Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-05-17

but bad used them, :; for. which he came to
make settlement with Mr. West, after
having scraped together all the means with
IN his reach after selling drafts, obtaining
priuate discount at Richmond bringing
forward all the public money in his hands,
and, in the language of Mr. West "some
other money, still he falls short s., 206 "a
which he does not profess TO account for IN
any way. In other words, by this report
Col Spencer stood before the Secretary
and President an acknowledged. confessed.
and conv,c'ed pccula,or aud embeZZlei of
public moneys TO the amount of S. 206 "a
without shadow of excuse or defence.
And what do YOU think was done with
this delaulter BY the moral upright, sin
hating Secretary And what has been
done by The President, who thinks this
offence ought 20 he made felony, and pun
lshcd with the Penitentary' Before |
answer this question, will read you let
ter from a then Senator Of the United
States, which will perhaps throw some
light on the subject. 1t will be perceived
this letter was written during the eXamna.
ton Of the Office by Mr. West, and was
doubtless intended 10 obviate the effect OF
the report.
"MADlsoN, Aug. 81 1886.
"SIR II am informed that some things
are stated recently 10 the prejudice of Col.
John Spencer. receiver at Fort Wayne,
and i am requested 10 ,orite you. In doing
so, can only say that have been graft
fed in learning that his deposl'cs have been
made to your salliactlon; if so, hope that
mil sc -, will
be overlooked, He is reputed to be an
honest and an honorable man, and | do not
believe that he has intentionally either
done wrong or violated his Instructions. u
,could 10 some ertent produce excitement i
he 'cero remoced, far he has many 'carn,
and inRUcntiak friends both al Fort Wayne
and in Dearb0rn county, from 1chich ptace
he remoced to his present residence. BEr-
TER LET IT BE.
With much respect.
WIN. HENDRICKS.
Hon. LEVI WOODBURY.,
Sec. of the Treasury.
"With much respect" ha! doubt it.
The honorable Senator could not have had
much respect for the honorable Secretary.
or he would never have dared to write him
such letter. Those two last sentences.
like lady's postscript, contain the whole
substance SIT woold produce an excite
ment, forsoo,h. to remove the defanlter !:
"he has influential friends "Better let
IL be-" Sir, in these lew words you may
behold the morality, the policy, and the
strength of the party in power. Like the
fash language Of the Loncon swel's, they
open 10 ,ao- f'V'e9 understand The iruomean
ing the whole secret Of pollIlca rouguery.
Being interpreted, the Hon. Mr. Hendricks
| letter would reads Dear Levi: | am told
that Col. Spencer is defauIter, and you
are going to turn him out. Levi, you're a
fool; YOU must do no such thing; it would
injure the party to turn him out, he's Q
strong politician. and has got great dea
of influences ne isn't cheating US, it's only
The People. If you know which side you
bread is buttcred, keep him in Office"
And what says honest Levi to all this
Listen here is his answer:
"Treasury Department, Sept. 7, 1886.
Sir: Your letter Of the 3lst ult. il
received, and am happy to inform yol
that Mr.. Spencer's explanations have beer
such that he will probably continue in office
am, verv respectfully.
LEVI WOODBURY.,
Sec. of the Treasury.
Hon. VIM HENpRIcKs, Madison, Ind.
Which, beng interpreted, reads; "Dea
Billy :-Who's fool ? | never intended T.
turn him out, only talked about it to gul
the people. and make them think | wa
honest. He shall be retained" Ay, an
he was retained, and soon rendered sue
good service to his master as well approve
the sagacity which refused to part wit
him.
He has been continued in office by Nj
Van Buren,, and is now receiver at For
WAYNE. There is one more circumstanc
developed by this document to which | IN
vi,e attention, The Secretary, in his let
ter Of the 22d Of May to Col, Spencer tell
him that any neglect or lnallenlion t
' these requirements, uhat is to deposl,
4, monthly the money on hand, and max
:, monthly returns hereof unless satlsfactc
rlly accounted for, will require of me, froI
=, a sense Of official duty, that you be reporte
u, 10 the President, with a recommendation
n lhq' you be removed from office"
! Now, N Connection with this extract rea
the following letter from Col. Spence
, written jus, upon the eve of the Presider
- llal election, and about six weeks after tt
v correspondence between Hendricks an
i the Secretary!
Receivers Office,
Fort Wayne, Oct. 81, 1886.
F" "Sir This is TO inform that have 10
y warded to the deposite bank one hundrt
Is and fouI thousand dollars, in silver, the