Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-27
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
From the Globe Of Monday
r. b. RANDOLPH.

us more than the efforts to produce excitement
in Virginia IN consequence Of the arrest OF this
individual, for a debt claimed 10 be due to the
Uuited States. Although the affair ought to be
left to the courts Of justice, yet the misrepresenta
tions of those who seem to hate the PRESIDENT
so much that thew are ever ready to take the
part of defaulters and criminals against the ad-
ministrauOn, make plain statement VI 'a'''
proper our part.
n ,asoiuh was charged with the amount for
wsisa ne is arrested, in the Fourth Auditors
O.sre. .,ubseuuent to the Court OF Inquiry IN
D.. case. and he himself erptciily, and IN '0r''
ti.,g, acknowiedgsd The justice Of every charge.
aud promised 10 account IN the manner requiieo
nv the Fourth Auditor. In relation to the hea-
West item, be never made an effort to account;
and in an account current rendered by him, he
att,mpted 10 meet the other items by parcel
of claims, some of which had VIGOROUSLY passed
70 his credit-some had no foundaton-ana
some. if founded in truth. (Which was very
doubtfull we're merely equitable in their nature
and such as the accounting ofhcers OF the ired'
sury have no power to allow IL appeared that
all his Just claims and more, had been allowed
in 1927, and not the shadow OF legal voucher
did he produce for any ooe Of those now set up.
or course. none of them we're allowed, and the
whole amount charged, as ne Admitted JuS'y'
was left standing to his debit.
He was informed of the result, BY letter
from the Fourth Auditor, dated 10 April, 1885.
Nh further effort was made by him TO reduce
the amour, standing to has debit, although to
make il considerably less, he bad only to show
what portion of stores sold by him TO the ships
company belonged to him, aud what to his pre-
deoessur. Being soon after, dismissed from the
service, he betook himself to Offering personal
indignity to the Chief Magistrate, aud threaten.
Jog vengeance upon the accounting officers OF
the Treasury ana Others instead OF adjusting his
account
An Act of Congress. passed 18th May, 1890,
provides, THAT from and after the 3Oth day of
Septem Der next, If any officer employed, or who
has been heretofore empoye in the civil, militia
nv or naval departments Of the government, to
disburse the public money appropriated for the
service of those departments respectively, shall
fail to render his accounts or pay over IN the
manner and in the times required by law, or the
regulations Of the department to which he IS &C
counrable, any sum of money remaining IN the
hands of the officer, it shall be the duty OF the
FRS, or Second Comptroller OF the Treasury,
as the case may be, who shall be charged VIA
the revision of the accounts Of such officer, to
cause to be stated and certified the account OF
such delinquent officer, to the Agent OF the irea
sury, who is hereby authorized and required I'M
mediately to proceed against such delinquent
officer 10 the same manner as directed in the pre-
ceding section," &c.
The manner directed in the preceding sec.
,ion is .to issue a warrant Of distress against
such delinquent officer shall reside, &C.; "there-
in specifying the amount with which such delin.
uuent is chargeable, SC. "And the Marshal"
&c. "shall proceed to levy and collect the sum re.
naming due by distress and sale OF the goods and
cha,tels of such delinquent officer, Sc and 1t
the goods and chattles be not sufficient to satisfy
the said warrant, the same may be levied upon the
person Of such officer, who may be committed
10 prison, there 10 remain until discharged by due
course Of law, &c.
The 4th section. of the act provides, "that 1t
any person should consider himself aggrieved by
any warrant issued under this act, he may prefer
bill Of complaint to any district judge oil the UNI
ted States setting forth therein the nature and ex-
tent of the injury Of which he conpains;and there
upon the Judge aforesaid may, if in his opinion
the case requires it, grant an injunction to stay
proceedings on such warrant altogether, or 50
much thereof as the nature of the case requires;
but no injunction shall issue till the party apply.
ing for the same shall give bond and sufficient Sc.
curity conditioned for the performance OF such
judgment as shall be awarded against the said
complaint" &c.
The following points should be particularly re-
membereo, to understand the case, viz:
/ The process lies not only against a dlsbur.
sin, officer, against whom there is liquidated
balance only. but also against one who has failed
10 render his account titles against one who
does not owe the United States a cent. provided
he has not rendered accounts in such manner as
10 obtain his proper credits. Randolph himself,
acknowledged the justice Of the charges against
him; he rendered an account equal to about hall
of il. IN which there was not an item for which
he was entitled to credit; and for the balance
he has rendered no account whatever. The pro-
cess, therefore, lies against him for the whole a.
mount.
g This process is not only authorized, but d.
rected by law. The language OF the law Is "he
.4gent of me Treasury is hereby authorized and
REQUIRED Immediately TO proceed against
such delinquent officer" &c. No discretion is
left to the Agent of the Treasury, new the Soil.
eitor. He is REQUIRED by the voice OF the |
Law to proceed Immediately. &c. He has, in this
case. merely obeyed the law.
s. II the officer owe nothing, or owe a less a