Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-25
DICEALCATION


Ness while minister to Spain, have not yet boon set,
tlcd-th.rc being balance Of slS 600 no, yet allowed
by congress. This may in some degree account for
Mr. Van Ness activity in the cause Of loco focoisms
Had h: been successful in revolutionizng Vermont
and bringing that State to support Van Buren,, his ae.
counts would doubtless have been easily settled.
The Ex- Governor has published a card, admitting
the soft impeachment" but says it has finally been
concluded that some Of the charges should first be laid
before congress before settlement is closed with the
treasury department which will be done at the next
counts o. X we think they nigh, have been settled
long ago,-N. Y Erpress.
We have never before alluded to this subject
for the reason that there was nothing novel, or
deserving Of especial comment, in the fact that
this gentleman was defaulter lie legitimatey
belongs to the subtreasury family and whom
the reckoning day comes, it will be found that
the great mass Of those who have been entrus,.
ed with the public money under this admnstra-
ton, have more or less of it sticking to their fin.
gers. The pretence, however, that he is wait.
ing to have his claim in offset passed upon BY
Congress, is very absurd. Mr. Van Ness's off.
cial functions ceased some four or five years ago,
and he must have been fully apprised how his
accounts stood before his return. In addition
to this, he had full five months after his return,
before the commencement of the last session
of Congress, in which to adjust matters and find
how he stood. lie was furthermore at Wash
ington during large part Of the session, and If
he had equitable claims against the government,
why did he not then present them, and have theln
allowed at once' Why does the government
allop thus matter to stand thus, year after year.
without even an attempt to bring it to close
Let common sense answer the question. Ono
solitary defauter was found under Mr.. Adams's
administration who was instantly cast into prison
by Gen. Jackson, and told there to "rot" unless
he paid it, every cent But now forsoo,h Mr.
Van Ness can walk off in open day with eight
cen or twenty thousand dollars Of tho public
money, and be INDUCED for years in the posses-
sion of it, under the ample plea that at some
future day, he shall present claim in offset -
and this, too, at time when the government il
borrowing millions to defray its ordinary expeu-
SEES! aye, selling its property under the hammer,
in order to afford such indulgences to it's elec-
tioneering agents Verify, is corruption tho
order Of the day."
MIR. Van Ness, in his card, says" Ny ae-
counts with the L. States, arising in the various
stations have filled, have heretofore always
been honoraby closed" We take this state.
ment, with some grains Of allowance. Tn.
less common report is to be discredted, he was
a defauter, at the time Of his appointment, as
minister TO Spain. But Gen. Jackson swore he
should not enter upon the duties Of the office
under these circumstances and we are credbly
informed that large portion Of his outfit WAS
retained to balance the account. We have
never heard this contradcted. So then, it would
seem that an honorable close" means, with
MIR. Van Ness, paying over, when you can't hold
on any longer-a point OF "honor" which 10 rath.
er common among us "blacklegs."
But it seems Mr.. Van Buren, looks upon de.
fauers in different Light from Gen. Jackson.
, and had Mr.. Van Ness been successful in carry.
, ing Vermont, he would have received new
outfit and salary and gone to Spain, still de-.
faulter, without waiting to prefer his claim to
Congress. Perhaps he will, as it is; but we
, shall see