Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-23
COMMUNICATIONS.


member Of society to lend his aid in vindicatine
his neighbours and friends from the calumny and
SANDER of them enemies, and having observed al
article in the Government Official Organ" OF
the 18th instant, as we'll as another of the l7tf
calculated TO injure the fair fame of some of our
oldest and most respectable fellow citizens.
deem it but proper in the discharge Of that duty
20 present some facts to the publio in relation to
the charges referred 10, and have To ask foI them
that consideration only, which they may seem to
merit.
In the article first alluded to. II is distinctly
CHARGED that the late Secretary of the Navy
and Fourth Auditor of the Treasury, In connec-
ton with the Clerks of their Departments, had
robbed the Treasury, and shared the SPOIL
Had these articles have been the production ot
the professed editor of that print the gentlemen
implicated would require no vindlcati0n at my
hands. for the bane would carry with 1t ITS own
antjdote; but when it is known that the articles
referred to, emanated from the pen of the coed
itor of that print, and that this co-gentleman Is
no other parsonage than the profound Fourth Au-
ditor of the Treasury, the charges assume an
official character, which require some notice, and
the gentlemen charged, some Nindication from
the foul sspersions thrown upon them.
As the article OF the 18th eX0ncrates the
Clerks at present in the Fourth Auditors Office.
the charge Of the 9Th must. as a matter ofoourse,
be intended to apply to the clerks renewed from
that Office This being the natural and conse-
ouent inference to be drawn, shall proceed to
state some circumstances connected with the mat
tiers in question, which trust Will place all par
ties in their true coiors, and enable the public to
attach odiGm and disgrace where it properly be-
longs.
II is known to all who are conversant with
the mode Of doing business in the public offices in
this city. that disbur.ing officers are required to
state in the acquisitions which thew draw on the
Heads of Departments the particular and speci-
&c objects for which the money is required, and
that when warrant is issued for the amount
called for, the individual becomes charged with
the amount under the various heads designated
in that requisiuon. As the person drawing the
money is held accountable for it. he is presumed
20 know, that, any application OF it, to other,
than the purposes for which it was drawn, would
be improper. lie is also presumed to know the
individuals who are authorized TO direct the ne
cessary disbursements. and that for any money
paid except By the proper authority OF the pro-
per officer. that he cannot receive credit for the
amount so paid, and must, as a matter of course,
be held accountable for It,
These being facts which do not admit Of con-
tradiction, then ask the public To say, whether
the only :. robbery" committed on the Treasury
in the case of the late Fourth Auditor, was not
committed bv AMOS KENDALL. for tins indivi-
dual had no mare right to credit Messrs. Harris
and Paulding with the money paid by them on
the drafts of t. Watkins, than he had to credit
himself with it. These individuals drew money
from the Treasury for specific objects, and they
knew, as well as the present Auditor now does,
that any drafts drawn on them BY the Auditor
must and would be considered as pJ9rGie trans
action between them, as the Auditor had no au-
,hOritv 10 direct the manner in which the money
III their hands should be disbursed, and could, as
4 matter of course. have no control over it.
These credits, too, were not given to Harris and
Pauldiag until the present Auditor was advised
by the Counsel for the United states, during the
progress of the trial, that the only manner in
which Watkins could be convicted of fraud on
the Treasury, was to give the two Agents from
whom the money was obtained, credit for the a.
mounts. These credits were promptly given and
the Counsel informed of the fact. And thus it
viii be found, that, for the purpose of producing
q political effect, and to throw odium on the late
the Treasury was actually de-
frauded bv Mr.. .9mos Kendall, inasmuch as he
had no right nor authority, direct or implied to
credit Harris and Pauldins with the amount paid
BY them on the drafts of Watkins. Had the Sc
cOnd Comptroller performed his duty. these Gre
dts would have been disallowed; but the object
in view was to be obtained, without regard to
principle or propriety, and to crafty political
ends, The Treasury was made the instrument
to effect so desirable AN object
This, then, is the Immaculate Amos Kendall. |
who, if we are to believe his own words. shud-
iers even at the idea Of fraud on the Govern
ment! As, however, he is a great stickler for
specific appropriations, and has great horror of
the practice of charging disbursements under one
head of appropriation to another, he can perhaps
inform US under what head the credits given to
Harris and Paulding were charged.
Thus much for the fraud committed on the
Treasury. Now for the aiders and abettors of
he fraud.
find. on enquiry. that not one of the clerks |
eformed from the Fourth Auditors office was
.ver engaged, directly or indirectly, on. the ac-
counts Of any NAVY agent in the United States. |