Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-09-10


II tho reader will turn 10 tho Report Of the
Swarswout investigating committee he will End q
correspondence between Mr. Secretary Woodbury.
and Col John Spencer, Receiver of Public Moneys
al fort Wayne, Indiana: the former complaining of
the failure Of the latter deppsite the public fund.-
time after time, as instructed and the latter plas-
tefing over bis negcc, Of duty by plausible excuses.
As, for example: Col. Spencer, 10 letter TO Mr..
Woodbury., dated on the 9th October, 1886, thus
excuses his noncompliance with bis duty:
my Democratic friends think that ought not
to leave antii after hold our election for Pre-
sideaf on the 9Th Of November which have con-
cuded to await; and shall leave on that evening.
or next morning, 10 deposite, with all the funds on
hand up 10 that time"
No doubt Secretary Woodbury. was very we'll sa-
tsiied with that as he was. for non.con-
pliance some time previously, which he was indu-
ced to overlook. by letter from Ex-senator Hem
drcks to the Secretary. who, after advcrting tho
fact that complaints had been made against Col.
Spencer. said:
81 lie ID reported e be an honest md honorable
man, and do NOT believe that he has intentionally
done wrong or violated his instructions. II would
TO some extent, produce excitement If he were re-
moved. for he has mnny rarm and Influential
friends both vt Fort Wayne and III Dearborn coun-
", from which lie removed to his present residence
BETTER LET III BE-"
And so thought Secretary Woodbury. He did
\" LET III BE- and nav. what ID thu fnafe -
Let the Fort Wayne Sentinel, Van Buren, paper.
answer II ssya,
1--WE understand that Col. Spencer, of this place.
Is likely TO prove defaultcr TO Governments Of from
$4,000 to $1,000. Suit is hroaghf for $4,000,
which il the balance OF tho account against him.--
We Understood tho Marshall 10 ssy that the Colo
mel had funds on hand and on dcposi.e, which had
not been passed 10 his credit. sufficient to reduce
the claim to the amount first mentioned.
This is nniortunate affair for tbs Colonel. al
though he has abundance Of means, and will not
suffer his securities pay iarihng q the claim.
and, indeed, has pui sufficient property In their
hands TO indemnity them against loss. W. cannot
beiieve the Colonel dishonest, but he has violated
the faith OF ths Government and his bail, BY con.
vefipg the public funds to his own use"
There! Here il man who hsbitualy violated
instructions 10 1886 (and how often since we shall
have no means OF knowiog until another budget of
correspondence 10 dragged from the Treasury De.
psr.mspt, )bu WHO was kcrs in office notwithnsnd-
ing. brcsuse ho had i" ihhueAisl friends" and now
il turns out that no los piundosed this public. 10
ihs uDe 81 fiom 10 to 80 600 dollars !! MOI not
ilundered tho public that 10 an unfashiona5lc
phrase. when applied to the honesk defaultsrs--for
Senator Hendricks said in 1896 that he was an
honest and honorable man - and tho Fort Wayne
Sentinel now suys, 1--WE canno, believe the Colonel
dishonea." Oh mo- Why7 Because he has only
" violated the faith Of the Government and his bail,
By CONVERTING THE PUBLIC FUNDS
To HIS OWN USE" AZ the negroes sny he
has no, stoien--he has only taken the public money!
We think il would have been well for him. II Sena.
Hendricks had whispered in his ear, instead Of
the Secretafy's, " Better let IL be ~
How long will the people tolerate these abuScs