The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-01

have overwhelmed the innocent, in the even
ing of their days in remediless ruin. Says
the New York Express
"We regret exceedingly to see that the United
States Marshal has announced in hand bills posted
up at the Exchange, TO dispose at public auction on
the 10Th OF December, all The Real Estate OF Benja-
min Birdsall, and M. M. Quackenbos, two worthy
citizens who were security for ex-collector Swart-
won't II is hard case for men at their time Of life
10 be stripped"
Who can observe these merciless operations
of the Sub-Treasury scheme, without feeling
his blood boil with indignation Yet such is
the scheme which our rulers would fasten
upon US as the permanent law of the land.
THE NEW YORK DEFAULT--WHO IS
To BLAMEs
This appears to be somewhat Of "vexed
question:" The ingenuity of the various
writer's of the Globe has been put in full requi-
siton. The singular attempts that are made
to throw off the blame and avoid the response
bility, are bringing the parties into most ex-
traordinary position.
But few days since, an article bearing
semi-cficial character, appeared in the Globe,
the object Of which was, to vindcate and de-
fend Mr.. Secretary Woodbury. from all blame
in the matter. twas strongly intimated, that
the first Comptroller and first Auditor had
been negligent Of their duty, and that the
blame must fall on them for having permitted
the delalcation, whereby stands implicated
every individual who has filled either of those
departments, since Mr.. Swartwout was first
appointed Collector of New York. Included
are the names Of Mr.. Anderson, (gone to "that
bourne from whence no traveller returns and
cannot answer for or defend himself y Gov.
Wolf, and Mr.. Barker, the present incum-
bent, for the first comptroller's department.
Mr.. Harrison, and Mr.. Miller, the present in
cumbent for the first auditors department.
Les. the attempt might fail Of fastening the
responsibility on those officers; and fearful that
it might still attach itself to the Secretary of
the Treasury Department, it was graveIy
asked, who is responsible! Mr.. Ingham,
Mr., McLane, Mr.. Duane, Mr.. fancy, or
think every one might see, the effort was
made to lead the public to the belief that, the
four first named gentlemen were equally cul-
pable with Mr.. Woodbury.!
Those gentlemen are all living. all fully
capable Of defending themselves from such an
imputation, if they shall think it necessary to
resent it.
But, it seems the present Secretary of the
Treasury is not the only one who is to be de-
Tended through the columns of the Globe.
The ever grateful Ito him) editor seeks TO de-
feud Gen. jackson from all blame and re-
sponsibiIity.
In the Globe of Wednesday night, he says,
" THE GREAT MASS OF THE DEFALcATIoN,
WE UNDERSTAND, TOOK PLACE AFTER THE
CLOSE OF GEN. JAcKsoN's ADMINISTRATIONS"
Was it not, that, Git is well known here,) the
editorial columns of the Globe are used by
various individuals, holding high places, for
their special purposes, the two articles to
which we have referred, would seem to place
it in somewhat an awkward dilemma. But,
the question? Why it exonerates all TIE
parties named in the first, with the exception
Of Mr.. Woodbury., Secretary of the Treasury;
Mr.. Barker, First Comptroller, and Mr.. Mil
Ter, First Auditor. And the first, leaves Mr.
Woodbury., or whoever indicated him, striv-
ing to throw the whole blame on Messrs. Bar
ker and Miller.
The Globe defends and exonerates Gen.
Jacksonville. Woodbury. has shaken all re-
sponsibilily from off his shoulders because,
he had no power to state and audit the ac-
counts of the New York Collector and
Messrs. Barker and Miller now stand before
the public with the whole blame and respon-
sibility resting on their shoulders through las
intimately the neglect Of their duties !
If they are guilty, then we say, let them
suffer. If they continue silent as the matter
now stands. It will be construed into an evil
dence oftheir guilt, and they will suffer. They
must come forth, speak and defend them
selves, or they will stand convicted.
For our own part, we do not hesitate to ex-
press our belief, that the Secretary of the
Treasury is more to blame than any or all
others and on his head should rightiully fall
all the responsibility. Yet, notwithstanding
that, as the thing now stands, according to the
statements in the Globe, Messrs. Barker and
Miller appear to be the only persons who are
blameobe.
1t is no light matter to be thus charged.
The loss of more than a million and quar-
ter OF the peoples money by Peculation, and
thn e b,I