Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-04-18

within Anew years past. IN the Land OH
ces and IN the Custom Hooses-delalea-
lions amounting, IN the aggregate. to mil.
lions Of dollars. ,has been said. and we
may perhaps be again told that these de-
falea,icns occurred lille Banks were en-
ployed as tie fiscal agents of the Govern
msnt Bot the obvious reply to This re-
mark - % 4 these repeated robbenes
were pefl>-.~let. IA despite of the checks
and s-iesusTds afforded by bank agency;
and the lair presumption Is. tina; these
frauds upon the public treasury. but for
the existence OF those checks. " orld have
been greatly multiplied. In every in
stance. whenever a de:alca'ion has occur.
ed. II will be found. upon examination,
mat The Fe1u'sii'on 10 deposIie the mo-
ncy IN Bank. had not been complied with
by lie driauiier; aud that not a cen, OF
the money. so deposited. was ever pur.
loined OF .pst. IL va. ALWAYS stolen While
II renamed ~ tie custody OF the Collec-
Tor or Receiver Had IL been deposited
IN Bank as !. was collected. IL could only
have been Withdrawn from IT. vaults I'm
on The cheek oi the Treasurer " and hence
could never have been reached. EXCEPT
Tor legal and legitimate purposes. by the
subordinate officer Abol,h Bank uycn.
I cv nov. and leave the pubic money "a
'he chests safes and yaHlis al iaGNilga,s
and the inevitable result viii be the mol
nploaiion o: deialca,iuny io at exicn, Il.
mIied Only IN number and amount by the
temptations and facilities which thi, sys-
TEN will prrsen, To- the sva,icc or the ne.
cessi,y OF the Sub-Trea>urers. The r..
| ply which Is generally made To- this OBJ
! lection u az absurd as 1. a. irite. We are
asked II Bank officers are more honest
and Trustworthy than other indivilua.. /:
We answer promptly IN the negative ::
but intelligent mon need not be told that,
III banking establishments Their. are nu.
merous ot,icer-eaoh acting as a check
I upon the oihers-aEd tina: the daily scru.
! tiny into their condition affords the Sircng.
est guarantee OF The prompt detection OF
any attempt 10 divert sny portion of their
funds 20 proper uses. individuals. ca
The other hauo, entrusted with the col.
lection, saiekeep,ng aud disbursement, Of
large sums Of public moncy--i5e exact
amount OF which cannot usually be as
ceriaincd, II they wish 10 d-lIaud, ADD
therefore 10 deceive the officers 10 whom
they are directly accountable. perhaps
for many months after It, collection. are
wholly unres'rained by these saluary
CHECKS ana safeguards; and they msv
consequently eluGe detection. a. Mr..
Swsr;wout Odd, for years. While they sre
daily perpeirating extensive frauds. And
agaln-N bile the Banks give the anples,
security 10 all deposi;ors. whether gene.
raj or special, wheihsr governments or
individuals, tor the safety oi the sums de.
| posted IN their vaults. II - impossible
that individual, always can, aud very
raTely tina; they DO. give security at all
comparable with the Magnitude Of their
actual responsibility. II, indeed this as
ser:ion had ever been problemaucal. tie
recen, deialca'iOn> ia the Western Land
Offices, aud ia The New York Custom,
House would have placed :, hevonc the
reach OF doubt: and u Is rendered ALSO
: !uieiy certain, VIVA an Accumulation
acts upon the corrupt aud demcfalihrr
( prnoipie. openly aVowed * The friends
of The present. that The oiiiees ct tie
country. instead Of being high and 70
( sponsIble trusts 70 be conferred upon the
mos, capable and worthy are the leeili-
mate ''~poils OF victory. 10 b. bestowed
upon the most olamorouS and influential
paI'izans, who display the greatest real
aud activity IN behalf Of the President. or
who can bring TO his support tie largest
| number OF voters When such naXims
prevail. and constitute The almost uniform,
rule Of action in appointments 10 office.
the secnntv for thu faithful and homes.
discharge Of public duties Is necessarily
diminished: for the obvious reason TIA:
the avoval Of such a doctrine is sImo,t
sure 20 attract 20 the standard Of She do.
minani party every needy and pronigs,e
/ political aFveniurer whose want # suit.
able qualifications Is generally ~ The ratio
81 the psfiizan igiempefsuce. which, with
the appointing power. constitutes his
chef II not his sole recommendation -
Such. nnques'ionahly. was the fact IN the
Ease Of Samuel SwsuwoGi and Wm. ".
I Price. the dciaulting Collector snd Dis.
irict Attorney Of New York. m relaiion
( 10 whom there - now general concur.
renee ~ oTinion, a. Well among tie sun.
por'rfs as The opponents ~ thr Admins
ifaiion. that they verc alike IRE ponsiils
"a pccunisry means and IN peronai char
sc'er. Yet. notwithstanding ibe snspi
cions which sfe ackno~ lodged n have
been er'eriained by The present Pfo,,.
Dent Oi Mr.. Sw ar'w outs in.exrity tis
remarkable fact. ihs' ior nearly ihre-
yesrs--fforn 1884 - le.y7--he sImin.-
tered The du'ies II be Office. a. collector
ot The customs. without gisinr bond. for
Their iahhisl Performance Nor shsil il
be forgotten that ihis shameful sud glsnng
omission was N direct violation 81 an IN.
pefa;iye law Of the land which requires
That such bonds should bs Given wiilia
lbtse mooihs after The collector accepts
hls appointment asd eaters upon the de.
charge u his dulies.
Other isaanees. lfor they are numev.
ous, might be referred 90. " Il were not
desirable 10 consult bfesiiy IN lhi. I'd
dress. On which the Secretary bsTfes,s.