The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-11
Communications.
ron rHE MACEDONIAN.
A PLAIN TALK ON POLITICAL MATTERS.
NOTED DOWN BY PETER pLouonBoy
SIXTH DAY

L
| Defalcafions Of Public Officers.
Col Richland In our last conversation spoke OF
the defacaons Of certain public officers have you
ever examined the report made on this subject by the
committee appointed investigate the matter by the
House of Representatives in January, 1889
| Capias have never il
Col r. have il here and lis certainly worth an ex-
animation Al pages l43, IN, and las, you will fnd
statement OF the OF certain defauters receivers
Of public money different land offices, together with
the amount Of their several deficits which have taken
place since March, ls29,-
Amounting 10 BOTS -
II to this we add the amount stolen by
| Swartwout I'D I0o "
/ And nv Price 5000 90
| Il will make the total amount Of 81 3S3 ~
| And to this might be added three or four hundred
thousand dollars more stolen since this report was
made, making the sum Of about two millions and
half stolen absolutely from the people by office
| holders.
i Capias We must not blame the Government Co
lionel because men prove dishonest they cannot iorcsee
whether will be honest or play the rogue
! Col. R. But suppose the Government kept these
men in Office after they known deiauers 2
/ Capas In that case must admit the Govern
men were culpabe.
Col R. Well, sir will undertake to prove the fact
that these deanlters retained in office, and en-
trusted with the public money, long after they were
kno,rn to be such. Now observe:
The case Of r. H. Sterling, defanher SIC, 1873 20.
AT page l47 Of this document (Repor No 49,
House Of Representatives 18th Congress, Sd session.
Iot,v he
of the Treasury and r FL Sterling, receiver of public
moneys at Chocchuma Miss
| January l6 1884, the Secretary calls upon him 10
make his returns, and deposte the money in his
| hands
March "a he is again called upon by the Secretary
Again May 10; February y, 1885, again March
IL another complaint and another February 4, 1886,
upon which Mr.. Sterling resigned.
The case Of James r. Pollock, defauiter $l4 s9i 90
Next comes the correspondence with James T.
Pollock receiver &c, at Charlottesville, Indiana 1t
commences December 81 1888, and ends May 10
1898 and is similar in character to that with Sterling
1t made up complaints and threats the part ofthe
Secretary and Of excuses and apologies the part Of
the receiver.
The case Of Mr.. Linn, detauiter 1855 962 06
The correspondence with Mr. Linn, receiver &c,
at Vandalia, Illinois, commenced June % 1884
when he told he was much in arrear and must be
more punctua Oct. %, he is again informed that he
had permitted the public moneys to accumulate in his
hands, and tina, he must deposite them forthwith"
Another scoding letter Is sent him Dec. 4 1884
Feby IL, 1885 the Secretary tells him that, notwth
standing his past neglect the President has re-nomi
mated him but that he is not infer from this that
| any future omissions will be overlooked. Yet on the
Both November, 1885, the Secretary tells him his
| turns for August, September, and October, had not
been received, though they required to be made
| monthly. This correspondence kept till January
DC 1888, when the Secretary says your resignation
is received and acceptedby the President and regrets
that so large balance remains in his hands Does
not this prove that future omissions overlooked
and that Linn kne,r they 1couid be2
The case Of ". p. Harris, defaulter $l09,l 7s 0s
| Col r. The correspondence with Harris com
mences January ID, 1884 by the Secretary, Mr. Ia
ney) giving him gentle hint that his returns must
be made monthly, and that he must promptly dcposite
the moneys in his hands &c.
March l6 1884 the Secretary tells him his returns
for November December and January, are in arrear
March 25, 1884, " no monthly returns from October
last !" shall not hesitate to tell the President if YOU
don't do better,
February &, 1885, Mr. Harris again gets hint TO
be more punctual with his returns.
March II, 1885, Mr., Woodbury. informs him that
he has not made any returns since October last, 1t
is his unpleasant duty to call his attention to the
omission.
June D. 1898, still no returns. Mr.. Woodbury.
again says it becomes my unpleasant duty to say to
you, that if those Freturns in not transmit
ted by return of mail shall be constrained to report
your neglect for the action of the Executive Again
August %, 1885 " 1t has become my disagreeabie
duty to report your continued neglect to the President
who has instructed say YOU that if the month
required from you by the regulations of the
Treasury, which in arrears received the
Department before the 10th of October next
you will then be dismissed from Office
1 Capias He will have to up to the work now
! or march out of office.
Col r. No such thing, But shall see Sept
Is, 1895, the Hon. John F. II Claiborne member OF
Congress, writes the President that many of the
early and constant friends Of the Administration
have heard with much regret and sorrow that the pre-
sent receiver of public moneys this place Column
bus) is TO consider himself dismissed unless his re-
turns made before the LIST day of October Then
comes the given why Gen, Harris should not
be removed Now mark Mr., Claiborne says, Gen
Harris is Of the main pillars Of he democratic
cause and Of me earliest and most distinguished
friends Of he Administration in Mississippi HIS
connexions extremely u.fueptiai and all Of them
are cooperating NTH us in the arduous struggle
which we arc now making They are true demo
crdts. So, here have the reasons why Mr. Har-