Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-22

euiis and their authors is sought 10 be made the NC
tim fits Gymness aud integrity. AMOS KESDALLs
ADDRESS.
COMMENT.
Early in March 1885, w. p. Ilurris, Receiver
Of Public Money at Columbus Miss, wns found
TO be considerably in arrears to the General Gov
eminent. Hercupon Mr.. Levi Woodbury. then
mud now Secretary Of the Treasury, and mem
her of the Administration which "sternly sets It's |
face against these evils and their authors" adj
dressed the 10 lowir 6 letter TO MIR. lInrrs
Treasury DEPARTMENT,
March 25, 1895.
SirThe Department having received no
monthly returns showing the transactions of your
Office from the month Of October last, l have
thought proper TO inform you that, n means OF
enforcing strict compliance with the regulations
OF the Department, in respect to this duty shall
mt hesitate TO report the case for the action OF the
Executive, should the neglect he conlinued.
am, &c.
LELl WOODBURY.,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
w. r. Hams, Esq,
Receiver Of Public Money, Columbus, Miss.
Mr.. Harris, suspectiug perhaps that this Adj
minslralon might "set its face way aud
another, paid no sort of attention 10 the Sec
rGtary's inissive. This produced another letter
from Mr.. W oodbury, the counterpart almost of
the one above quoted dated Feb q, l>35. Sull
Mr. Harris withheld his returns and on the 25th
June Mr.. Woodbury. again wrote as follows:
TREAsuRY DEPARTMENT.,
June 25 1885.
Sir Having, in communication addressed 10
you on the l1ih OF March last, and on several pri'
or occasions, urged upon You the Indispensable
necessity Of strict attention 10 making your
monthly returns aud finding that no returns
have been received from you since that OF the
month OF November last, il becomes my unpleds-
ant duty TO say to you, that if those in arrear are
not transmitted by return of mail, shall be con-
strained to report your neglect for the action OF the
LEVI WOODBURY.,
Sec Of the Treasury.
Receiver Of Public Money, Columbus.
This epistle proving as Intellectual as its prede-
cessor, Mr.. Harris was duly "reported Tor delin-
quency to the Administration which sternly sets
its face" against such evil doors. The result is
thus announced to the Receiver:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.,
August 90 1885.
Sir -Agreeal,ly to the information given you in
my letter of the Goth June, it has become my dis
agreeable duty to report your continued neglect
TO the President; who has instructed me to say 10
YOU, that if the monthly returns required from
you by the regulations of the Treasury, which are
in arrears are not received Mt the Department on
or before the 10th of October next, you will then
LEVI WOODBURY.,
Sec. of the Treasury,
w. p. HARRIS, Esq,
Receiver of Public Money, Columbus, Miss
Even then, after the facts in the case were well
understood Mt Washington, this stern" Admins
tration notified Mr.. Harris that he would he al
lowed to continue his "pickngs and stealngs" for
two months longer Mt any rate, and for an indeh
mite period, besides if he could make up his re-
turns in tOlerp h!e spnson. Az the threut seemed
to he serious Mr. Harris to work in another
direction TO keep himself in office. friend, the
Hon. Mr. Claiborne, late member Of Congress from
Mississippi writes an earnest letter to the Fresi
dent of which the following are extracts:
COLUMBUS, September 49, 1885
Dear Sir Many of the carly and constant friend
of the administration in this Stnle have heard, ioiu
much regret and sorrow, that The present receive
OF public money at this place is to "consider him
self dismissed unless his returns are made befor,
the first of October
Poindexter employed vile unprinciped agen
Gibson Wooldridge) TO tuke testimony at THU
Office, under resolution of the Senate; and he en-
deavored TO implicate Gen. Harris and George w
Martin in some transactions of very minor impor
lance. If had been examined, could have ex
planned the whole matter 10 the entire eXonerao'
Of G.n Harris
His family and connections are extremely infu
entail, and all Of them operating 10Th us II
The drdttouS struggle fOhich zoe are nO,0 mdking.-
| They are true democrats and the bank, nullliy
ing and White parties would shout "victory" a
any blow aimed at them.
We are now in the midst OF an electioneerin
campaign. Gov. Runnes, R. Walker, Maj. Il
| w. Edwards, and myself, constitute the demo
cratic Van Buren, ticket. twill bes close con
| With high respect remain your cxcellency
| most obedient servant.
JOHN F. CLAIBORNE.
TO his Excellency, the President of the Unite
States.
| The assurance that Mr.. Harris aud his famil
| were Extremely influential and zeaously sec
| operating with Mr.. Claiborne in the pending po
| lilcn struggle, was not without its effect. Ih
administration which sernIy sets its face" again.
these "plunderers of the public" relaxed some
what in It's severity, and sent Mr. Harris the fol
lowing reprleve:
TREAsuRY DEPARTMENT.,
October ~ 1885.
| Sir Trusting to the assurance gwen IN you
| letter OF the 18th ultino, and 10 those Of 20,
friends made in your BEHALF the President has col
| scented, upon the facts now before him, to con
tinue you in office until the 18th Of Novembe
| proxilno then, unless your monthly returns al
all rendered and satisfactory evidence that til
whole of the public moneys with which you III
cha geable are deposited, YOU must be remove
from Office, however painful to both him and TN
Department.
/ am, &c.
LEVI WOODBURY.,
i Sec'y. Of the Treasury.
W.P. HARRIS Esq.
Receiver Of Public Money, Columbus, Mis-