Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-24

With regard to the next Presidency, the day is too dis.
tant. and II is plain that there are as yet no "Richmonis"
in the field. The horses are, however, in training : thew
commence walking over the course the ensuing summer
Mr.. Clay goes east; Mr.. Webster goes westwarl; Mr..
Van Buren, goes east, west and south. We shall advise
our readears Of all these movements as they occur.
10 our local coAcerns--the improvements which are
now II succe,slul Progress-we will devote constant atten-
ton. We will endeavor to collect facts for the Information
OF the public from various sources on this important sub.
ject of internal Improvement.
From the agricultural publications, which are now so
numerous, we will make such selections as NAV be pro-
htable to the farmer OF our valley; and this will be done
regularly every week. And last, though no, least, we
VIII continue 10 keep up for the benefit of the ladies the
marriage record the corner for poetry. and d column for
such tighter reading as may suit the taste of The better
part OF creation; and, with their permission. we will .oc-
casionaiiy insert a good joke or anecdote 10 relax the rfgid
muscles OF the old bachelor, that he may not die before
his time.
Finally. the proprietor of this paper will spare no p.in,
or expense to make II d desirable 10 all classes OF the com.
manly; and he only asks that ii may be Judged by its
ruits. EDGAR W. ROBINSON.
The National lnteligencer OF the 18Th inst. stated that
II was every clear" that the President had not, in his Or
der Diminishing Randolph from the public service, placed
his dismission on the ground OF his being a defaulter-and
that this defence Of the conduct of the President was an
"aiter thought"
We had not intended to notice this last effort made bv
the Editors OF that paper, to excite the public sympathy in
behalf oil a man who had deliberately endeavored TO insult
the American people, in the person of their Chief Mapis.
trate. We believe, that the public were so fully in posses.
sion OF the facts in the case, that they would readily be
able TO detect this new misrepresentation. But we have
siuCc OSseTVcuy tnat Tie arucle mas been CODied into 0fbcr
papers, and as it contained garbled passages from the order
oil dismissal, calculated tomislend the public mind, il ought
not perhaps to be suffered to pass without notice.
In order to be understood, il will be necessary for n, 10
re-capitulate some OF the leading facts, which have here.
tofore been laid before the public from official documents.
Randolph had been called on to account for the nublici
monies which came to his hands as acting Purser of the
frigate Constitution. And after a careful and full inv est.
uga'ion OF his accounts he was reported by the proper &C.
counting officers, TO be indebted TO the U. States in a large
amount OF public moneys which had come to his hands,
and had not been accounted for. He complained of this
curry on the subject. A court was accordingly appointed,
and after a full hearing, they found that Randolph was
indebted TO the United States in the sum of S4,3O3 IL.
He still, however, refused 10 pay any thing, and again ex-
hiblted claims against the United States, more than sufi.
cient, il they had been well founded, to cover the whole
balance reported by the court against him.
In this state of things the case came before the Presi-
dent for his final action. Randolph had been reported as
a deisulter by the accounting officers and by the Court of
Enquiry. The President was bound, by express Iap,
TO dismiss him unless he accounted satisfactorily for the
balance found TO be against him. He attempted to ac.
count for it by claims which he then brought forward,
aud II became the duty OF the President TO decide whether
the claims thus exhibited by Randolph furnished any sa.
tisiactory account for the balance against him. The
performance Of this duty necessarily brought before the
President the whole conduct Of Randolph in relation 10
his accounts as acting Purser. He could not, without
such an examination, decide whether the accounts he
produced were likely to afford a satisfactory explanation
OF the default reported by the Court OF Enquiry.
The reasoning and conclusions stated by the President
IN his order OF dismissal, go entirely to this point. He dis.
unctly and clearly places the dismissal OIL the ground that
Randolph is a defaulter-that he has not accounted salts.
iactorily for his default-but, on the contrary, by his whole
conduct proved that he had intended to convert the public
money to his private use, and that the credits he was then
claiming in addition to those allowed by the Court, were
utterly unfounded. And TO show the ground on which
the President formed this opinion, he enumerates various
acts on the part Of Randolph, which, in his judgment, go
TO establish it-such as his omission to charge himself, in
the settlement of his account with the Fourth Auditor,
with any OF the money or stores left by Timberlake
the deceit he pracised on Commodore Patterson
his irregularities in performing his duties as Purser
and aoeVe all, that he was then pressing to be al
lowed Items which had nnfnrinuclu haan nassaI - L..
credit in former settlements, or which were frivolous
and uniounded. We do not pretend to give all of the cir.
cumstances stated by the President, on which he founded
his opinion. The order will speak for itself-and we in
wife every one 10 read it with care, and not to take its
meaning from the garbled extracts and Misrepresentation
OF the lDteligencer. IL will be found throughout, that the
President is showing the grounds on which he POUNDS his
judgment, that Randolph has not satisfactorily accounted
Tor his default. He was bound TO decide this point before
ne dismissed him-and having made up his mind that the
default was occasioned by the fraud OF the party, he dis.
missed him from the service, aud sets forth in his order of
dismissal, in that clear and iorcible manner which marks
every thing that comes from his hand, the reasons why he
thought the default was not satisfactorily accounted for.
The in,eligencer further state, that no reference is made
TO the act of Congress, in relation to the dismissal of de-.
iaulters-andt they quote that part Of the order In which the
President says that "the facts which appear in this case,
and the conduct OF Lieut.. Randolph throughout the inves-
tgstion prove him 10 he unworthy the naval service OF The
republic, and an unfit associate for those sons Of ebivalry,
integrity and honor, who adorn our Navy"
According to the logic of these Editors. although the
whole order OF the President Is employed In discussing The
question of his default, and although it points directly to
his refusal TO pay over the amount found due by the court,
and his attempt to eyade il by unlounded or frivolous claims,
as the ground on which he places his disinissal-yet they
insist that Randolph could not have been dismissed on that
account, because the President does not make a formal
reference TO the provisions OF the law OF Congress under
which he is then scting-We shall not stop TO expose
such an argument: II is sufficient 10 state ID. The Intel.
ligencer undertakes the intelligence OF the people, when il
supposes they can be deceived by such reasoning.
And as respects the language above quoted from the or.
der, il is evident that the President is then speaking Of the
default OF Randolph. And how is this part of The order
to show that he was not dismissed on account OF his de-
iaulti What was IL that rendered him an unfit associate
Tor the officers Of the Navy OF the United States, but his
peculation upon the public, and his attempt to throw the
odium OF il on Timberlake, who held the office before
him. The President was satisfied from the Tvs hole evil
dence that Randolph was . deiaulter, and that he had
wilfully and intentionally endesvored to defrsud the Go
vernnnent, and to wrong The orphan children Of The
man whom he succeeded in office. II became, there
fore, his duty TO dismiss him promptly from the pub.
liz. service-and as all punishment is intended, not
only TO guard the public from the individual found
TO be guilty, but TO operate as an example TO others
The President very properly, in pronouncing his sentence,
gave TO The conduct Of Randolph that stern and high re-
buke which IL appeared to merit, and the occasion called
for. In doing this, he but followed the usage Of all tribu-
nails which are required TO iDfiict punishment. Courts Of
Justice, IN pronOuncing sentence on an offender con.
tinually atIimadyert OIL the moral t~urpiiude Of the Of.
fence, and upon any aggravaling circumstances which