Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-02-03

try are welded by men, who will a. once
accord TO the representations OF a political
partizan that which they denied to the claims
Of justice, upon the honor and integrity OF
the Government
The following is literal copy (omitiing
the name of the prayer,) Of one of the bills
in question, with the letter of advice annex
ed, the words in italics being filled up in the
body of the bill, &c in wiring
No. 80, Exchange ior, $500 Dollars.
United States Nary dgeney.
LIMA, Aug. 81, 1880
Thirty days after sight Of this my third Of
sa..w...s Exchanges, first, second. and
SEAL. / fourth OF the same tenor * date
s'sssss.ss unpaid. pay to the order o.
-four thousand seren hundred dollars,
value received, which place TO accoant as
per advice, from, Sir, your most ob't serv't,
(Signed) ANDW. ARMSTRONG,
u. $. Navy Agent.
To The Hon. Secretary fine Nary, Washington
Protested fornon acceptance oath Nov. 1880.
Mn Mp.
DIETER OF ApvIcR)
United Siates Nary Agency,
LIMA, Aug. 81, 1880
| SiR.-I have the honor to hand you my
third of Exchange, of this number and date,
for four thousand seuen hundred dollars, paya
BILE at thirty days sight, in favor Of ---,
drawn to meet the expenditures. for pay Of Ma
vy qtioat on this stat,on.-Please pay the same
and place it to account aforesaid. have the
honor TO be, sir, with great respect, your
most obedient servant,
(signed) AND'W. ARMSTRONG,
U S Navy Agent.
To The Hon Secretary efNe Wary. jpasloagton.
Here is bill drawn by an authorized A.
gent Of the Government, upon one of its
most impoi tant departments, (the most i'm.
portant in this respect, II we take into con
sidcration the sums that are annually drawn
against, for the pay and subsistence OF our
Navy on foreign stations0 here is bill.
drawn by an accredited agent Of the Govern
ment, in the usual form and course of bust
ness, for expenditures and pay Of Nary a.
fioat,' bill for the paitry sum Of s4700,
which is suffered to be protested for non &C.
ceptance, the credit of the Government in
jured, the holder Of the bill put to the most
serious inconvenience, and confidence in our
public agents destroyed; and for what? "be.
cause" says the sapient Secretary Of the Ma
w, ~ haze no ecidcace kat the snns dram
for has been actually discussed 10 The squadron -
Does the cositating Mr.. Branch mean to
say that merchant abroad, prior TO the
pure base of a bill from government agent,
must delve into that agents books and strike
a balance sheet between him and the de-
partmentP Is the purchaser of a public
Draft to be constituted at once an account
ing officer of the treasury? On whose credit
are those bills negotiated On the credit of
Andrew Armstrong, US. Navy Agent at
Limap On what account does the merchant
not only give preference to those bills, but
pay for them a higher rate Of premium? Ii
is berause he reposes confidence in the cred
it of the government, pledged through its au-
thorised agents the certainty which ought
to attend their acceptance here, and which
does attend bills drawn by the agents of eve
ry government that has any regard for its
character or credit. Are we, with an over |
flowing treasury, TO be placed by the folly, |
vascillating mind, and iDeaplcity of Sc /
cretary Of the Navy, upon footing with the |
republicsof this continent, who |
have not the ability, if they possessed The
will, to honor the Drafts of their public a
gents; or are we to maintain the high char
acter for prohity, hberahty and fair dealing, |
which has hitherto rendered US respectable in |
the eyes of the world. We would ask,-net
Mr. Branch, the obtuseness OF whose intel |
lect would be too long in arriving at cor I
rect answer,-but we would ask some Of the
quick witted assistants OF the Honorable Il
Secretary, the astute and honest 4th Auditor.
to answer for him the following plain qucs-
TONS II
Is the Navy Agent at Lima an accredited
officer of the Government or not? Is he au
thorised TO draw bills upon the Navy depart
ment against disbursements for the squadron
on that station, and is The Department in the )
habit Of accepting and paying his Drafts? Z
Has the Government placed 10 his hands !
funds sufficient to meet the current expcr ses
IF the squadron without his drawing; if il has
not, in what manner are those expenses TO
be met? Is the agent trustworthy, and en-
titled TO confidence, or il not, why is he per
mitted to bold an important, and responsible.
situation under Government Is the credit II
af the Government to be sustained, ori il il
10 be prostrst ted to the level Of a mercantile |
house OF doubtful credit--and finally, is Mr. II
Branch prepared ts sacrifice the preniums ,
paid for Government Bills; is the draft of a l,
Navy Agent abroad entitled tono other cred Ii