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

Il
The clerk urges, as an excuse for the return not
being regularly made during the months of January,
February, and March, that Mr.. Spencer did moi
| mink II necessary, as the office was closed and no
business doing (This is different excuse from
what Mr. Spencer made) His rregularity since
he the cerk) states, is owing TO The great pressure
OF business and am convinced it has been very
great.
" In answer to my question, why the present large
sum now with Mr. Spencer was allowed to accumu-
late, they offer the letter of The president OF the In
annapolis Bank as an excuse, copy of which is
herewith enclosed II does not appear when il was
received, but probably about the 22d of July"
From this appears that the 500 500 80 spoken of
by The receiver in his letter of the Odd of August as
having been retained SO long on hand, was SO re-
tained by him without any such excuse as therein
| set up.
But what is stated heretofore by the examiner NAV
fall perhaps under The head of gross negligence on
the part oil the receiver which should been con-
sideied good cause of instant removal from office
But what follows must be placed under The head OF
positive offence against law principle, and morality
He says:
Upon the subject of using the money Of the United
States, beg leave 10 state that find il universally
stated and believed and it is conceded TO as fact
by the clerks In the receivers Office that both he and
hts relattte Darsoa, have been much in the habit in
the office, OF shaving money that is exchanging the
money which could not be received for public lands
the rate of exchange discount VARYING from three
TO five per cent. find in the case OF Isaiah Wells,
VI ONO, tnat, so recently as the Oth
instant he paid into the hands OF the receiver in his
office, eight dollars for exchanging two hundred and
forty dollars OF Ohio bank notes of five dollars each.
To what extent this shaving business has been car
| ried on in the Office OF course do not know but
am satisfied il has been very considerable extent;
and that the Government money paid in by per-
son has been handed out by the receiver in exchange
Tor uncurrent, or not land Office money-he receiv-
ing for his own pirate The discounts as agreed
upon; and that the same Government money again
is passed into the land Office be again used for the
like purpose, in pay for the public lands. That the
receiver has taken in bank notes If five dollars
trary to orders, the schedule prepared at his office
herewith enclosed, will prove; that he received
bonus for taking the same is, think, almost beyond
a Doubt"
The examiner adds
"P, S. Mr.. Spencer has just come in, having been
far as Richmond where, by obtaining discount on
some drafts due in September. originally taken here for
land, he enabled to swell his deposte there to $751;
s3l 81; which, together with the money taken with
him from here, and money, enabled him to
depose to the credit Of the United States i55 906 His
own account will stand thus"
Here he states the account, debtor and CREDITOR and
strikes balance, bringing the said receiver indebted
the United States in the sum Of $5206 "a, which was
at first stated at S32l6 g. but corrected or the last
page
After this report Of West was made, VIM. Hendricks
wrote to the Secretary the following:
Madison, August 81, 1886.
"SlR am informed that some things are stated re-
Gently to the prejudice of Colonel John Spencer re-
ceiver at Fort Wayne and am requested to write you
" In doing So lean only say that have been gratfed
IN learning that his depostes have been made your
tisaction and, if so, nope that minor matters if
mere irregularities, will be overlooked He is reputed
to be honest and honorable man. and do not believe
that he has intentionally either done wrorg or violated
his instructions couid, TO e1ien produce er-
element, If he remoped for he has MANY trarm
and influential friends both at Fort Wayne and in
Dearborn county from which he removed his present
residence. BETTER LET IT BE-
With much respect,
civilian HENDRICKS.
Hen Levi Woodbury., Secretary Of the Treasury"
This was enough. Better let it be And i'm
medialely the Secretary wrote TO Spencer the fol-
lowing:
Treasury Department, September 2, 1886
!" SIN: have received the report of MIR. w est,
upon the transactions of the land office under your
charge; upon which lbeg leave to remark that the
Department trusts your deposites will hereafter be
promptly made and that no exchange whatever, OF
money, Will take place on any terms as they open
door TO improper practices and uRtounded imputations
am happy TO add, that the Department can readily
see the difficulties in resisting opportunities to ex
change money, and TO receive what is not permitted
by regulation Ii can also duly appreciate vour eL
cuSes for not making more prompt returns and more
frequent deposites but it trusts that hereafter more
rigid conformity TO your instructions will be practi
cable, and will remove all cause of apprehension and
complaint.
:" | am, very respectfully, your obedent servant
"LEVI WOODBURY.
"Colonel John Spencer, Receiver, Fort Wayne"
This is not only great falling off from the tone
of the other letters of the Secretary but to be
an encouragement 10 the receiver in writing the fol-
| lowing letter:
"Receiver's Office, Fort Wayne, Oct. 81, 1885,
| "SlR This is to inform yon that have forwarded
TO the deposlte bank hundred and four thousand
dollars, in silver, there to remain until with the
gold and paper money. [Why did he 60 along
| with it
MY democratic friends think that ought not to
leave until after hold election for President on
the seventh of November, which have concluded to
await, and shall leave the epening the
ing deposi,e, with all the funds hand up to that
time shall write you again before | leave. The
sales are rapid mostly paid in gold and silver. My
quarterly report will be forwarded by mail, for
last quarter, wheh ought 10 haze been done sooner,
for the want Of help in the office. Hereafter think
can get my reports of without much delay, after the
close Of the month and quarter
o. am yours, respectfully,
JOHN SPENCER, Receiver.
" Hon. Levi Woodbury. Secretary Of the Treasury"
This bold avowa of sending large portion OF the
public money by other hands, and awaiting himself to
unite with his democratic friends at the Presidential
election does appear have been the cause Of
plant on the part Of the Secretary.
| And here, sir, is his an-wer 10 Gov, Hendricks.
"Treasury Department, September, 7, 1896
| "SR: Your letter of the 3st ullimo is received
and am happy to inform you that Mr. Spencer's expla
nations have been such that he will probably continue
in office.
Il am. very respectfully, your obedient servant,
| LEW WOODBURY., Secretary Treasury.
Hon William Hendricks, Madison, Indiana"
Is this not wlful, base official corruption! Shaving
with the public money irregularty," and
Improper practices" thrice proved, admitted, reported,
became "unfounded imputations" political
partisan whispered" Better let it be" Sir, these
words ought be inscribed over the doors Of the Urea
sury Department., and to be branded, like Gains in