Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-07-23

been indebted to the Government ut the time of hs
removal, after being allowed all the credits he has
now received, about $4,000. Mr.. King states,
that he has reason to believe the Bank of the
United States set up any claim upon the Gov
eminent for the amount overdrawn by him. In re-
ply this only necessary to advert to the letter
of the President of the Norfolk Branch dated 9th
October 1929, published with the Secretarys report
page 81, in which nc says, "7he claim of this office
against the Gorernmeni amounting to S4O,i44 IL
arises out of Gdcdnces made to the late .Nupu apent
to enable him to meet demands against the Navv
Department" &c. and to the reply of the Secretary
of the Navy dated goth October, 1922 in which he
says, 81 not aware that the Department can afford
any aid facilities to the Bank in the liquidation of
the aforesaid balances" Mr. King maintains that
the amount ovcrdrawn by him, is private loan "bor-
rowcd upon has ch:eks'-and ought not to be taken
into account in the inquiry whether he was or was
not defaulter, The correspondence alluded to
shews that the officers of the Bank did not consider
ii in that light They not in the habit of loaninp
to gentlemen $40 600 "upon their checks without
security. 1t was Mr. Kings public character, the
confidence OF the Bank in his integrity as public
officer, and firm reliance that he would receive the
suspended remttances that induced them to paw his
checks 1t was not with his funds but with funds to be
reunited to HIM from Washington, that they expected
the debt would be paid. 1t was until October OF
November that the Bank obtained security from him.
1t was aot therefore, private loan, but simply an
overdrat as Navy Agent.
But the would not be altered if it ,rere n pr
vate loan. obtained upon his secured in due form
The question is not. is Mr.. King detauLter?-
1t 49, aoas MIR. King deaulter the time the Secre
tnry commenced the investigation of his accounts
he vas then defaulter the is fully ma de out
He was Navy Agent. Claims against the NAVY
Department were presented to him which he had no
money to pay He borrowed $40 900 and applied it
to that object. He brought the receipts to WASH
lngen and got credit for hem Instead of finding
any thing due to him from the Government to nav
the money borrowed. he is still in debt to the Gov
eminent upwards Of $4,000. Does not this show.
that he was in default upwards of $500 at the time
no fho a
him $4,000 to pay these claims. he would have been
charged with $40 .0c0 more than he now is and his
default would have been upwards of $4,000. He
was in default, therefore more than S4S 600 whom
he borrowed this money.
Two Treasurers of Virginia hive been found de.
iauiers. If, as soon as the first suspicion was excl
ted, they had borrowed of the Banks and placed in
the Treasury sufficient to cover their default
would not heip violation of the law and dutv have
been the same? The offence consists in oppl,ing The
public money to unkatsfH purposes, and it could not
be a:oned for by replacing the amount BY the laws
OF Virginia, the application of public money to pri-
vae uses by the Treasurer, is am totd punishable
| by confinement IN the pcntentiary. If the crime
were proved upon him, would it be- good defence
to show that be had borrowed money and replaced it.
Such an act might be a recommendation to clemep
cy, but could not change the character of the crime
This is the nature of Mr. KS defence The Govern.
ment placed money In his hands pay claims eainst
the Navy Department; he applied it to other uses;
pay those claims, he was obliged to borrow money!
ihe very fact that he was obliged to borrow proves
his default Had he not applied $40, 900 of public
money to other uses, where would have been the ne.
cessty of borrowing? If the claims he sets ur
for teis of thousands extra clerk hire and com.
missions were JUST 1t would mend the matter but We.
ny little It would prove that he applied the money
to be set off by them his own use before rad bee
decided that ne a0as entitled to it, and to great ex
tent before he hne,0 hcthe had any right to max.
such charges.
II Before close shall be able 20 show, with some
precision, that Mr. King did apply considerable sums
Of public money to private uses
i (TO CoNrISurp.l