Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-02-10
REPORT
THE COMMITTEE ON THE COLLEC-
TION OFTHE REVENUE, &c.

L
Mr.. Speaker; The committee to
whom referred so much of the Cove
nor's message as "relates to the collec-
ton of the public revenue, the defal-
cation Of public officers, the outstand-
ing Auditor warrants, and the domes-
tic debt Of the State,'' have had the
same under consideration and instruct
ed me to report.
That, with view of arriving at pro-
per conclusions on these vitality lmpor-
tant subject, the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts was required to furnishthe COM
mittee with names Of Assessor, or As
SCISSORS and Collectors, whose duty 1t
was to assess the pubic revenue, and
report the same to the Auditors Office
on or before the first day Of July IN
+ each and every year, during the three
years preceding the first day OF Janu-
ary last, with the amount ofsuch asses
; ment, respectively designating the day
such report was made to the Auditors
Office; which information, your COM
: nittee is advised by the Auditor, car
E only be furnished in part, IN relation
: TO the dates ofthe returns OF the dItter'
d ent Assessors, or Assessors and Col
: lectors, in his office; that he has no
5 been in the practice of keeping his oil
d fee in a condition TO enable him to as
+ certain the dates Of the receipts OF sue
n reports, theimportance OF which will b
is at once perceived, whenit 8 recolec
ofI ted. that for each defalcation, such dc
falling Assessor, or Assessor an
l. Collector, forfeits to the State the SUI
ne of $500 There being fify-six coul
a. ties and as many Assessors, OF Asse
j. sors and Collectors, the greater nun
" her Of whom, your committee IS co
i'd strained to fear, have not compile
ed with the law, thus intellectually affe1
Of inc the PUBLIC interest: LIST. From u
ed non-collection of the forfeltures,
an theAssessors, bonds, the revenue y
Of sustained a serious loss, I'd. ] ne 9
ith moralization and negligence OF pub
to duty in these officers consequence
by their not being vigorously prosecnl'
len IN pursuance Of law for their default
,od public duty. Your committee iurtl
VII required Of the Auditor a report she
ity, inc the amount paid into the Treas'
to doring the period aforesaid and II
an what sources the same was receive
all Of which was importan to ena
lee, your committee to report with pre-
xed ion on this branch of the subject re-
hen red 10 them. This information
as if found by your committee IN a G, or
ding and undigested state in the AUDIT
the Office, which would require the Ia
Of weeks to arrange. This state
, ,S,I. things has been produced IN CO..
Ind mence Of want of proper relu
from Your committee feel, however, u
Ie Of Is due 10 the Auditor to remark.
scted he has evinced no disposition OF
The cealment: TO the contrary, every d
who s;tion was shown to afford US sucl
2 lew formation as he possesses Inn
more Your committee, nevertheless, fe
:, ,o- f. their duty to recommend that the
val ditor be required, in future, i
be no law already imposing the
upon him, to arrange and keel
low of hooks So as to show at one view
along long full. complete and entire resource
lenol l; Liabilities Of the State. Your CO..
] a sas,s teecan imagine nothing more o.
: feast Feast than to imagine ways sud means
with organizing and constructing 2 %
in far. tl1e purpose Of meeting the de'
collect Of the government in absence 2
TAX. very necessary and important ID
8, onu ton.
!. 80 The amount Of taxes, as appe
~ e'' the the assessment lists returned 70 q
Iancmg ditor's Office, [the counties O.
.ern in. bee and Tunica making 20 =