The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-07

land, Allen, Hawkins Blackburn, Csrlin. Owens Can
non, Nj. J. Allen. Hutchns, Benson HoIlemah, Mitch
ell McCarty, Simpson, Hays, Skinner Blskely, Nc.
Roberts, and numerous Others Too tedious 10 men
fion," all going to The pont-oical neglect vio
laton Of law and duty, and corrupt administration All
going 10 show morethst the losses have occurred by
failure to dsposife banks and by leaving moneys in
the hands OF b-Tressurers. And more stll-that,
notwithstanding the pretensions set up in the Pres
dents Message to this session, this Administration is
guilty beyond oil former examples Of "he inyroprieiy
% aieerhng public money 10 pirate purposes"
No, SIR, will wade through more Of these cases
come at last TO that OF Samuel Swartwout, the lar.
ges,, though not the last OF the list.
Samuel Swsrtwout went out OF Office the 29ih of
March, absconded on the 10th Of August, and
proceeded against until the month Of November, 1888
How does the Secretary account for this delay
According TO the report Of this House, Swarwouts
last return March %, 1888, showed balance against
him amounting to the Of S20l ,096 40
Letter OF Swartwout TO Secretary, dated April 10,
states that he holds this subject 10 sundy suits at
idio then pending TO recover back duties.
Letter from Woodbury. TO Swartwout, April 18th,
hopes that Swartwout will deposte one half Of that
amount to The credit OF the United States.
Letter from Woodbury. to Comptroller Barker April
10Th, couid thank him to have Swartwoul's accounts
settled.
And here sir, you must permit me to digress a mo-
ment to show youa piece of Mr.. Secretays chcaneiy
IN the numbering Of this last letter You will perceive
that 1t Is dated the 18th OF April prior in date 10
Swartwouts excuses contained his letter and those Of
Price Of the 20h 2st, and 25th of April vet in the
Secretarys report, page 3d. it is referred 10 as If sub
sequent TO those three letters Of later date This is
some of Mr.. Woodbury's obfuscation some Of his
muddy water TO escape by. II is important, and you
would not observe the effect Of this upon hasty read
ing You will see the effect directly.
The next letter in the series is that Of Barker, the
Comptroller, to Miller The First Auditor, dated April
Inn In set he oil
won't. .....
Letter Of Baker to Swartwout, dated April l7th,
quests him to return his to FIRST Auditor.
Letter from Mr.. Woodbury. 10 Barker, dated April
18Th, iroaid thank him 10 call the Solicitor 10 get
from the District AHorney-asks Tom To call on Dick
10 get from Harry lin New York price list Of
the suits pending against Swartwout for urn duties,
and their amount &c. endorsed with the same re-
quest TO The Solicitor.
Now, This letter you will observe, was written in
obvious reference 10 Swartwouts ofhe 18th of April
giving these suits pending as excuse for retaining
the balance in his hands OF S20l 600
The next letter is from Swarwout to Woodbury.,
dated the Dist, in reply to Woodburys letter OF The
10th, enclosing from Price, dated the 20th show
ing his individual liability for judgments on protests,
and stating that the notices Of protests were esti-
mated at between $500 900 and 100000
Woodbury. then, IN letter to Baker dated April 23d,
refers Swartwout's letter to him, and suggests that
Swartwout should furnish Hoyt, his successor, with
funds to meet refunded duties paid under protest,
Barker by letter 10 Swartwout dated Gath Of April.
states his Of the 2ls had been referred to him, and that
it necessary he should furnish Hoyt with funds
Barker to Swartwout, April the 26th, requests him to
render his counts to the First Auditor Gpin the
Solicitor in letter to Barker April the 9th, enclosing
Prices letter district attorney in reply to the Secre
tays OF the 18th OF April, showing the list Of suits
This letter Of Price, dated the 25lh Of April 10 Gpn
shows thattherc but iro suits pending undecided
damages in one So OuO in the other $l5s So and the
If at,v6a ,,In ha h,t2 a.
the whole amount for which Swartwout individually
liable but $7,720 43 And, further, that there were
lis protests, uncertain in amount; "bnt By erdmina-
of inpoces and apprdiscments at custom house. The
amount Of each dam could be readily aseertained -
He adds
81 will apply to the present collector (Hoy) for such
statement and transmit you, upon my receipt thereof
1t will however, require sererai days to prepare such
document"
Now, sir, in this letter that Swartwout's ex-
cuse for retaining this large balance Of SOL 900
81 900 false, could readily be made to appear
true false in period not exceeding, at most
raj days" Were any steps taken to ascertain the
amount Of these protests None. And, sir here
bring your attention to the letter of Woodbury., dated
April the 10Th, numbered 9, and to his report. Mark
you, sir, page Sd, he says:
"A further inquiry into the case was, however i'm
medlatey instituted by me- through the First Comp.
troler and Solicitor Of the Treasury 1t terminated in
an impression that the facts and The law, and
protests might Justify short delay The adjustment
See copies of letters Nos. to g." &c.
The letter to 8, in his report. his Of the 18th Of
April Gipin's Of the 9th Of April, and Prices Of the
25th of April In the very next paragraph Of his report
he adds
Blu, the Comptroller was, Notwithstanding. directed
to bring Mr. Swartwout's accounts to early settle
men and to have prompt payment made Of whatever
amount should appear TO be not IN doubt or contro-
versy."
Now, would not any suppose, from this report in
this connexon, that this direction to the Comptroller
was given subsequently, TO the date o. this letter from
Price OF the 25th falsying Swanwouts Of the 10Th
The Secretary intended to create such impression,
but upon referring to the No he cites, You find in his
old letter Of April l6, prior IN date to all this
pondence with Barker, Gilpin, and Price
SO far then, from his taking any steps after this fall
sifcalon of Swartwouts excuses for retaining large
balance you find no step whatever until letter from
Wolf, the Comptroller, TO- Swanwout dated June 18th,
nearly i,co months after Prices Of the 25th stating that
upon adjustment OF his accounts he was charged with
the enormous sum of SO ,365,377 Is
This, even, startled not the Rip Van Wrinkle Of the
Treasury but next comes azly along another letter
from the Auditors office, signed by clerk Mahon, to
Swartwout, dated August l3-t,oo months, again, after
VOLTS adusmen-nearly four months after Prices Of
the 25th, which to admit Of but short delay aud
which required only "sererai days" at most-calng
upon him to jOrtpard has accounts
Swartwout took steam for England IN two days al
terwards August 10Th If this speed, "go II, yc
ferraptnsr Put Woodbury. after Swartwout and
Price He gave them the word go" and said, . am
comng" A Muscovy drake after night hawks Sir,
every step he took like those Of his unweldy
body-heavy aud slow; every indication here Is that he
was rather for giving them timely and friendly warning
to take steam, not leg-baIl
1t is amusing, now to look At the next letter Of the
Department and its date Miller, the Auditor. reports
to Barker the Comptroller, Aug 3lst half Tuner after
the bird had flown, that Searito0ufs accounts had NOT
been reccrcd! On the Sd September his (Swsrtwouts)
securities were notified that he had not rendered his
account! The poor fellows took advantage Of this
notice, no doubt They FOOLS if they did not ;
and then came the circulars the letters Of inquiry, the
desnaiches 10 New York the bnstling activity. the