarv
iast, al period at which il IS now said stlspicion
had been awakened in the minds of some persons