The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-11

leled national disasters We answer, from the
Wolnl mismanagement of the affairs OF the people
by their agents and the attempt toinlroduce new and
unried expedienls" into the system OF conducting
the fiscal affairs Of the country by our rulers.
The Sub-treasury scheme, now recommended
and urged for third time, by the Executive, has
been declared by prominent and influential friend
Of his, (Mr. Wright, OF the Senate, to have been
impractical operation since the suspension Of spe
Gle payments by the bankSin May last" lS37 I'm
der this system il is, that there enormous defalca-
tions in accounting for the public money, and gross
derelictions from moral duty by the federal officers,
have occurred. Can the people want further illus
raions of the pernicous practical operations OF this
scheme than are exhibited in these cases We
should think not.
We would respectfully ask, what will become of
The especial report of the Secretary Of the Treasu-
ry" that the President said in his message, is to
bring to light defalcalon of the gravest charac-
ter 2" That had relation TO Mr.. Swarwout only.
That OF Mr.. Price, il seems, unknown at the
time What becomes now of the mode referred to
by the President OF the way in which this defal-
cation Mr.. Swartwout) was so long concealed 7"
" e bracing portion Of the period during which
the public moneys deposited in the Bank OF the
United States" and "the whole of that Of the State
Bank depose system" As little had the defalca-
lion Of Mr.. Swarlwout TO do with the deposites of
the public money in the Bank of the United States
or the State Banks, under the deposite system as
the sudden departure from the country Of Mr. Price
whether defaulter to the Government or not, had
to do with either. i
A most extraordinary effort is made, in the ac-
count that is given in the Globe OF Saturday night
Of the disappearance of Mr.. Price shift response
Utility. While The chief .ofa Department seeks to
avoid responsibility on whose head is it to fall 2 No
effort has been left unresorted to, to throw the re-
sponsibility Of Mr. Swartwout's defalcaon upon the
shoulders Of The Comptroller and lst Auditor. Pre-
badly the Solicitor of The Treasury will be singled
out 10 take the responsibility in Mr. Prices case.
The article in the Globe relating to this case,
though bearing semieGeiat complexion, is bung-
ling affair. He says: ~.
The face OF this letter, and Mr.. Prices sudden and
unexplained say secret departure from the
try, gives to fear that he has3 acted in collision
with Swartwout, and that the lately discovered dealca
ton is Joint concern" ~
And soon after, in the same article, is the follow
ing: :.... :... -
The Journal of Commerce says:
"The extended bonds he claimed the right to re-
tain al his Office for collection, and they amounted TO
millions" ....
1t is not true that the extended bonds were allow
ed TO remain in his hands after the passage Of the
law which required them TO be returned to the Col
ector. All those which were entitled TO extension,
he was directed to return to the Collector as soon as
the act OF Congress passed and he forwarded
10 the Treasury Department the receipts OF the Col
ector, Swarwout for them. No bonds could have
remained except those in suit, without fraud and
collision between him and the Collector.
Firstit is charged that there has been collision
between Mr.. Swartwout and Mr.. Price; and then it
undertakes to show that there could not have been
any, and that it was impossible! Where was the
Secretary Of the Treasury that he did not know
what bonds g remained" and what were in suit
Here is another proof of what we have, for a long
time past maintained. the imbecity, want of capa-
city, and total unfness of the present incumbent of
the Treasury Department for the office
The Globe makes this an occasion to show the
necessity Of the farccal and worse than ridiculous
"visitoral power, recommended by the President in
his late message" A Congress Committee OF THIEF
cArcHERs This case, in our opinion, serves to show
most fully, the utter folly oflhe recommendation, and
the perfect inutiy of such committee. Did not
the First Comptroller and the Solicitor of the Trea-
sury, two high officers Of the Government, imme-
diaely connected, and perfectly conversant with the
affairs of the officers proclaimed defauters, go
on to New York, and, in person. examine into the
whole matter of one of them and yet did not discern
that there was collision, as is now charged, be-
tween the two2 Can it be supposed that Commit
tee Of Congress, wholly unacquainted with the de-
tails of Custom House officers could have brought
to light these transactions which escaped the search
ing eye of these officers OF the Treasury Rdcu-
lous
We submit our conviction to Congress and the
country, that committees of Congress are need
ed; any new legislation to prevent frauds here
after, TO any important extent. The present laws
and regulations are amply sufficient, if they are
rigIdly enforced. And we assert before the whole
world, that the monstrous frauds at New York and
defalcations Of Receivers, that have been reported
during the last three four years, could have
occurred, had the affairs of the Treasury Depart
ment been properly administered The very efforts
made to explain the New York defalca,ions, furnish
proof, in themselves, to confirm that which we have
often said that the affairs of the Treasury in
state Of utter confusion and chaos.
The collection Of the public revenue under exist
ing laws and regulations is matter of the greatest
simplicity, unattended with any Of the 'delicacy
and difficulty" that has often been ascribed to il in
high quarter. Let exemplify First in relation
to that portion derived from imposts. Every vessel
upon being admitted TO entry, lodges two copies Of
the manifest Of cargo; one for the Collector, the
other for the Naval officer. Every permit given TO
land goods, after the duties have been paid Sc
cured is signed by both these officers, Each make
monthly and quarterly returns 10 the Treasury De-
parlment of the amount Of revenue paid or secured
on the duiable articles that have been imported
and thus far they are in reality, what they were
intended to be, checks each other The Collec-
tor is required to render weekly account of all
moneys received or collected by him; and under
the deposi,e system place the same at the credit of