Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-14

court. The proper officers to settle his accounts were the
4th Auditor and I'd Comptroller, and upon their decision.
which found him TO be a defaulter, the President had ,
right to dismiss him from the service, unless, within a rea-
sonable time, he accounted " satisfactorily to him" for
the defauit-and there was no obligation on the President
to appoint a Court Of Enquiry, or TO constitute any other
tribunal to review the decision Of the Auditor and Comp.
troller. But as Randolph complained that Injustice had
been done to him by the accounting officers of the Govern
ment, from improper motives, and denied that he was a de.
taulter, the President, although he had entire confidence
In their integrity and capacity, yet, in a spirit of liberal
Justice, determined TO give him an opportunity of account
ing, according to his request, before a Court Of Enquiry.
and TO afford him an opportunity of generating himself II
he could, before them, from the charge of having asplied
TO his use the public money placed in his hands for the
public service.
lie, that the Court found Randolph to be Indebted to the u.
States In the sum of $I303 IL, after literally allowing
him every credit for which he could produce even a sem,
o'ance oil evidence. He was still, therefore, found TO be
indebted to the United States, although the sum above
mentioned, was less than the balance stated against him
by the accounting officers, and he was thus again report.
cd as a deisulter, and that too by tine tribunal which he
himself had applied for to judge his case.
So1,, maie uheir decision, January IL, 1888. On
appears by his letter OF that date, informed Randolph of the
result OF the Enquiry, and called on him to pay the bal.
ance found by the Court to he due TO the United States.
Instead OF paying the public money which he had so
long Withheld end which the Court which he himself had
asked io'' found to be due from him, he attempted by frivo-
'ous ana uniounded claims TO evade the payment and TO
withhold the money which the Court had declared TO be
d9e: The President, as appears by the date OF his order
oil dismissal, iorbore to act until the 18th OF April, a period
OF nearly three months after the date of the Secreiarv's
letter, appriz'Dg Randolph OF the decision of the Court
Ample time was therefore gain afforded him IN accom-,
to the President for bs default and having failed ~ ac.
count, aud refusing TO pay even the balance thus found
10 be due from him, the President had bat one course to
take. The law had pointed out his duty and he was
bound to dismiss Randolph from the public service. And
We undertake TO say that more iorbearance never was
eA.enued 10 any individual in similar circumstances than
TINS man received from the officers OF the Government.
The Editors ofthe Inteligencer say, he ought to have had
Inc privilege OF a trial byhispeersu "a legal court martial" ~
Did those candid Editors ever hear OF a court martial an.
pointed TO try whether an officer entrusted with The dis
6ursement OF public money, was a defaulter or moi, Did
they ever hear that a court martial was the legal tribunai
10 settle the accounts OF the disbursing officers of the Co.
vernment! Can they name a single case in the history of
our Government in which a court martial was raised for
such a purpose after the decision of a court of enquiry ,
they know as well as we do that such a proceeding Yould
De without example and they seek to coniound the pro-
eui'S usuai III cases u military ohences-with the en-
ureiy dnssimiiar proceedings in the cases of officers entrust-
ed with the disbursement of public money. After the
hndlngoi the court OF enquiry, and the failure of the par
" 10 accountina reasonable time, satisfactorily 10 the Pre-
sident Tor his default"-it was The Imperative duty of the
President by the express terms of the act of Congress- 10
"dismisS him from the public SERVICE" The appointment
OF a court oil enquiry in such a case is nothing more than
the selection OF a tribunal 10 assist the President i'm decid-
ing whether In point OF fact the party is a deiaulter as re-
ported by the accounting officers, and whether his default
can be satisfactorily accounted for or not. The President
$ himself the officer who is required by the law to decide
and ne has no right TO transfer his duties to ,cour, mar
uai Is true that the same court of enquiry which in
lvestgates the accounts may be required also to examine
INTO any military offences with which the party is charged
and to report their opinions upon them. And if further
proceedings are deemed proper in relation to offences of
that Character, a court martial would probably be ordered,
except in very fragrant cases which left no doubt of the
quit oil the party. But where he is proved by the court of
enquiry TO be a public defaulter, unless he pays the mo-
ney due TO the U. States, or accounts TO the President sat-
islactoriiy Tor the default, II is the duty OF the President to
DISMISS nun from the public service, and there is no occa-
Such is the brief and plain history Of ,hjs oaso -,
laws OF the United States, in the eloquent language of the
Presidents answer, holes a public deiaulter "o be I'M.
worthy oil the naval service of this republic, and an unfit
associate for those sons OF chivalry, integrity and honor
who adorn our navy 1t therefore directs him TO he die.
missed rom the public service-and the President has
obeyed its mandate in the case of Randolph. IL certainly
does not diminish the offence, if the party is found TO have
attempted TO throw the odium OF this default on the me-
,nory oil the discussing officer who immediately preceded
HIM.
This short statement of the case, will enable the public
to do justice to the condact of The Editors of The IpIeIIi-
gencer and TO appreciate their q .dmerican feeling"
The public will see the unworthy misrepresentation TO
winch they have resorted in order to 0ertenuafe' the
outrage upon the law-or TO draw off the public attention
from The insult recently offered to tire American people in
me person OF their Chief Magistrate. We do not envy
mem any support which they may hope 10 gain by such
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF WASH.
INGTON,
Held at the City Hall the sh May, 1888, on the suli CT
oil The assault committed on the person of the President
OF the United States, at Alexandra, on Monday the Glib
instant.
a large assembly of the most respectable citizens Of
Washington convened, after a short notice issued about
midday this afternoon, in the Hall OF the Council Cham
ber-wheD,
On motion Of DIR. ". Jones, the Hon JOHN P.,yAN
\ Ess, Mayor OF the Ciiy, was called 10 the Chair, and
Col. c. X. Gardner appointed 10 act as Secretary Of the
the meeting.
Several Resolutions were proposed, when, on motion
VI WI D"HcdHSon, o committee oil u was appointed by
'he chair TO take the various propositions into considera.
non, and report RESOLUTIONS aud proceedings for the adop.
non oil The meeting The following citizen. were dosie-
mated members of the committee; MIR. Duncan on, Dr.. j.
VI. Thomas, DIR. VIM. Jones, MIR. thomas CARRIER, y in
N. I. Causin and Mr.. j. G. Bryce.
Alter the Committee retired, the communication of the
Mayor, TO the Councils OF this city, and the resolution
unanimously adopted by the Boards of Aldermen and
Common Council-and the prompt and patriotic proceed
ings and Resolutions unanimously adopted by the citizens
OF Alexandria, In town meeting, were seyeraIIy read 10
this meeting.
The Committee, on their return, reported to the meet
ing the following resolutions, which, after {, discus
sion, the question being finally Pot by the Chair, were
unanimously adopted
RESOLVED, That with feelings Of deep regret. we have
heafd oil The wanton and dastardly attack made on the
person Of the President of the United States. on Monday
the 9th inst: by Robert b. Randolph, late a Lieutenant in
the u. S. Navy.
ReSotued, That his singular depravity and unparal.
leIed Abandonment, in making this attack, have excited
IN the members OF this meeting, emotions of the utmost
scofn, with those of sensitive Indignation.
ResoiUed, That for this outrage upon the venerable and
aged man, who has shed so mucr aud such brilliant lustre
on the history OF America, Robert Is. Randolph deserves
the universal detestation Of his insulted country.
hes0fU6d, That, ii any doubt previously existed of the
propriety OF Robert Ii. Randolplis dismissal from the ser.
vice OF the United States, this last act of his inCamv
" proves him TO be unworthy the naval service of this re.
public, and an unfit associate for those sons of cbiyalrv. in.
tegriy and honor, who adorn our navy"
Res0tred, That the Chairman and Secretary of this
meeting, accompanied by the citizens in general, meet the
PRESIDENT oil the United Suites this evening, at the steam
boat wharf, and tender TO him the cordial feelings of this
community. and : q nrpace in liz oo.I II.