Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-18

IeXdctIy, ool the ocI1lc1lIo2 Jas - - "a
known before October, as afterwards N
November. But, the elections were in
4 October, and concealmenf OF this nefa-
rious transaction was every thing until
latter the Empire State and her sisters
lof the Union had voted This was the
secret of this delay. and this was Swart-
woui's passport TO Europei sB<ff~r fsi
IL be" until after the electionss Ii wouli
not do. If il had been known, when
elections were turning On the Sab-Treas-
ury scheme, that the chief S0b-Treas-
Iurer had marched of with million and
more of the public money, il would have
had an electric effect; IL would have
won for the country a victory n Ono.
notwithstanding abolition and It's kin
dred political vices! Thank God il Is IN
time for you, sir, In Tennessee.
/ But, again, From the roint report Of
the Comptroller and Solicitor, Barker
and Gilpin. dated al New York. Novem-
Der 8, 1888, page l9, of this Doc No.
/ Is, we learn the following fact:
SIT appeared tina, the last settlement
of his accounts al the Treasury was Up
to the 3ist December last, December,
1917 and, that though he was called
on by the First Auditor, and notice sub
sequently given TO his sureties BY the
Comptroller, his accounts and vouchers
from that time to the 2SIh Of March.
1888, when his term of Office expired.
had never been furnished"
Indeed, sir, it fully appears that he
was never made to return hrs accounts
and vouchers at all; they were not re-
turned, as YOU see by the letters read
long after his escape. Now, why was
thisl What was the balance against
him in December, 1872 The same re-
port informs US:
i "The stated balance against him on
the 3lst December, 1887, was Ss.67s,-
984 Sc; this however was known 10 IN
clude all the uncolIected bonds not due.
bonds in suit, &c. This made II neces-
sary, as the accounts and vouchers were
not furnished. that immediate steps
should be taken to ascertain the sum re-
ally due as accurately as possible
/ Were such steps tsken2 None, none!
Time after time was Mr.. SSartwOut
requested and thanked to return his ac-
counts Time after time he failed. Il
was left. as 1t were. optional TO furnish
his vouchers or not; he chose to furnish
none; he eloped on the 18th of August.
1888; and no such step was taken ar all
until the orders to Underwood ID No
yember, 1S39-tweiye months after II
was necessary for immediate steps
to be taken-to proceed TO New York
But again, sir From this report.
pages 80, "a, it does appear that the
1 .F@ -
mencing October l, and ending Decen-
Der 81, 1897. were made out at the First
Auditors office as early as Nav, 1888
showing the balance due the United
States to be S9,679,9S4 SO. Here i
the statement in full, reported BY the
First Auditor, and certified by the Comp
troller; and certified BY the Register
and Woodbury. himself. Why was this
delay, from December, 1887, to Nav.
1888; and why, when reported IN de-
fault, was Swartwout permitted TO e.
cape as late as August, without accoun-
ting at alll
Now. sir, could not all this have been
done! Did it require a lawl None
Why was it not done? Mr.. Secretary
does not inform us.
Again: the First Auditor, IN reply TO
Woodbury's letter, reported as follows.
Here Mr.. w. referred TO the whole Of
the answer of the First Auditor, by Mr..
Mahon, Chief Clerk in that office, TO the
queries of Mr.. Woodbury. under date OF
Nov. l9; which we are obliged 70 omit
for want of room
From this report, sir, we learn
LIST. That one reason for not detecting
this defalcatiOn is, that the Secretary ex-
tended the time to the collector a. New
York for making up and rendering MS
accounts for adjustment.
Cd. The accounting clerks N the First
Aud tors office have not Iee1 made
since 1882. to ascertain that the balance
of the bond account Of the collector was
correctly brought forward, thar the ad6i-
tons were correct, and the balance. as
retained, properly stated.
Sd. Bonds from New York have not
been recorded. Never in time 20 accom-
pany accounts of the Comptroller. Tbs
duty has been wholly neglected during
Mr.. Woodbury's term OF Office, since
the second quarter Of 1884.
4th. The account Of Swartwout was
not received at the office OF the First
Auditor until the 10th November. 1888.
long after his neglect 10 forward the ac-
count in due time had been reported 90
the Comptroller
5th. That the Collector had not been
required to render an account of all out
standing bonds
9th. That the Collector at New York
had not been required TO return, with
his quarterly account of the customs =
copy of his suspense Gecounts.n showing
what items compose that part Of the
balance not consisting of bonds or cash
on hand.
7th. That dePosites for duties have
not been regarded as cash az New York.
whilst al Philadelphia they have been 50
regarded and the Secretary HIMSELF
had control OF misunderstanding toI
Auditor, but the 'srsr,sdy o5rious-
9th. The naval officer has no, been
made TO do his duty, and. If he had d0ne
his ,chole duty. this defalcation could DO
have occurred