The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-24

Globe article.
| fany blame rests upon the head OF the Treasury
Department. is IL upon Mr. lNGHAM, Mr. McLAHE,
Mr.. Duane, Mr.. fancy, or Mr.. WooDDuaY, none oi
whom could, by law have interlered with the settle
ment of Mr. SwARTwouTs accounts during the pc
| riod Of his peculationsl
We will answer the question, by inquiring,
does not the " blame rest on the head'' of Mr..
WOODBURY. He, who has filed the Trea-
sury chair for four years and half, during
which period, no doubt, the greatest portion Of
the defalcation has accumulated should have
detected the peculation," although il was not
his duty "by law to have nterfered with the
settlement Of Mr.. Swartwout's accounts."--
How could it be expected that Messrs. INC
HAM, McLANE, DUANE and fancy should
have discovered the peculation while in lis
incipent state, when Mr.. WOODBURY. did not
discover it at all, even though il had been
swelled to the enormous sum Of more than
a million and quarter Of dollars In addi-
ton, Mr.. Swartwout had been out Of Office
half year, and during the latter part of his
incumbency, Mr.. Woodbury. was frequently
called on to forward him money to defray the
expenses Of the office
Another equally futile effort to shift the
responsibility is found in speaking Of the Sc
nate that confirmed the nomination Of Mr.. 8.
| in 1884.
But why is il that Mr.. WOODBURY. seizes
every occasion to drag in the name Of Mr..
TANEY under which to shield himself? Why
is it done now, when il is known that gentle
man was necessarily engaged during the few
months he was at the head Of the Treasury
Department, with the State Bank deposte sys-
tenn, the removal Of the deposites, and other
things connected with them Why is it, that
he has been SO frequently referred to by the
present incumbent of the Treasury as having
established presidents For what other pur-
pose but to shun responsibility In an espe-
cial manner has he been referred to as having
directed the deposite banks to extend their
loans on the public money, wherein great in
justice has been done that gentleman. 1t is well
known that, that was mere temporary mea
sure Of Mr.. Taney's, for the purpose Of re-
lieving the community from the extraordinary
pressure caused by tho curtailments made
about that period by the Bank of the United
States yet, has Mr.. Woodbury. referred to
it as precedentto justify him in directing
an increase Of loans to be made on the public
money near the close Of the year 1885, when
the expansion in the money market had alrea-
dy reached an alarming height.
Had Mr. WOODBURY. referred to the acts
and the policy pursued by Mr.. TASEy, gene
rally, for precedents to govern him in his adj
ministration of the Department, we do not
think we should have now to complain of the
mbecility, the paltering course, the enormous
defalcatons Of various receivers and collect
ing officers, that have attended it during the
last four years. Above all, we venture to say,
that had TANEY, CHEvEs, a GALLArIN, a
CRAwFoRp, or a DALLAS administered the
| finances of the nation instead Of WOODBURY.,
the country would have experienced an unin-
terrupted course of honor and prosperity, in
place Of being plunged, as it has been into the
gulph of corruption and ruin. We cannot re.
frain from expressing our conviction that most
Of our difficulties are to be attributed to the
miserable, mbecile administration of the fnan-
cial department Of the Government, Of the
last four years and half. Let us contrast a
few of the principles of action by which Mr..
TANEY and Mr.. WOODBURY. were guided. In
reply to RECEIVER, who wished permission
to exchange the money paid him by the pur-
chasers of public lands for other moneys, be-
fore depositing it in bank at the credit of the
Treasury Department, Mr.. TANEY said " the
Department cannot approve any exchange
,chateper in the money receired BY you; that
phich IS receired must be deposited.' Mr..
WOODBURY. in reply to similar application,
said, {" There is no objection to your erchang-
ing the specie receired for public lands for
bank notes uhich ,ciH be received by The Depo-
site Banks and credited as cash. SUCH Ex-
CHANCES ARE, HOWEVER, TO BE MADE AT
YOUR OWN RISK Here was direct per
mission granted by Mr.. Woodbury. to the Re-
ceivers to speculate with the public money;
and to similar habits may be traced, undoubt-
eddy many, if not the most of the defalcatons
that have taken place.
Again, let us contrast the language used by
the two gentlemen to delinquent officers. Mr..
Taney's was, a punctual observance Of duty
is indispensable !" that of Mr.. Woodbury. was,
the omission is looked upon as serious ne
glect of duty" A proof Of the want Of reso-
luton on the part of Mr.. w. to dischargehis du-
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