Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-21

.-isrivs. xay sJ!J, @i.ilJ, -nd Ssl,Sv0. The odd
salaries could not be dracn from the Treasury in |
that FORM but it done by drawing at the rate
of $500 and $1,000 alternately. But The Clerks
paid in regular portions according to the an
nual salary. Some indeed were paid IN the same
manner as their salaries were drawn from the Trea
sury On the accounts of those that drew in the
first manner there would be uniformly balance
against one of them, and in favor of the other, c.
very other quarter.
And 5th The Postmaster General made the
checks himself when was absent. Also in few
instances at home when applied to out OF Office
hours. The Postmaster General was agent for o.
pcning and bridging certain roads, and L THINK
checked several times the Post Office funds tor
those objects, which charged to his individu
al account the settlement of the bank books,
and were repaid when he obtained money for that
purpose from the Treasury. From these causes
there was frequently balance his personal &C
count.
The Postmaster General is by the law the Trea-
surer of the Department.; all the cash kept in bank
stood to his credit and in his name, and he had at
various times from $40, 900 to 200, 900 in bank in
his name. 1t is impossible for man who posses
ses the money to draws it would be perverson OF
terms to say it; he may overspend, but you may as
we'll charge him with the utmost amount as
ouerdra,oer, any part of it. If any one chooses
so to pervert terms; is dbomnable to charge it to
me- had no control over the Postmaster Gene
raj had no right to refuse check for any amount
or any sum in bank, or to ask him to what pur-
he intended 10 apply II, Tor the law gave MN
| the power of keeping it, not me.
| Mr.. Barry cannot be ignorant of these facts.
Soon after he came into Office, Mr.. Brown caused
Mr.. Dement, to make out list or statement Of b.
ldnces against Individuals they stood the
| books up to Jan. ], 1929, amounting to something
like $4,000, probably the very stated to
have been orrrdrd,cn that day, in tho certificate
| of Mr.. Dement,. 1t was handed to MIR. Barry, and
by him to me, and was told it had been represent
ed as SO many overdraws.
hal
Barry, mentioning, now have done, the caus-
cs of difference between ga balance and
draw with which no remarked he was satisfied.
But, after the explanation, concluded that as it
| might again DO made pretext for a false
charge, it would be better to have every
person credited for his services at the regu-
lar time without waiting for an appropriation.
This proposed to Mr.. Barry, and met
his appreciation, and the particular items that
1t would balance pointed out, which reduced the
amount to almost nothing, considering the Post
master Generals balance explained: Brown knew
all this before, perfectly acquainted with the
| books, and the manner of keeping them. Demons
knew them, his whole employment being in rela-
ton to the books; the whole subject was twice ex-
planned to Mr.. Barry; and Mr.. Dement, assisted in
posting and comparing the entries to balance: And
yet the Postmaster General, Mr.. Gardner, and Mr..
Dement,, have charged that very balance, so ex-
planned and corrected, as an overdraw. For nv.
self, considered that their previous conduct had
| rendered all documents and papers issuing from
that office under its present head wholly unwor-
thy of credit. This is only additional item. If
| in the course of my remarks / have to enumerate
several others, 1t is not because have sought for
them, delight in showing such state of affairs
i'll great public office, but because they essen
| tial 10 proper development of facts.
In my deposition before the committee, did not
aver that never had made payment in advance,
IN violation of the law. then said 81 never had
knowingly, to my recollection, since the law pro-
hibited IT." Nc individual having such extensive
and laborious duties to perform l had, could
we'll avoid few mistakes in such circumstances
Besides the 40 to so persons employed in the Gen
Post Office, whom ! paid monthly, there was a
brigade of contractors to be paid quarterly-the
moneys to be collected, the cash and bank ac
counts, as well as those Of contractors and their
exr a claims TO be settled: these, without enumera.
ting other important objects of attention, were
sufficient to prevent me from bestowing SO much
time on the payment of an Office salary, as to be
certain IN every instance that perfectly &C.
curate. The books were rarely posted up to with
in two or three months, and if had to examine
the leger, the cashbook, and the receipt book and
journal, on the payment of every individual month
| ly stipend, could never have accomplished my
other duties. / had rarely time to refer to the
books and had to rely chiefly on my own memory
and the correctness of the applicants memory as
to the state of his accounts. If in the course
OF four years, and payments amounting to several
thousand items, to persons employed in the office
IN such circumstances there should have been three
or four mistakes of overpayment, should not be
at all surprised.
I Thus i have completed the proof of the nature
OF that document; have shown that it was falsely
entitled, with intent to deceive, from an iniqtous
motive; and have carried it home to VIM. T. Barry
| himself. He is the Postmaster Generol of the u
s., the privy counsellor of the President Can it
be possible that in this enlightened country under
republican government, its public Offices have
become so polluted, one Of its highest officers SO
corrupt, as to spread before the world false and
fraudulent documents, without calling forth the
strong arm of the President, without arousing the
overwhelming indignation of the public.
ABRAHAM BRADLEY.
WASHINGTON CRY, July IL, 1881.
We this day called on Col Gardner Sen. Assist
ant Post Master General, at the request of A.
Bradley, Esq. and requested him to fur nish us, 70
the use of Mr. Bradley, answers to certain queries