The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-21
From the M AZ Amsriean,.. I

I From the NJ NJ American.
| DEFAULTERS---THE WAY THEY ARE
n TREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
The Globe. referring 10 the delac alton Of the Post
master q Mobile, says -
1--WE authorized 10 state the facts ia this 10
bs Us follows viz.
.The Postmaster at Mobile called at the Department
few weeks SINCE aud stalled that he was ON Journey
for his health, which had been feeble for somc mogths
On the evening OF the day he called the Post
master General d his house. and stated that be had
been TO the AUDITORS office, and found that large
amount Of drafts had been drawn upon him, which he
feared could not all be met. He was asked whether
he had been oyerdrswn. He answered ia tina mega
iiye but said. that during his sickness some lime ego.
his agent had applied portion Of the funds Of his Office
TO his private responsibilities and desired know what
would bs the consequences f the drafts paid
He told that il single draft protested there
would undoubtedly be change Of Postmaster at Mo,
bile that his would assuredly be presented TO
the President with the facts OF tho case and that the
course Of the President could mol be doubted He said
he would return Immediately and encessorto meet the
drafts, but expressed doubts Of his ability 10 do
This is the Substance Of what passed Although the
object Of the Posimasers call seemed to be TO obtain
indulgence he did directly ask it, probably because
the language Of the Postmaster General gave him no
hope Of obtaining il.
The next morning instructions wero sen. to an
agent 70 60 to Mobile forthwithf any draft pro
tested take the Office out OF the possession OF the
Postmaster and endeayor 10 secure prompt payment OF
the money due to the Government"
This is, undoubtedly, the best face that can he put
upon the matter, and what is the real aspect oft
receiving officer sworn, aud having given the securities
required by law for the faithful discharge Of his dntes
tells his official superior that the public funds have
been used for his private benefit, and asks--not
what will be the penalty Of such breach Of uustbut
what the penalty Of not paying the drafts Of tho Co
vernment upon the public moneys that should have
been IN his hands. The reply is-not that the uniah-
full officer be dismissed for breach Of trust
but that II any OF the drafts protested, he would
be dismissed. This 10 the true Spartan moralily-that
the discovery Of the theft and the theft ITSELF is the
| crime. It's plain ntimaion TO all Receivers and
Collectors. that only that they manage to pay the
Government drafts presented, they may use, they
please, in the Interim the funds Of which they are
trustees
And yet with such practice before u.s. the nation
Is called upon 70 adopt the Sub Treasury, Of which
Of the chief provisions is that all the moneys collected
or received for Of the United States, TO be
safeiy kept by indiy iduas. Receivers General and
others who TO be bonnd up by all Of forms and
securities but who in the presidents Of the Treasury
Department will lind proof upon proof that 80 long as
they active aud faithful parsans the Secrcery will
not De rigorous as 10 their puncuality in complying
with Instructions their fidelity in keeping safely,
and nor using or lending. the moneys committed 10
| their charge.
II would really seem that there is no limit 10 the as
10 impose upon the creduly Of the people, whose in
tellgence they profess much TO prize With their
promises and professions contradcted by their habtua
practice they yet 60 on, from day day, csjong the
popular with inaxims of economy, and forms
fully devised to secure fidelity in public oficershilc
in fact they squanderng the national treasures and
encouraging and protecting acknowledged and detected
defaul,ers. Viii not the people their eyes and
their understanding
After writing the above remarks, found in later
number Of the Globe, some additional explanations con-
corning the agency Of the Postmaster General in this
natterthe chief Of which are that The Mobile De-
putty is appointed BY the President and Senate the
Postmaster General could no, remove himbut that he
had, in effect taken the office out Of his hands, the
agent despatched to Mobile having found its pecuniay
affairs in disorder.
This still leaves objections untouched, that this
Deputy dismissed suspended because Of his
breach OF trust In using the public funds, but because
he could not replace them in time the demands
OF the Department.