The North-Carolina standard., 1839-06-26

sailed for Europe. and shortly after upon fiinI
settlement of his accounts, it turned out that be
was defauiter TO the Government for nearlV a
million and a quarter of dollars 1T was at fist
denied then palialed. but finally reluctantly ati-
mitted by his Wing friends, but particularly his
Conservative admirers. who were not very wa
ling to give up their Magnus Apollo" They
have now other heroes and other martyrs
Scarcely had the public mind recovered froh
the stunning effect ofthis disclosure, when was
once more astounded by the elopement of Mt.
Price, the late District Attorney of New York
who was found to be minus little over fifty
thousand dollars. This was pretended Demo
crat, who wore the mask to the last, concealing
his duplicity and dishonesty under popular pro-
fessions frank air, and iovial, convivial habits
No attempts were made by any party to palliate
or excuse his offences, in which respect there is
striking contrast between his case and that of
SwaHwout The majority Of the Investigating
Committee make great efforts to show that he
was motoyiOusiy disqualified for his appointment,
which took place in 1884, and for that purpose
bring up Witnesses to prove that he was devoid
of pecuniary responsibility" to employ their
favorite phrase, and that his habits were expen-
sIVe, relying among others upon the testimony of
the officer tyhom he displaced, who made large
fortune out OF the Office in an unusually short
tme,s andlwho had given universal dissatisfac-
tiob. Toisay that man is unfit for such an of
ce because he is not rich, and is fond of high Iiv-
ing woulE to be debar great many members of
the profession, some OF whom you will recall. to
your mind, without being partcularized by me.
The reports oflhe Secretary of the Treasury.
Solicitor and Comptroller, and other documents
which acc{ mpaniedthe Presidents Message, give
US full information the subject of these defaults
1t APPEARS from these documents, that Swart-
wout beEan at early period after his appoint
@-r tH l. IL
his defatatory speculatlons have, sometimes grad
ually, snd at others by sudden increase, accu-
mulate{ to the present enormous amount. The
avowab of his colluding subordinates his own
admissions, the final settlement of his accounts
and borough investigation of the affairs of the
custom house. all testify to this effect Now,
how did the default happen-why was it so long
conceded A few words will make it suffi-
ciently clear. The first misuse of the public
money by Mr.. Swartwout, as collector appears
to have commenced in 1880 A series of defaI-
cations in various items ofhis accounts, followed
and continued thro' each succeeding year, in
creasing constantly in amount till near the
close Of his official term. They consisted in
Withholding part of the tonnage duties, and
portion of the forfetures and fues; in not az
counting for all the bonds collected. and all the
moneys on hand. held either for office expenses
return duties, or in advance of the adjustment of
unascertalned duties; and In procuring from the
Treasury, under the act Of 1884 and s.nilar ones
larger sums for the balance of office salaries than
were actually required. AS near as can be as
certained, the following statement exhibits the
items and proportions of his defalcations:
Tonnage duties S1,7sS "a
Forfeitures 39823 I2
Treasury warrants 1920 C5
Office expenses 6O,29l42
Cash refunded to their merchants sO769 So
Cash 10 meet "protests" 1872, ,8664 46
Cash deposited to meet unascer-
taned duties 164, III O4
Bond account GAG, 754 e3