Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
REPNRl'
REPORT
OF THE MINORITY OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
(COnciudcd)

OF THE MINORITY OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
(COnctudcd)
1t is deplorabe and remarkable instance Of the
ruption of the times in which ne live lr it becomes
still more remarkable from The fact, that OF the
phillips, The assistant cashier Of the custom house
aiding Swartwout in his populations, when examined
witness and The question propounGed to him BY
member OF the committee, "Why, knowing as he did.
Swarlwout derauding the Government, he did
not give information TO the Treasury Department; =
answered, with great GOODNESS and comp"snrH, in
tormty with the custom house practice. and the reason
.p,n,,yer" Apparently considering as virtue MS IL
i.v IN n nubc officer no, with the witness co oPe'
ration ard active agency, was deirauohg Inc ~
.rb,oe dsvrIouenens and the infprences naturally
drawn fiom them, must ir1esis''oy i'uu we iou'e
. concIusion that the safety OF the puh!!c money III
,o,iousv demands that officer OF the custon'house
connected with its fiscal concerns, should oe aPpo'to
nv the collector himself but should receive 'he aP
puiniment from the Government, anu s"' "'' '''' ~
rance to the country. ;, -,
tribute TO produce the dealcalons The suhIec, matlef
however both in relation 10 the extent aud Inc causes
c tho daCaIc,,jon is still involved in some uncertainty
Tho character Of the testimony is more than doubtful
Some of the Witnesses and those best acquainted win
the facts were active agents if not partcPatos, IN the
frauds: the fountain therefore, from when we derive
our information, or the greater por''on OF ~ ,p"
and defed No rejecting man, acqua'n'o WIN lhe
of the human heart and The springs OF human
action will place much reliance IN testimony mus
and stamped with The mpresso raou ana
t,nc
hive credsnce TO il according TO the degree Of creduy
he or they may possess: and, at last great deal must
denend like the mysteries OF our holy religion upon
: the faith Of the individual sea'chingt for truth
- The disposilion Swartwou made oil these enormous
sums distracted from The public Golfers is an enigma mol
,,.ilv solved The evidence furnishes no clue 10 IT.
The nconsde rabe left in the hands OF Ogden, ana
the value of the real estate IN different paris OF Inc
Union form bu, very Inconsdefanle i''m on ne creu
II side Of the account and some OF the witnesses say
:, Sy,r,you, is now need man. That he should nave
# he, possessed OF little property can only pe account
cd Gar an philosophical principles, and The natural ope
ration of the human mind money mus acquired Is W
# long retained II is SION dssipateo IN e3uaSagahc''
that leave no trace behind them -
Much credit is due to Mr. Hoyt the present collector
ne New York md the Solicitor OF The treasury, lhr"ugi
whose inslrume nality the money IN ogden nahds an'
the security afforded by the real estate were obtained
Tic money as Ogden esifes, was Intended by Swatl
'r wont for other purposes and would haze been SO ap
ID ,led but for the sudden arrival ana une ano VI
e qorous application oil the Solicitor OF Tue ie'sury
. him. n, agent of Swartwout, 10 pay the same to the
~ States. 49,, ,c
o, i Ind clsed in relation to Swarwout member oil tn
" committee submitted The following resolution
lie Resoired That MIR Hoyi, the colector,be required
ne rsb this committee with all letters TO and from III
Treasury Department and the collector ct the cnsto"
% At New York and also all orders and instructions "t
the Treasury Department TO said collector since nf m
We , Of January 1897 up to the present GGy; ana lhs CT
vers of said COLLECTOR if any, TO SAID orders ana II
s,ruclions, not already furnished to this committee
This resolution afforded another instance Of the COT
sruclion given by The ma joy OF the committee 10 u
authority contained in the resolution OF 'he HonSe, an
opened wide field of inquiry, never anticipated oy III
is House or the country One OF the undersigned, lhe
on FIRE moved the following mendmen
he "Prorided The said letters orders, ana instructor
ps have reference 10 the late dealcaons embraced IN u
le. ,uauiry Of this committee.
oh The amendment rejected, and the res9!n'lo
no adop,ed Satisfied it was The intention OF u
IN House by its resolution to authorize The comnt'ee
m into The investigation Of the actings and dongs
mt all and every collector and di.huser OF the public m
new. eharped or not charged with delalcaons; and
'ry levng that if such The intention OF The House,
Inc had no constitutional power 10 invest Inc comm'ee vi
- such authority. For. though the House IN Inc exc
Ne else OF its high parliamentary power mas frequent
'no raised committees to examine into alleged iranhs II
Inc never undertaken by il sole authority TO aPPoIna COT
Gu ,ujuee as q fishing committee, to travel through
country and collect materials for The accusation OF
= officers of the Government So far from this the
dersigned have always believed in this free country
rua,ed by law the acceptance Of an office by an in
vidual does not deprive him Of the rights OF cltlz'
and before he can be called upon by the action Of
House Of Representatives. alone TO defend himself,
Lex mus, be CHARGED with offence That, however
1t: Incident and may be to supervise thecond
If public officers charged or not charged with nhc
misconduct far the latter are concerned II can
BIZ done but BY legislative act passed in The forms
win. yided s,he Constitution.
e., Freedom consists in being governed BY known La
and no. by the discretion or caprice oil either ora