Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-07-19
ANOTHER EXPOSlrION-MORE
l,I(SHTl

The following 10 an extract from the speech
delivered by Din. SoUTnGATE, ~ KY, on
the Treasury Note Bill. II will be read
with great interest ny all who ,rant light!
understood, and hero in my place, before the
assembled Representatives. OF the People,
charge the fact TO be. aud challenge any gen.
ilcsnan friendly to the Administration To- de-
hy, If he dare, (and if he does, I W i'll prove
the charge from the record, that your land
office receivers, in and out Of Office, have in
their hands the enormous sum Of one million
nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
(Sl $3.50, 600 ) that your deiauliing custom
house officers not how in office, but who
have been fully surieited and given way for
a fresh set, have in their hands the round sum
Of ono million four hundred and ,%enty Sc.
ven thousand four hundred and ten dollars,
(Sl ,427 ,4lO,) making, in all, three millions
three hundred and seventy seven thousand
four hundred g. ten dollars, (S3 1877 ,4l0. }
Nor, sir, does this sum include the two thou
sand and more Of deiaul,ing posimnsters; nor
are the custom house receivers now in Office,
who are defaulters to the Government, and
other receivers and disbursers Of the public
revenue, embraced IN this estimate, because
the Secretary OF the Treasury, for reasons
hest known 10 himself, has declined to give
US the Information. Aud, sir, that the com
mittee, and this nation. may fully understand
the subterfuges and shutting evssions of the
Secretary Of the Treasury in endeavoring 10
conceal from us the true condition of those
in office, and the amount OF The defalcaiion,
beg TO refer the committee 10 the resolution
which passed this House on the motion of The
honorable gentleman from Virginia, MIR.
Garland, and which, together with the no.
vel reason of toe Secretary, l shall read in
support Of the charge, and Tor the edifica,ion
OF the committee. Here is the resolution
"Rssolrsd. That the Secretary of,he'rrea-
sury communicate 10 this House, as early in
the next session as practicable, the names OF
all receivers, collectors, or repositories Of the
public money, who are in detanlt 10 the Co
vcrnment; the amount of such default; the
length of time due the security given, il
any and how much has been, or will like
ly be, lost: together with Cory OF all COR
Tespendence upon the subject, from the Isl
Of January, 1884, TO this time"
This resolution was adopted at the extra
session, and it not only required the Secrets
~ Of the Treasury 10 send US the names of
call reeeivsrs, collectors, or Repositories Of
the public money, who are in default" but
10 send US also oil the correspondence 10 re.
iaiion 10 tho subject repeat, sir, The Sec
rotary was ordered 10 inform US "lpho are an
default" The resolution was general, full,
and comprehensive requiring The names ef
all 'who are in default" those in Office, as
we'll ss those out of Office. And, sir, instead
Of complying with the plain and simple
meaning OF this resolution, apparent upsn lis
lace, and which could have been understood
by any school boy in my district Of ten years
OF age, he has sent VS., fer our edihcaiiun, a
list OF public defaulters, who were not in Of
fee on the 18th OF October, 1887! Not one
word, not one name, or ono letter, With re-.
Ia 49, IT.. l.
quiry, and say something which he suppo.
sed would satisfy my honorable friend from
Virginia, Mr.. Garland, who was curious 10
know the true condition q: these biped sub
treasurers, he gives us in his report the fol.
Lowing most extraordinary reasons. He says,
Bur ii will be seen that they do moi in
ciude any cases connected with the Post Of.
nee Department, as its concerns have usually
been kept separate, and are supposed not TO
be embraced in the purview of the resolu-
ton. For similar reasons, the cases Of dis
bursting officers, attached t. the army and
navy, or TO other departments, and the cases
oil individuals, such as merchants and former
purchasers OF public lands, are not included
though the Indebtedness Of many of them is
worry great"
What Mr.. Chairman, does The Secretary
mean, when he speaks OF the cases of "indi,
''oOatS, suSh as nero baDts' and "former
purchasers OF public lands!" These are moi
The Individuals embraced in The resolution
WI ny, siT, this is downright insult TO the
understanding Of tho House Does the Sec.
re'ary suppose we are So stupid as 10 believe
that there are any merchants" who are de. |
faullers TO the Government. az COLLECTORS.
TeCs,rers, or dlsbursers Of the public rsrenue
NO such Ihing.-rhey owe Tho Government.
II is true, for duties Oh goods imported. blu;
does II therefore follow tina, they are defauI
.ers within The spirit or intention OF the teso. |
luton 10 which have referred? The Secre.
tary, moreover, knew that, BY law of tho
extra session, those merchants were permit.
led, on certain conditions, TO withhold psy>
meni fer The periods and upon the conditions
therein provided. So much for the merchants
And then comes The "former purchasers Of
public lands" Why, sir, ] ss.. nssopished. |
WHO'S II that owes the Government the first
dollar as e former purchaser of public |
lands: Ths Secretary ovgh, TO know. as
every cody knows, thai fhe former purcbas.
ers OF public lands, made under the credit
system, have long since either relinuuished
The purchase and obtained scrip therefor. or
forfeited the land 10 the Government. an.
peal TO every Western man now before me
10 say whether or not SIN right. "Ydu
Know, (pon,ing TO Mr.. Hamer, of OHIO !
you Know, sir, that your Secretary either
knows nothing about this matter, or is will.
July practising deception upon this House
! am sensible, MIR. Chairman. that mi.
may De considered somewhat OF a Jiyression
rom .he main question, bot have been fnr.
70" 'i'U WIS debate, oil this late hour. epains,