Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-12-21
THE ASCENDING DEFAULTERs.

Before Mr. William Price, the late Dis
trict Attorney for New York. took his de-
parture for Liverpool, he wrote letter TO
the President. copy of which we subjoin.
Some OF its language is rather ambiguous,
ion Of all the charges now current against
him. Mr. Price says that he has had no
occasion TO question Mr. Swanwout's inten-
ton or ability to. absove himself from all
obligations to government or individuals +"
This may mean that he was so well assured
OF Mr. Swartwouts means and intentions, as
10 be under no necessity Of asking question
on the subject or it may mean that. know
ing Mr. Swartwoul's intention and ability,
no particular and immediate occasion arose
requiring him TO pu, specific question 10
the late collector Or again it may mean
that he had full confidence in Mr. Swartwout
and never suspected any underhand deal.
ings on his part. But il this last be the in
tended Specification it is VIGOROUSLY untrue,
for the fact is well known that Mr. Price was
aware of Swartwoul's defalcation some time
before il was made public In reference 10
this matter the New York Commercial Ad-
veriser holds the following language
We are enabled 10 add curious circum.
stance as between Mr. Price and Swartwout.
There is no doubt that Mr. Swartwout's de.
falcations were known weeks before the
election. We ourselves had an intimation
of the fact, and gave hint upon the subject
10 friend in Wall street, before the nomina-
tlons were made. Ii was the policy of the
government, however, to keep the delinauen.
cy secret until after the election, lest the Sub
Treasury scheme should be jeoparded by
the explosion.
That Mr. Swartwout. however, had been
advised Of the detection of his deialcations.
long before the government officers admit
their knowledge OF the fact there is indubita.
Die proof. Very soon after the bursting of
the bubble, Mr. Price received letter from
Mr. Swartwout in which the latter expressed
surprise that there was defacalion in his
money matters with the Treasury He
then proceeded TO inform Mr. Price that he
mad negotiated sale Of his Maryland prop.
eriy, or part thereof, for three hundred and
tity thousand pounds sterling and, in re-
ference TO his alleged defalcaton, remarked
to Mr. Price that it would be very unwise for
the government to make stir upon the sub
]ec' al present-that an agent was coming
over from England, 10 examiner the coal lands,
Tor the sale of which he was negotiating.
and that, SO soon as the bargain was conclu.
died. he should be able to pay over to the
government million of dollars. TTbis ad. |
mission, taken in connection with his sur
prise, expressed 10 the beginning Of the let
Ter that there was any defalcation, is quite
curiousl
In conversation between Mr. Price and
a friend upon the subject it was suggested
that perhaps it would be the wiser course
lor the government to keep the matter hush
ca up Tor The present. and await the result of
Mr. Swartwouts negotiations. Ii was also
suggested that Mr. Price would do we'll to
proceed to Washington, and arrange the mat
Ter according to Mr. Swartwoufs DESIRE
To this suggestion, that the default might
be Kept from the knowledge of the public, i'll
the deficiency should be made good, MIR
Price leplied--"b but there's the stain
But here is Mr. Prices letter, and our rea.