Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-18

Wood bury's letter of the 10Th, enclosing
one from Price, dated the Goth, showing
his individual liability for judgments on
protests, and stating that the notices OF
protests we're estimated At between $780,
600 and 100000.
i Woodbury. then, in letter to Barker,
dated April 23d, refers Swartwout's let
} ter to him,and suggests that Swartwout
should furnish Hoyt, his successor. with
funds to meet refunded duties paid I'M
der protest.
Barker, iy letter to Swartwout. dated
Gath of April, states his of the elst had
been referred to him, and that it was
necessary he should so furnish Hoyt
with funds.
Barker to Swartwout, April the 26th,
requests him to render his accounts to
the First Auditor. Gilpin, the Solicitor,
IN letter to Barker, April the eth, en-
closing Prices letter, as district attor-
ney, in reply to the Secretary's, of the
18th of April, showing the list of suits.
This letter of Price, dated the 25th of
April, to Gilpin, shows that there were
but two suits pending undecided-dam-
ages in one $4,000, in the other $3.50
so, and the amount of unsatisfed judg-
ments to be but 1861 63; the whole
amount for which Swartwout was indi-
vidually liable but S7,720 As. And,
further, that there were lis protests,
uncertain in amount; shut, by examina-
ton of invoices and appraisements at
custom-house, the amount of each claim
could be readily ascertained." He adds {:
81 will apply 10 the present collector
(Hoyt) for such statement, and trans
NIT it to you, upon my receipt thereof.
1t will, however, require several days
to prepare such document"
Now, sir, in this letter we see that
Swartwout's excuse for retaining this
large balance of S201 900 to meet ST.
900 was false, or could readily be made
to appear true or false in period not ex-
ceeding, at most, ''several 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, number
ed 9, and to his report. Mark you, sir,
page Sd, he SAYS:
"a further inquiry into the case was,
however, Immediately instituted by me,
through the First Comptroller and Soil
citor of the Treasury. 1t terminated in
an impression that the facts and the law,
as to suits and protests. might Justify a
short delay in the adjustment. See cop
les of letters Nos. to 80 &c.
/ The letters to 8, in his report, are
his of the 18th of April, Gilpin's of the
eth of April, and Prices of the 95th
of April. In the very next paragraph
of his report he adds:
'.But the Comptroller was, notwith-
standing, directed to bring Mr.. Swart-
wout's accounts to an early settlement,
and to have prompt payment made of
whatever amount should appear to be
not IN doubt or controversy"
Now, would not any one suppose,
| from this report, in this connexion, that
| this direction to the Comptroller was
given subsequently to the date of this
letter from Price of the 25th, faIsifying
Swartwout's of the 10th? The Secre-
tary intended to create such an impress
sion, but, upon referring to the No. he
cites, you find it his old letter of April
l6, prior in date to all this correspon-
dence with Barker. Gilpin, and Price!
So far, then, from his taking any
steps after this Justification of Swart-
wout's excuses for retaining so large
balance, you find no step whatever I'M
til letter from Wolf, the Comptroller.
to Swartwout, dated June 18th, nearly
tUo months afetr Prices of the 25.h,
stating that upon an adjustment of his
accounts he was charged with the enor-
nous sum of Sl,365,377 10!
90, III
Wrinkle of the Treasury; but next
comes lazily along another letter from
the Auditors Office, signed by clerk
Mahon, TO Swartwout, dated August 3
-tpo months, again, after VOLTS ad-
Extraordinarily four months after Pri-
ce's of the 25th, which was to admit of
but a short delay, and which required
only several days." at most-caIling
upon him TO forward his accounts.
Swartwout took steam for England in
two days afterwards, August l6thi If
this was speed, Ego IL, ye terrapins!"
Put Woodbury. after Swartwout and
Price! He gave them the word ''go,n
and said, 81 am coming!' A Musco-
Wy drake after night hawks! Sir, every
step he took was like those of his own
unwielding body-heavy and slow; ev-
cry 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, August 31st, half a
lunar after the bird had flown, that
Swartwout's accounts had not been re-
ceived! On the Sd of September his
(Swartwout's) securities were notified
that he had not rendered his account
The poor fellows took advantage of this
notice. no doubt. They were fools, i'll
they did not; and then came the circu-
lars, the letters of inquiry, the des-
patches to New York, the busting ac-
tivity, the hurly-burly of confusion, and
wonder, and surprise "Why, why,
why! Swartwout is gone. He is de-
faulter! Vino would have thought it?
How did it happen? Can any body tell
how? Can you, Mr.. Auditor?-you,
Comptroller?-anyb ody?"