Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-03-13

House that the limited period which they had for |
thorough investigation of the subjects with which
they were charged, and the time necessarily con-
suued in the examination Of the cases Of the late
collector and the district attorney Of New York,
have presented minute investigation Of the extent,
nature and causes OF the defalcatons Of receivers
Of public moneys, arising from the sales Of public
lands. The Committee have, however, prepared,
from reports made by the Secretary OF tho Treasu-
ry at the last and present session Of Congress, a
tabular statement, exhibiting the OF such de-
faulnrs, the amount due from each, when due, and
the penalties Of their official bonds, respectively;
also the correspondence had between the Treasury
Department and fifteen Of the individuals whose
names appear on said ststement---the Committee
having called for, and been furnished by the De-
partment, with the answers OF the receivers TO the
letters Of the Secretary Of the Treasury contain
ed in House document No. 207. These fifteen
are reported specially. examples merely Of the
manner la which the President Of the United States
anil the Secretary of the Treasury haze executed
the laws in respect to the public money and other
properly Of the United States 10 the hands Of this
class Of public officers, and in respect to their Off
cal duty.
The law provides for the appointment by the Ex-
ecu tive, with the concurrence Of the Senate Of
receiver Of public moneys at each Of the places
spectively, where the public and private sales Of
approved security, for the faithful discharge Of his
trust, who shall Transmit rithin thirty days, in
Of public sale, and quarterly in Of private
sale, an account Of all public moneys by him recei-
we'd, to the Secretary Of the Treasury and to the
registers Of the land Offices, as the case may be-
tic is allowed a salary OF FIVE hundred dollars per
annum and a commission Of one per centum the
moneys receiveds but his salary for year, shall
not exceed 1000. The Secretary Of the Treasu-
all IN tha nf tha
money the several land Offices reasonable com
pcnsation for transporting TO and deposting such
moneys in any bank or other place OF deposits that
may from time to time be designated by the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury for that purpose. He is also
authorized to prescribe such further regulations in
the manner OF keeping books and accounts by the
several officers in the land offices, as 10 him may
appear necessary and proper 1t is made his du-
~, at least once in every year to the books
of the officer. Of the land offices 10 be examined,
and the balance of public moneys, in the hands of
the several receivers TO be asccrtained.
The foregoing synopsis Of the law relative to
land receivers, and the correspondence with por.
ton Of those who have proved defauers and faith
less to their trusts, submitted, without further
comment than that the facts and circumstances
here exhibited, show such dereclon Of duty en-
the part Of the Executive department as calls loud.
iy for searching examination into this branch of
the public service, and for a thorough reform.
The practice which the foregoing correspond
ence exhibits, of retaining in Office after gross
and repeated violations of law in keeping and using
tbs public moneys for private speculation, and the
character ofthe correspondence itself but clear
ly point to the inference that such officers were
retained in their place because they possessed ex.
tensive political influence, and useful and nc
tive partIzans. Whether such INSTRUMENTATION
constitutes official corruption in those superior Off
n hp ia l.. Z
and permitted to their subordinates the cenduc,
which has been referred to, is question which
the Committee submit to the House and the coun-
TO decide.