Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-05
PUBLlUS.'

For TIE ENQUIRER
The article which appeared in The Enquirer some
weeks since, from the pen of "a Lowlander on the
subject Of Swartwouts defacaon, contains some
general views Of The system which now prevails IN
Virginia relating 10 the custody and disbursement oil The
public revenue. a more particular reference 10 that
system however, and 10 the causes which led to lis
alopton, may not be unacceptable. Without going
back 10 early colonial annals, the first astounding
Treasury default which occurred before the Revolution,
was that of Mr.. Robinson, in l1TG. lie was man oil
large fortune and possessed in high degree the
fdence of the Legislature and the public, that he united
in his person the Offices Of Treasurer and Speaker
Of tie House Having The uncontrolled possession Of
the public funds he doubt at first tempted to
their occasional use, without criminal design; but The
sums distracted from time 10 time continued TO increase
until they finally amounted 10 upwards OF hundred
thousand pounds. Ii is remarkable that the then House
of Burgrsses employed other guard against the recur
renee Of smila, event, than simply 20 separate the
two cces of Treasurer md Speaker. 1t was not un;il
ner The Revolution that the Treasurer for any mssp
pcation Of the public money was rendered thereafter
incapable OF holding any Office Of public trust Even
that drnuncalion OF the law, painful TO honorable
minds, had effect in preventing repetition ot-he
offence Mos. of ecCllect the large delacaiion which
occurred in the winter of l5l920 event which,
sdering The high character Of the delinquent could have
been less startling Than that OF his predecessor, Ro.
binson The Legislature electrified by the shock, i'm
medaely went TO work 10 prevent such injurious spoa.
tons for the future They passed The law Of 21lh Feb
ruary, lS2O--a law which was drawn by prominent
member Of the bOdy-an acute hnancer, aud skilled IN
of account To all appearances, II provided all
the necessary safe guards and securities viz prompt and
frequent examination of accounts by other officers and
strict supervision by Executive committee. The nc.
counts themselves 10 be so kept and adjusted ana
their accuracy required to be often and eecuaiy
tested By others, that could be committed and
escape detection. So far, therefore, the accndcy OF
the accounts concerned, legislation could be
complete; but the mischief which lurkcd in tie system
was not vet eradcaed-7he accounts henSeireS ictrt
correct, Jut ,rkers ,ras he money? The Treasurer
oli u,fD nrpi INV, In
depose the public revenues IN bank, still the law
tho;ized part only Of those revenues 20 be in bank.
and part the Treasury Office. The Treasurer more.
ever being the legal receiver might or might not dcposie
m bank al his pleasure He had the actual custody Of
the cash-could check for it in bank without mit-and
was thus thrown into the way OF temptation. 1t is in
vain say, that strict quarterly supervision by Exc
cutve Committee, such provided Tor in the law,
would have prevented pscua,iun-!or, besides thai the
high character of public agent viii o! itself naturally
dsarm the vigilance Of his nspectors-thcre was no
actual positive security for the public treasure between
the regular periods Of examination. The neihcacy
of the law was demonstrated by few years OF painful
experience. Another most melancholy and affecting
Treasury explosion occurred in the Spring OF le5-us
eight after The passage OF the acl above referred to-
The circumstances Of that event are too recent and DIS
lressng be dwet on, is il necessary. Suffice to
say that the Legislature again belook itself TO the bus
Of devsng if possible scheme for protecting
efecuay the public easurP and It's earnest
on that subject resulted lin the passage OF the act OF 10Th
February 1929 II is believed that this act has struck
upon The true preventive Of Treasury deinlcatonsby
Withdrawing from that officer the actual custody OF the
public money, and confding it TO the banks The whole
matter of receiving, keeping and discussing the reve.
of the Stale, is so regulated under that act
that human ingenuity can evade Its PROVISIONS
First, as 7eeeiringNo payment 10 the Treasurer an
d5iduaHy would be legal or valid payment sheriff
who accounts with the Auditor for the taxes of his
county, must pay those taxes into bank upon the Irea
surers direction, he and his securities would be still
liable for the amount A payment in bank is the only
payment which can exonerale public debtors. Second
y, as TO disbursing The only power which the Trea
surer check upon the banks is to draw his checks
upon the warrants of the two Auditors. The banks
could pay no other checks drawn by that officer except
in their wrong and at their own loss. The pay
ment from the Treasury and the authority to make it,
thus 60 together and cannot be separated The Treasur
er cannot draw on bank in favor of the other either
eguaze the deposites or for any other purpose I'M
less his authority to DO SO accompanies his check
With these safeguards il is impossible for him to divert
or msuppy the public treasure. 1t is true, that
contend that banks themselves unsafe repositories
of public money; but the arguments in re(ulion of this
idea have been frequently and strongly presented
lha, deem altogether unnecessary 10 advert TO them