Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-02-02

writing the following letter:
s.Receirer's Office Fort Wayne, Oct. p, 1885
.sSr: This is inform you that | have Tor
,carded to the depostc bank one hundred and -four
thousand dollars in silver there to remain until
arrive with the gold and paper money. l"hy dlu
he not 20 along with III!
.My democratic friends think that ought not
to leave until after we hold election for Presi-
dent, Oh the seventh of November, which have
concluded to await, and shall leave on that ere
ming the next morning, to deposite, with all
the funds on hand up 10 that time shall wiite
you again before leave. The sales are rapid;
mostly paid in gold and silver NV quarterly
report will be forwarded by merit mail, for last
quarter ,chch ought to hare been done sooner only
for The want of help in the office Hereafter, |
think can get my reports off without much de-
lay, after the close Of the month and quarter.
Il am vours, respectfully,
JOHN SPENCER, Receiver.
"IIon Levi Woodbury., Secretary of the Urea
sury."
This bold avowa of sending large portion OF
the public money by other hands, an! awaiting
himself to unite with his democratic friends at the
Presidential election, does not appear 10 have
been the cause of complaint the part OF the Sc
cretary.
Aud here, sir, is his answer to Governor Hen
bricks:
"Ireasury Department, September :, 1896.
ed, and am happy to inform you that Mr. Spen-
GERS explanations have been such, that he will
probably continue IN office.
II am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
LEW WOODBURY.,
Secretary Treasury.
"Hoa VIM. Hendricks, Madison, Indiana
Is this not wilfuI, base official corruption? Sha-
wing with the public money was mere ''irregular-
i,y'' and Improper praciices, thrice proved lad
United, reported, become 'uEfounded imputa tons"
as political partiZan whispered-"B Bet
ter let it be.'' Sir, these words ought to be in
scribed over the doors of the Treasury Depart
ment and to be braided, like Gains infamy upon
the forehead of Levi Woodbury. -"Better let ii
be!' Sir, this embraces all your principles and
practices in respect to investigation of fraud, en-
bezzcment, corruption, and official malv crsation
for wears. These words converted of sudden
the Secresary's trowns and threats INTO the clear
est perception OF "d,ficnl'ies," and the ciearest
proofs into "unfuunded impu ationsn' After this
what should be thought of this Secretary's denun-
ciatien of any charges ''unfounded imputa-
tions?''
am now done with the review of these cases
And, after what have laid before you let me ask
What use ,rould there be in humbiing ourselves to
become spies and censors to report defalcatioas
and crimes to this Erecutire, uih a pie,c to a
ENACT THAT "TIIE APPLICATION OF PUB
Lie MONEY BY AN OFFICER OF GOV
EMINENT TO PRIVATE USES SHALL BE
FELONYr' Will reports or statutes avail any
thing? Vain and idle. they would the more cloak
and conceal and protect these punderers. The
President, if he will, may say, as the Duke of Vi
emma, disguised frar in his own capital tina,
he might erooE the actions OF his people:
''My business in this State
Made a locker on, here, in Vienna:
" here corruption boil and bubble
Till il o'crrun the stew Lac for all faults,
But fault, coateaa,iced, the strong statutes
Stand, like forfeits i'll a BARRIERS shop,
As much in mock as marx
Pass any pains and penalties, adopt any sys-
EN- Of laws YOU pIease-United States Bank, pet
ank system, sub-,reasurv-an let me ask if
ither could be expected to work well in the hands
f such men who '.countcndnce" such '.fduts ?"
'ir, are told by tina; philosopher in govern
nent, VIM. Penn, that the best system will be rs
he worst if badly administered by bad men; and
hat the worst system will be the best, fright
ously administered by good men. Yes, sir, ,
hange of men is what IS wanted-a general turn
ut of all fathless trustees und servants.
l must bring my remarks to close--I am ach-
10 from my head to my hips. But. sir, did tell i
lie truth falsehood in 1886? Have the Ex- 5
Give Departments been conducted with ability Q
nd integrity! Let every honest man answer. 1
id the detncations OF Swartwout, Price, Gra,iot,
eCkleSS, DOvo, I1afriS Ltnn--t0e WnOle iSt,ano !!
IL me how much was stolen in 1867 But, sir, y
IS all to be thrown upon the poor banks How y
uch in default have the banks beene The Sc h
etary's annual report says:
"Frst. 4 list Of the banks still indebted to the o
nited States for defaults previous the close Of
81. none of which arc believed to have Civ en- q
igina!ly any collateral security, is annexed ?
he whole amount due. without computing II
,eres,, equals lOOO,676 dollars; and grea, fe
TT OF this must be regarded total loss. g
"Secondv. Another list of indebted banks is an Il
xed, most of which gave collateral security u
&c remaining dues from them to the Treasurer, 81
defaults accruing between 1884 and October, tf
81, though at first very large, have been redu- az
to about 100000; and most, II not all, of "
csc debts. with some others, owing to public "
bursing officers for money, on deposite, it Is &c
n6denty expected will IN the end be paid. OF
'The first instalmcnf due from those which "
We since executed other bonds and given new \
;uriy, under the &C, of October 1887, has been DC
'mptly met. and portions of the second have al m
ldy been advanced by some of them. Suits are OF
1ding against only two, on account of their La
tiles" sd
According 10 this, nothing has been lost since
"a by banks. How much by sub-Treasuries. -