The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-01-12
WHOLE NO. 3OI5.

the violation of them all the beneficial results of
state Establishment are enjoyed while its incon-
vehiences, improper tendencies, hazards, and dis
appointments, are avoided. 1t should also be Off
light consideration, in a Republic that liberty IL
most secure, and the people least exposed to cor
ruphon or oppression, where the administration Of
tue civil authorlty Is fartherest removed from the
influence of monied Institutions
After the passage of the law Of Congress at the
last Session. making provision for the settlement of
the Claim OF Massachusetts upon the United States,
for the services of her Militia and for measures of
defence, during the late War; it might confidently
have been expected that little further DELAY world
- anftered IN ohtsigaa FINAL LIQUID slilr, Of the
Accounts anc payment d tf ,.-,.-, least 81 the
e1lent Of the appropriation. Tho Act, indeet n
terms, referred the Claim for exarlination and AL
jGstment, upon certain priaciPee of d-s.,nination
in regard 10 .he character OF the service TO tho
prf rei Accounting Officers of the Treasury under
instructions from the Secretary of War But az
the Accounts had already been before the Depart
ment where they had received minute and crit
cal investigation 1t was supposed that the appca-
ton of the provisions of the Law to the results of
the previous audtings would, at once, be conclu-
sve of the favorable disposition of the greater part
of the demand. BY rules much more rigorous
sum exceeding -Four Hundred and Thirty Thou
sand Dollars had been found admissible against the
| United States and It needed but reference to the
| public Documents 20 be convinced, that no part of
| this amount could now BIO excluded The political
objections which had heretofore been interpossd to
/ the settlement of the Claim were waived by the
passing of the Act, and the services were manifest.
~ OF description to be brought within the scope
Of its remedial provisions. BY the first Article
under which the right to compensation was mainly
| 10 De insisted on 1t was required only that it
should be made to appear, that the militia were
called out to repel Invasion, or under we'll found
ed apprehension of invasion and that their numbers
were not IN undue proportion to the exipeucy and
the accounts were to be settled upon the came nrns
ciples of allowance which had been adopted in tho
settlement OF the claims of other States in similar
cases; In the proceedings Of the former auditing
the whole Claim had been reduced TO the strictest
classification under heads of discrimination MAINLY
| to be understood separation had been made of
the different parts of the account portion. con-
slstng OF Hnobjectonable and admitted charges
became certain and ascertained debt; the doubt.
Jul or unsatisfactory items recurring exclamation
or lurther proof of their allowance constituted a
suspended balance j-and it seemed but necessary
to present the existing state oftke accounts to the
view of the Secretary, under the reference made
to him by the law, 10 obtain his directions to The
! immediate payment Of the liquidated part and in
| structons TO the Accounting Officers for the reys-
ion and examination of the remainder
40 tllhe was lost In attempting to engage the
nest attention OF the Secretary TO the subject As
early as the 9Th of june tthe act having passed on
the SIst OF May,) addressed to him letter refer
ring to the law, and requesting to be informed how
soon the business night receive his directions The
delay which had already taken place. of more than
tJteen gears from the dates the disbursements,
! ana the earnest desire of the State for immediate
| payment. were pressed upon his consideration He
! was reminded OF the circumstance of the former
auditing OF the Account and Of the facility which
| this might now afford to their ready adjustment.
ana ne was respectfully solicited to adopt the Rer
port OF the Auditor in favor Of the allowance tn
the extent to which the charges were found admis-
| slo,s upon me principles on which that auditin
mad oaen conducted. and to cause the residue
under the more liberal provisions of the law to be
made the subject of further INQUIRY.
I Before TINS Letter reached Washington, the Sec
rotary had left the Seat Of Government. Its re-
ceipt, however. at the Department was subsequent
ly acknowledged by the Acting Secretary nnder
date OF the 10th of June with information that ait
would be laid before the Secretary Immediately
upon ms return, until which time nothing could be
zone IN regard to It," That there might be no
want oil preparation to prosecute the business
whenever opportunity should be permitted a GEN.
ueman OF high distinction, who as a Member of
me peieganon In Congress, had made himself IA
lnlilar win the merits of the Claim, and ably and
successfully indicated its justice was appointed an
Agent Of the State pursuant to the Resolve of the
Legislature OF the 9th of June last Notice of this
appointment under date of the 29th of June was
forwarded TO the Secretary, in Tennessee, with O
request that, II his return was to be DELAYED no
would give instructions to the proper Officer
to proceed, during his absence, in the exanina-
ton OF the accounts, far as the revision of
them might be found necessary. 1t was not until
the first of September, that a communication was
received from him. of the date of the 18th Of Au-
gust, at Franklin, in Tennessee by which was in.
formed, that " no rule regulation had been made
on the subject previous to his leaving Washington
but on his return the next month it should be among
the first subjects to engage his attention and thar:
: he had written to the Sd Auditor to have the ac-
count prepared and in readiness under the general
heads directed by Congress, that on his return II
might be acted upon" The Agent, who. in the,
mean time, had also addressed the Department to
procure attention to the subject now applied to
the Auditor for information Of the course which
was to be given to the inquiry with proffer of any
services which bis agency for the Stale might rem
der useful lie was Immediately answered. that
:" a reply would have TO be deferred, until tie re-
turn of the Secretary"
On the lastday of October, the Secretary reach
cd /" ashington' Were tho Agent, by few DAYS
had anticipated bis arrival. The proposition was
now olsuncty renewed personally and in writing
by the Agent, that the sscertained sum of the ,d,
msslnie charges upon the former auditing should
be pad on that part of the account, and revision
oil the residue be proceeded in, that the advance
mehI oil mat amount should be made generally and
the examination of tho whole claim immediately en-
t@red upon. After an interchange of several som-
muncatlons, and delay from the first to the 18th
of November, the Agent was informed that the va
rous engagements of the Secretary, under the or
binary details merely of the Office and the busi-
ness preparatory to the meeting of Congress made
L 1t lmpractlcable to examine, at once, into the
y Claims OF Massachusetts and North Carolina, both
) of which were before him" Upon receiving this
, information, and being satisfied that further con-
,
would be of no avail TO the interests of the State
y the Agent returned to Massachusetts,
= This particular but naked recital of facts and
/, dates, without comment, have felt constrained TO-
make, in acqultal of my responsibility and to
e afford the information due to the Legislature and
!. the People Of the State on a subject Of deep and
,, exciting public interest and socitnde The whole
/, correspondence with the Department and Report
o made to me by the Agent will bS laid before you
# trust it will thus be made sufficiently TO appear
t that neitheB in season nor in endeavoT, has my
I thing been omitted, bshafof the State, to bring
this long vexed matter satisfactory issue. We
q have the assurance of the Secretary, that,
o " speedily possible, the Claim will be attended
2. to-" The Agent will be present to represent the
If interests of the State to exhibit the proofs and Of
l. fer the explanations and arguments which may ba
required to suggest any further measures of at
d tention which may be made necessary here
l. During the recess of the Legislature, measures
have been taken to execute the provisions of the
o Resolve for the erection of u Lunatie HOSPITAL
y Upon the advice Of the Executive Council after
!, dligent inquiry and faithful comparison Of vari
Gus proposed situations and with heed to the ins
= Junction which required that, In selecting an eli,