The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
roR rue MADIsosIAN.

The washington Globe" OF the 18th inst, con-
lains speech OF the Hon. Mr.. Duncan, Of Ohio,
partly delivered in the House Of Representatives,
and partly written out, but not delivered during the
late session Of Congress. In that part Of the speech
not delivered, is the following paragraph;
But another mode Is adopted by the Federal party
having the majority in either House, to swell the
expenses against the wishes of the Administration,
and then charge the extravagance 10 H. For ex-
ample, the present session, the House printed more
than one hundred thousand dollars In documents,
many Of them not worth the paper, (now made
waste paper,) on which they are printed. OF this
sort Is a volume OF one hundred and thirty-eighi
pages consisting entirely of the cancelled dras of
The Treasury, which my colleague Mr.. Bospl cali
ed for, and had printed. He could have had no mo-
tive in ling for this but 10 make fat job Of rule
and figure work for Gales and Seaion. Il Is just az
valuable work as many cancelled checks drawn
on bank. In the beginning OF the session, MIR.
GARLAND, OF Virginia, Conservative, called for the
correspondence OF the Treasury with the banks
The House was informed that there were mol clerks
In the Department sufficient TO prepare II during the
term Of the members. II would have made fat
job Of al least $4,000, on which the genlleman's
friend, Mr. Allen, wsnld have had a per centage,
and Gales and Seaion their profits. Another call
was made by him for all the documents In regard to
the defaulters TO the Treasury; and this would have
been to copy and print the papers OF the office OF
the Solicitor Of the Treasury out and out This
would, besides the expense Of copying, cost al least
$500O0m for printing. II was found there
not clerks enough TO make the copies, and Mr. GAR
LAND moved resolution 10 authorize new appoint
ments for this purpose, but i failed. This shows
what the Conservatives and Wings wonld hare DONE
by way oil bringing grst 10 Gales and Seaon's press
10 afford vast profits 10 them, and increase the per
centage of Allen. What they have done appears
from the gross sum of hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars for the extra and present session of the
House printing, with IN arrear Of fifteen thousand
dollars yet To be received for with forty three thou
sand dollars for books and q. least ory-n ne thou
SAND In be re Ali zeda m he Sam rail- fpr he al
preaching session, showing an aggregate Of TWO
HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEvEN THOU
SAND DOLLARS for one branch of Congress
for one Congressional term whereas Messrs. Blair
and Rives have received during the six years my
colleague [Mr BoNDl has scanned their printing,
only one hundred and sixty thousand dollars Tor
Congress printing and materials, and one hundred
and fourteen thousand from all the Departments for
the same time"
This paragraph containstwo charges against me
the FIRST that In the beginning Of the late session Of
Congress, made a call for "the correspondence Of
Ms Treasury aciA the 6anks'--the second Is tina,
made another call for all ae documents in regard
10 ls defaulers Of Me TSeasRry"-each Of which
documents il is said would have COS, the Govern
ment $4,000 The Globe Of the Goth inst repeats
the charge in the following terms :-a He (speaking
Of Mr.. Bond and his specify could join Mr.. Garland
in calling for the BANK CORRESPONDENTS for YEARS
BACK which would have made volumes as large the
old documents in whieh Gales & Seaton received
800 O0O" If made any such calls do recollect
them; il did, am ready TO admit that they were
not necessary, and that am Justly censnrable but
l am well satisfied that Mr.. Duncan has been mis-
led upon this subject, and that upon examination
Of the journals he will find that he is mistaken both
TO the date and the scope Of the resolutions which
offered.
The resolution TO which have no doubt Mr. Dun
can refers, offered in the beginning Of the
late session. but was offered on the 18th day Of Octo-
Der last four days before the close of the
sion. The call not for g all the correspondence
Of the Treasury nth The banks" but for the names
Of all receivers collectors deposilors Of the pub
| lie money, who were in default 10 the Government;
the amount of such default, the length Of time due,
the security given if any, and how much had been,
or would likely be lost together with all correspon-
dence upon the subject from the LIST day Of January,
/ 1884, TO that time call confined in its scope en-
tirely 10 existing defaulters and in the correspon-
dence to period Of four years only. The following
is true copy of The resolution
" Resoiped That the Secretary of the Treasury COM
muncae to this House early in the next session as
practicable. the Of all receivers collectors de-
posters Of the public money, WHO
the Government, The of such default the length
oil time due, the security given, If any, or how much
has been, will likely be lost together with copy Of
oil correspondence upon the subject, from the LIST day
| January, 1884. to this time"
This resolution was read in the hearing Of the
House before was offered; il was then offered and
| taken up by the unanimous consent Of the House
and adopted without a single dssentenv, as well as
| recoect. This call, which was made on the l2th
day of October, not answered until the l7Ih day
of January following, and then only in part The
report of the l7th OF January, contained list OF the
Deposie Banks and the names Of the collectors and
receivers in default, together with the amounts due,
the character Of the security given with explanatory
| notes; in fact The whole resolution was answered,
except the copies Of the correspondence called for.
Appended to this report letter of the Secretary
of the Treasury, accompanied with one from the
Solicitor Of the Treasury, to him in these words
OrrIcE OF THE SoLIcIToR OF THE Treasury
January Is, 1888
SIR: have the honor to return herewith the state
Of the First Comptroller Of the Treasury OF the
amounts due from certain collectors Of the CUSTOMS
which referred by you to this Office the 9Th De-
cember, 1887 and also the statement Of the same Off
Of the due from certain receivers Of public
moneys which referred by you to this Office the
2ah December 1887. transmit herewith an abstract
of the information which is urnishedby the records and
correspondence Of this Office relative to each Of the
in these statements II is impossible in this Office
to give any thing like an accurate summary Of :" the
that has been is likely to be lost !"
any opinion be here formed the subject except
conjecture further than be derived from the
and abstracts annexed to each particular 1t
will, however be seen from these that in all probability
Of the largest balances will be entirely paid, and
that many others will be greatly reduced
In addition to the statements received from the
Comptroller, transmit statement OF balances due
from the late deposite banks which have failed
the acquisitions Of the Secretary Of the Treasury under
the Of 10Th October last and also statement Of
balances due from banks formerly repositories Of the