Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-25
S46,R9 81

/ IL is also proper tor me to stae, that
am quite satisfied Mr.. SpenceI,,y his
visit to Richmond, was enabled in
crease his available fund thereS94,
O64 90, (he having drawn in faor of
Me indianapolis branch for thatnuch
| nfore,) by obtaining a discount there
and upon drafts received by him Fort
Wayne for public lands, before he LIST
of June last, which drafts were OF due
till September: and, of course, il order
to reduce the same now to cab, he
made a deduction. Whether thededuc-
ton for the yet remaining tire was
equal to what was allowed him n May
last, of course | do not know; ,ut the
difference of time would seem place
it beyond doubt that it was inch less.
The latter view, in part, APPLIES to
the discount upon uncurrent (ornot land
office) paper, which he deposited at In
dianapolis; a certificate of the loss upon
which, enclosed at his request.
Very, &c. NATHANIEL WEST.
To ETHAN A. BRowN. ESQ.
By this docursont 1t appears that the
receive- mad turned his office into
ssshaving--shop' for himself and his
friends. 1t further appears that he had
not merely failed TO deposite the public
moneys according to law, but had used
them; for, when he came to make a set
Element with Mr.. West, after having
scraped together all the means within
his reach; after selling drafts, obtain
ing a private discount at Richmond,
bringing forward all the public money in
his hands, and, in the language of Mr..
West, ''sonue other money" still he falls
short S5,20e "a, which he does not pro-
fess to account for in any way. In 9TH
er words, by this report Colonel Spen-
Ger stood before the Secretary and
President an acknowledged, confessed,
and convicted peculator and emoezzler
of public moneys to the amount of So
2O6 81, without a shadow of excuse or
defence.
And what think you was done with
this defaulter by the moral, upright, sin
hunting Secretary? And what has been
done by the President, who thinks this
offence ought to be made felony, and
punished with the Penitentary? Be-
fore answer this question, | will read
you a letter from then Senator of the
United States, which will perhaps throw
some light upon the subject 1t will be
perceived this letter was written during
the examination of the Office by Mr..
West, and was doubtless intended TO OBJ
viate the effect of the report:
MADISON, august 50, 1886.
SIR: | am informed that some things
are stated recently to the prejudice of
Colonel John Spencer, receiver at Fort
Wayne, and am requested 10 lcrite you-
In doing so, can only say that | have
been gratifed in learning that his de-
posites have been made to your satisfac-
ton; and, if so, hope tina; minor mat
tiers, if mere irregularities, will be over
looked. He is reputed to be an honest
and honorable man, and | do not believe
that he has Intentionally either done
wrong, or violated his instructions. 1t
Dould to some ertent produce excitement II
he ,rere remoued, for he has many tcarm
and influential friends both at Fort
Wayne and in Dearborn County, from
,chich he removed to has present residence.
Better let IL be.
With much respect.
WILLIAM HENDRICKS.
Hon. LEVI WOODBURY..
Secretary of the Treasury.
with much respect" hal | doubt 1t.
The honorable Senator could not have
had much respect for the honorable Sec
rotary, or he would never have dared to
write him such letter. Those two last
sentences, like Iady's postscript, con-
tain the whole substance: "lt would
produce excitement" forsooth to remove
the defaulter; she has influential friends
Better let II be- Sir, IN these lev
words you may behold the morality, the
policy, and the strength of the party IN
power. Like the fash of language OF
the London swells, they open, to those
who understand the true meaning, the
whole secret of political roguery Be
ing interpreted, the honorable Mr.. Hend-
rick's letter would read: siDear Lew:
am told Colonel Spencer is defaulier,
and you are going to turn him out Lew,
you're a fool; you must do no such