The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-27


10 the buckshot war, and the George RhawD, who
Supplied the New York Federaiss with illegal voters
has been appointed Naval Officer at Philadelphia by
Mr.. Tyler, and Joseph Ritner, a prominent parci-
pant in the buckshol difficulties, has been APP
pointed Treasurer of the Mint in the room of Elk Go
vernon Findlay REMOVED gentleman now in
the decline of his days. who has not mingled poll
tics for many years These added 10 PENROSE
make quite fair representation in the national inter
ests OF the Infamous who tried to upturn our Co
yernment and introduce civil into happy State"
-heystone.
The above is published in the Globe, from
which we copy it.
IL is not deemed necessary to publish to the
world all the circumstances inducing the removal
oipublic officers, unless required, for were we to
do SO, 'the world itself would scarce contain thai
"whichwould be written" But as the Globe and
the other prints friendly to Mr.. Findlay, have
opened the subject, will state as briefly as pos
sible the principal cause of his removal. Ii was
nothing more or less than gross neglect of the
duties Of his responsible station, and failure and
refusal to comply with the law requiring bond
10 be given for the faithful performance of the
duties of his Office, and for the security of the
public against such defalcations as took place
during his administration Of the treasury of the
Mint.
During the recess of the Senate, in September,
1880, Ex-Governor Findlay was appointed by
the President, Treasurer of the Mint Of the Uni
ted States, at Philadelphia, and on October 1st
ensuing, with Robert Smith and Francis r.
Skunk, as suretes, executed an official bond in
the penal sum of $1,000 for the faithful per-
Torrance of the duties of the office. This bond
being given on an appointment made during the
recess of the Senate, of course operated only
until the conclusion Of the next session of Con-
gress thereafter. Mr.. Findlay was permitted TO
remain in this important trust Without giving
bond or any security achateper for more than
EIGHT YEARS but at last, on the Goth October
1889, commission was issued and the appoint.
ment confirmed by the Senate and on the 2Sh
October, 1889, Mr.. Findlay gave a bond with
the same sureties and penalty
In 1910, Mr.. Finday was required to give a
new bond, according to the acquisitions of the
law passed in that year, prescribing the form Of
bonds for such officers. This he declined do
ing, and desired that he might be considered as
having resigned, or as being about to resign his
commission.
During the time that Mr.. Findlay was thus
acting without commission or bond, as treasurer
of the Mint and "Agent for distribution of cop
per coins," defalcaton was allowed to take
place in the copper account ofupwards Of So, 000
The whole amount Of the deficit is upwards Of
$4,000; but small portion Of that amount is
secured by the bond operating during the few
months succeeding the appointment of Mr.
Findlay, and the short period Of the existence
of the bond given in $780, 1t will be remarked
that the second bond has no retroactive opera
ton.
These defalcations, thefts, or whatever the
tastes of people may term them, alleged 10
have been committed by the clerk to whom this
cent business was entrusted, and with whose
accounts the treasurer should have been familiar,
as he undoubtedly is responsible for his con-
duct.
1t will be observed that this fraud was going
on through this long term of years without in
quiry or correction.
The Globe can have more information in re-
gard 10 these " innocent rictims Of proscrip-
tion" if their friendsl see fit to call for it.
1t is perhaps unpleasant TO these people who
have been sucking the blood Of the people for
years, to be driven away from their accustomed
"spois," but the Globe may rest assured that
an end is to be made of these things by the pre-
sent Administration.
This statement is made somewhat hastily but
1t is substantially correct We will give further
details if desired hereafter