Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-17

We had supposed that whilo In this passage the Court
tell randolph, they find him in possession VI money which,
he must have known did not belong 10 him, but which he
claimed as his own, they nevertheless acquitted him OF
prdudulenl intention. The error grew out OF the mad
vertence oil applying the exemption from dishonest mo.
tive, appropriated by the Court 10 the minor neylects
FIRST enumerated, TO the principal charge which formed
ne SUBJECT oil enquiry. But we are noto assured, that
he separation oil the deialcation Of the public money,
from the venal misconduct which the Court ccnsure, but
say ''did not proceed from, any intention TO defraud,'
was expressly designed to leave the inevitable inference
oil greater improperly to attach TO the appropriation OH the
part OF Randolph, OF that which did not belong 10 him-or,
Ito use the language Of the Court) for having .'REcHIv.
CHARGED HIMSELF AND FOR WHICH HE HAS NEVER
ACCOUNTED TO THE GOVERNMENT" And il is
clear that this was a wiiful and intentional wrong, because
the Court say 'that the amount of money left IN the pos
session of Lieut.. Randolph chen his accounts tcere set.
tied at Washington in 1928, teas so large that it ought
81 iISEL to hare ercited doubts in his mind as to
the correctness Of the accounts"
The Globe adds us follows:
"We at first blamed the court for not Indicating an opin.
ion 18th respect TO the course which the President ought
to pursue, as 70 the punishment of tho enormous wrong
committed, made manifest by its opinion; but we are now
informed that a Court OF Enquiry has no right TO act in this
way, in such a case. The President is bound to make up
MS own decision, and to act from the dictates OF his
own Notwithstanding, il he pleases. the learn
ing and wisdom of his Cabinet. In the instance of
Randolph, it is pretended by those who seek to preju-
dice the public mind against the course Of the Pre-
siden'' that he acted from partial views and mimi
cal feelings. There never was greater wrong done TO
him, much as he has been wronged by the violen, spiri,
OF the times. No Chief Magistrate has ever shown such
Indulgence under such aggravated circumstances. Ran
doiPh has availed himself OF four years forbearance, since
the hrst settlement OF his accounts left him i'm possession
oil the money that he knew, or ought to have known, did
not belong 10 him. In the meantime, he has had the Re.
port oil the ih Auditor against him. The Report of the
"a Comptroller affirming that decision-ihe opinion of the
Court oil Enquiry called at his request, finding him a de-
faulter, aud lastly, the decision of the President himself
which, zoe are authorised to say, was approved bv his
whole Cabinet, according with every verdict rendered
upon the issue in the case, and yet the Judgment, is con-
deinned-snd this upon the ipse Dirt of the defaulter
himself who has never yet been able to show a colorado
pretext. for an acquitial."
Tho Globe then publishes u letter addressed to the
Editor by John G. Rives-who was formerly en-
ployed, as n Clerk i'm the 4th Auditors office, and
assisted in revising Mr.. Randolph's account as Pur-
ser OF tie Constitution. The following is an extract
from his letter.
"I.ieutenant R~andolph's account was then examined TO
ascertain now his receipts and expenditures stood pre- vious
10 the arrival OF the Constitution at Boston. IL appeared
ROM mat he had paid away pror 10, and on the lst Julv,
1873, three days before his arrival at Boston, s., 9S7 4S
more Than he had received from The Government, and had
received credit Tor tin the settlement made with him i'm
oc'oner, 1873. There is no known fund from which he
couid have obtained this excess OF expenditures, cxcept
rom u government, or from the money and effects of
me late John Is. Undertakes; and il H. known that he did
not receive 1t from the former. | do not believe that
Lieutenant Randolph or aay OF his friends have ever pre-
'enueu mat he had any surplus money Of his own from
Which he could have advanced so large a sum to the Co.
vernment. l have found among the calculations made
uuiihg Tue progress OF that investigation, an account stated
al iarse' which proves the above result to be correct.''