Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-16
5DSGss ESSs0NAE.
from the National InteiGgcncer. 18th ut

(From the Natonai Inteiiigtncer 18th ut
The INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE:
Yesterday the Investigating Committee OF the f1ouse
of Defacatons, to whose labors the
country has been locking with deep anxiety Tor some
weeks past, made report to the House, through their
chairman Mr. Harlan. The report Is voiumlnous out so
reduced TO system in its composition and arrangement OF
facts as will render il most convenient tor use, as wei
ne easy of comprehension. We have the pleasure o'
presenting readers in the subJnned exrac's, Inc
PREDATORY remarks of he report, and the conclusions
which the committee deduced from the testimony TAKEN
bv tbem These speak in terms Of alarming reprehen
sion in regard 10 the manner III which nave peeh OF aIe
executed the duties OF several ct the primary omces
the Government upon the efficiency OF whose aomi
nistra,ion the security Of the national treasure must oe
pend But not having had time 10 read a,ten'ivey the
BODY of the report cannot attempt to say how far
if at ALL the conclusions exceed the slrength OF tn'H
PREMISES We consequently cannot do more now than
promise recurrence the subject al an early day
The Minority of the committee also submitted re,
nor the leading features of which, far as they tail
abort of clear Implication of officers Of Government
embody, we understand some singular positions, wei
worthy Of notice hereafter in our columns
PREDATORY REMARKS OF THE coMM!rrEE's REPORT
The Select Committee, chosen by the tiouse oil he
presenlaycs the l1ih and l9th utmo TO investigate
ihe dsalcalions Of Samuel Swsrtwout, late collector ut
the customs the port Of New York. and OF other DIN
GERS have devoted TO The faithful discharge OF the dnes
assiGned the the limited tune allowed for the purpose by
the shnrinpss of the present session OF Congress
IL was most obvious however, that The whole held O.
inquiry presented by the resolution appointing the Com
mltce could b. properly traversed to report there
on either satisfactorily TO the country or TO The Com
tee during the short remainder oil The present congress
This Immersed upon the Committee at once resoln
ton which has been rig'dy adhered to, OF limiting ,hr
investigation such Branches ot The SUBJECTS referred
TO them as huG most deeply excited public anxiety ana
alarm and 10 undertake only so much OF these as HiH'
he listed within the allotted period OF tls
Committees researches But the important results
which have attained the dIsadvan
tares advered 10, cannot fail To inspire inc country WIN
a confident hope tina, the high obligation which will
rest upon the successors Of the present Congress IN The
LEGISLATURE of the na"n, to resume and complete u"
great work Of investigation and reform OF The alarming
condition and abuses Of The Executive departments "l
the Government from the highest to the lowest, aud
from the to the remoiest tunctonarIes Will en-
gage the prompt and efficient attention which It's mag
nitude demands.
Guided solely by the character OF the Developments
which the imposed upon them by the House
has elucdaei the committee cannot resist the convc
tion that period the history OF the Federal Go
venmen has there been deeper or better onnced cause
than exists ut the present momenl, Tor every pato
heart 10 desire prompt contamination oil that sigma
task of REFORM hch pubc sentiment many years S'ncr
inscribed on the M Of EIscutire duties in characters TOO
terrible TO be ocer0oked requiring parculay the cor
recon Of those abuses that have brought the patronage
of The Federal Government into conflict with the tree
dom of elections and c counteraeon OF those causes
,eheh hare disturbed he 'ighyui course 81 appointment
and hare piqccd continued p"ncr IN uSFalrHfrL Or
INCOMPETENT HANDS
.rbs FRS, nt,crdure of the Committee after organiz
inc itself for business visit the city of n York
10 inspect there in person. the original records ano T"
oers of the custom house, in conjunction win the exa
mna,ion of such witnesses might be supposed capa
BILE of shedding gbl upon the inquiry involved by lI'
defaIcations Of Mr. Swortwout Thencetorward TINS
branch of the in resgailon was conducted pursuant
the resolution OF the House. 10 ascertain the cans'
and extent" of these d,;alcatons; the frg'h Of t'
thew have existed the correctness of the returns which
have been made by MIR. Swatwou,. and by the nava'
officer at n York, and by other officers connected Will
the adjustment OF his accounts.
Co6curren,ly with the investigation of MIR. Swar
wou,'s defalcaiions those Of William NJ Price, late dis
tr;cl attorney in New York likewise kept in view
and The fullest practicable extent Of information respect
inv them has been obtained and will be advrred to
the sequel of this report.
The correctness of the returns which have been made
by the present collector of customs and the naval officer
al the port of New York, also sought TO be exa
mined by the Committee while IN that city. "Cons
derinu that the customs collected al New York equal
nearly two thirds of The whole amount IN all The Unled
as stated in the special report Of the Sccreta,
Of the Treasury on MIR. Swartwouts delalcatIons
blouse doc 10. p g. of the present session) The Com
nlliee did not suppose that they shouid faithfully
discharge their duty to the House, or pay prope.
Difference TO that patriotic dslrust which Pervades
the country at the present time IN regard TO the al
fairs of the custom house at New York. were they
TO limit their inquiries TO the returns OF the late col
lecor and naval officer, and neglect entirely those
their successors which must, al oil times, be TO Tn
country Of equal interest with the former, ana, ut tn
present time of immediate Importance TO ih'
security of the national Treasury But, in the execu-
ton of much Of this part of their inquiries as related
to the present collector of New York. they were com
PEELED encounter most unexpected obstacles, inerpoS
ed by the collector himself and setting ut defiance tn
authority delegated to the Committee by the House.
The facts connected with the bsed endeavors Of h,
Committee to obtain information for the House AND
country from this officer OF the executive branch of the
Government who is in immediate charge Of and con
troll over public moneys that equal nearly thirds
the ,oho,e amount collected from "in all tie
United States" will be specially detailed in a sub
seouent portion Of this report.
The Committee will remark here that, in the onset
of The investigation they have made they supposed
both proper aud safe place themselves somewhat
6dingly under the guidance Of the several special
norris which have been made the House upon the sub
iect of Mr.. Swarwouls defacaons, by the Treasury
offers previous 10 the appointment Of the Committee
Combining, in this view, reports from the Secretary
of the Treasury the First Comptroller, the Solicitor,
md FRS, Auditor of the Treasury, exhibited in
House document l3. II, however, very soon became
evident that those reporls were not to be implicitly re
lied on as auxares in finding out either the law or the
facts of the case and that the contrary they fur
nsbed but an oblque view Of both the causes and du-
ration Of Mr. Swartwouts delacatons, as also of the
law and MANY material facts which develope The true
.In,usur.l Address Of Prssiden, Jackson, March H. ls9