Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-21

vestigatioii, that Price ac'ed very i"Poi'e P" "
these frauds and populations 49, , 49,,
IN Ihe rc,nrn of the committee 10 Washington, they
resumed their aduous duties Many witnesses were
examined and documents referred TO, all OF when are
Incorporated the journal, and part of them ad'efeI
to in this report. E. N
The subjects Of inquiry similar 10 those IN ne"
York both TO the extent and causes Of The deia'ca
tons and also the why the same were hot No"
al an earlier date TO the accounting officers al "as
ton In pursuing the latter inquiry, II was necess! ~
90 into investigation Of the peculiar du'ieS 'qu'
TO be performed under existing laws, pracIce usas
by the Secretary oil the Treasury Tie rms; huu''
and the Comptroller. The untersgnea WI, VIII ~ ~" al
crease the volume Of Ibis report by nciua.hs III ~ a.
the evidence on this subject in detail, but peg R"'
refer 10 the journal They deem It proper
fall understanding of the duties uei"he'hS I'
10 these different officers OF The Government, !" ''l
ton 10 the aud,ior and settling of accounts mort P
ticuarly those appe.ianing 10 the customs. 10 e @
attention of the House and Inc country " Wv ,sa
documents, end the questions and answers VI ~, ,i
examined uoon the occasion, and III reference " '
subject. .c,, :; ,,o T,eo
The evidence of Nh Young, chief clerk IN Inc i'ea'
sury Department: A., a,,-,ne,, IF
the Secretary Of the Treasury is organised, Legally anu
practically in respect to setting lhe accounts u
and receivers? :. , u,;,, ,ho
"Answer. The power Of adjusting and selI,ng Inc
accounts of collectors and receivers 10 respect 10 Inc re-
venue from duties and lands is by law vested IN lie "t
counting Officers of the Treasury Collectors accounts
ATE adjusted be- the First Auditor, suoJect 10 e
! nj ComptrolleTj
the Commissioner Of The General Land O!ice also SUD
ice, 10 be revised by the First Comptroller The Sc
crelsry Of the Treasury has no power as 10 Tie seue
meu and adjustment Of these accounts further IMAM 10
make allow snce for the expenses OF collection 10 cases
where there is no express legislation fixing allowance
| for such expenses c ,
That Of Mr. Woodbury., Secretary Of the Treasury
10 The following
yer considered be your dutv and that you have ne
yer discharged the duty OF experimenting the reports Of
the FRS; Audor and Comptroller and that you did not
know and had OF knowing, whether ihslr re-
ports were correct, whether they had faithfully done
their duty in adjusting and setting accounts:
Answer in these words. Ths reports Of the First
Auditor accounts settled by law and usage made
to The First Comptroller, and not TO the Secretary oil The
Treasury and the reports Of the First Comptroller on
accounts settled, when the balances are considered sGs
pcious proper for suit, are made directly TO the Soil
cor Of the Treasury aud formerly TO The law agent
Neither in those settlements those reports Goes
the Secretary Of the Treasury inlererc and has often
been decided by the Attorney General that no officer OF
the Government has right to control or reverse the de-
csics Of the accounting officers making those settle
nlPnts and reports.
Extract Of letter dated Office Of the Attorney Ge
neral Of the United States, October 2Uth, lc3, signed
William Writ:
ala the original organization Of the Treasury Depart
Ineut (vo =, Laws u s. p. ISL the duties OF The OH!
GERS are esignated specifically There Auditor
and one Comptroller. The duty Of the Auditor is de-
clarcd be 10 receive all public accounts; and alter en-
animation, 10 certify The balance. and transmit Inc &C.
counts with the vouchers and certificates, 10 the Comp
rotr for his decision thereon; with this provso, that
! if any person be dissatisfied herewith, he may, within
SIX months appeal TO the Comptroller against such set
tement Here The right OF appeal stops; there IS no
provlso for appeal TO The President. with regard to
the mp,Coller directs that it shall be his duty to su
pernlend The adjustment and preservation OF all public
accounts, examine all accounts settled by The Auditor
and certify the balances arising thereon TO the Register
no right OF appeal from his decision, to the President
| Extract of letter, dated Attorney Generals Office,
| April 9TH, 1882 signed II. b, fancy:
None OF the acts OF Congress, prescribing the mode
OF settling accounts and asCcIaInng balances look to
revision of the accounts BY the PRESIDENT except, per-
hays some laws passed for the relief Of particular ndl.
! vIduas, in which the power IS expressly given. The
general laws upon that s"bec! seem TO regard The de-
csIon Of the Comptroller fHa aad require the Ex-
eculive branch Of the Government 10 act upon II &c.
! cordingy."
Tie reasons why the dealcations were sooner de-
tscled by the First Auditor and the Com pit oi!er 10
whom the duty Ut auditing and settling the accounts
exclusively belonged, given in their evidence, and
the general conclusion derived from is, that arose
from the fraudulent manner in which Swariwout rem
dered his accounts as fully stated aud explained by the
evidence both in H. Y. and Washington, contained il
sst = = high beg leave partcu
sheraton OF The conduct iand receivers anu 0lns
oihcsfs included in the resolutions Of the House The
only evidence on this subject the communication al
the Secretary Of the Treasury already published and
some additional letters from said officers addressed to the
department, no part Of uhih haring Leen accd on TN
journal as ecdeHce IN the usual toIm the
are unable 10 come 10 any definite conclusion upon h:
F.; portion OF the sub ect of investigation.
. During The whole investigation and after careful
examination OF the evidence since It's eImination tho
Undersigned can see just censurc upon
The head OF The Treasury Department, for any wCn. Of
diligence or attention in the performance Of The duties
OF !s high and responsible station This untoward nd
unfortunate affair, by lch the country has sustained
so much less could net have been prevented or control
led by any efforts Of his. The evidence is strong and
convincing that the auditing settling these accounts
anu oe'ecihg oria'caons, do not agperain 10 his lie
Parte or constitute any OF the duties imposed him
They belong 10 separate and distinct bureaus over which
he has no control, and so determined by The legal adyis
ers Of the Government
When the deiulcaliuns made known there is
abundant testimony furnished by the documents that he
mace every SoTt, anc used every instrument that the
power OF the department which he presidcs ena
bed hun 10 Tor the recovery Of the money and that
since lie occurrence, he has adopted and enforced such
regulations Tor The safe keeping Of lie public money as
his iiined pnwer and The g legislative action has
enabled him 10 exercise The duties Of his station are
mol only various but aboriuus They require talent,
patience, and Industry these he has devoted 10 The pub
tic service In the administration Of the high functions
deVo.ved upon him as Secretary Of the Treasury II
may DC SAID with confidence and truth his fidelity TO his
Trust Is unqnesloned and objectionable; his purify
known and acknowledged AS public man. exper
ence must have taught him, in high and volen, party
mts, II he were DIS pure ice, chasie as snow lie
would not escape CaiunHy.
That The country has sustained Grea, pecuuiary loss
no man cen doubt that the national character has sui.
tered deep humiliation end disgrace, man can hest
tate TO admit. But losses like these are incident to all
Governments; 10 one is free from them; the annals of
our own afford numerous instances OF pecualon
united at every period OF its short existence, under all
and every administration, and all and every fiscal sys.
tenn, which has been adopted and carried practice
no matter who has been The fiscal agent The Govern.
nsnt has sustained loss 1t must be 90 until man be-
comes honest. But from very misiortunes we may
derive benehis these incidents like purify the
slognant atmosphere; they may check for a moment
but cannot stop the onward march of the State 10 her
high deslinles The Lessons Of experience vii! not be
forgotten, and remedies must and will be applied TO
guard and project the public purse.
These remedies are in the opinion of the undersirned
i. Pereons to be appointed under an act of Congress-