Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-09

| tore the expiration OF the two years TO withdraw
rom the ireasury the balances no; actually rcquir'
81 Tor disbursement within the specified PERIOD; and
these balances have been placed the hands of dis
| hursins agents, forming very large fund, from
which payments have been made from tins time
Tor objects for which no appropriations have Geeu
| made by Congress. The amount Of funds IN the
hands al these special agents oi the Department has
ranged, ON an average, from two tn thee bundled
thousand dollars for the last seven eight years
and this has been generally deposited IN banks Sc
lected at the discretion OF the agent himself.
Under these circumstances, the disbursing agents
| having received moneys under authorized heads al
appropriation. which have been applied to objects
not sanctioned 10y law, have had their accounts
brought into such CO dition rs will not allow o
their settlement 90 the Treasury without special
appropriation by Congress; and hence there are dis
| bursting agents who have been unable To obtain n
settlement during several years, and whose accounts
are stu open, notwithstanding the act Of Congress,
most saIuiary IN ITS object, requiring settlement
annually on the first oi October.
As one lrreguatity is often the parent of another
so, under the usage o the Indian Bureau, by which
large amounts OF money have been held by disburs.
ing agents, which should have reverted to the Trea-
sury. these agents have had the means OF loanng,
and have actually loaned, large sums, within the
last lew years, 10 meet the necessities OF the Trca
sury IN other departments ofthe Government or 9th.
er and distinct branches OF the Indian department;
ana, IN tins manner, system of accommodation has
obtained without responsibility and unknown to the
law.
The evils Of the practice the subject of these re.
marks, will sufficiently appear when it is consider
cd that they a'o precisely those which it was the
object oil the provision IN the Constitution, prescri-
oins the mode OF drawing money from the Trea-
sury, to guard against; and those also which were
intended to be counteracted by the law Of Congress
requiring that unexpended balances shall revert 10
the treasury at the expiration of two years.
In the present condition of the accounts of dis.
bursting agents, II is impossible to ascertain the pre-.
else amount OF payments requiring appropriations
Ivy Congress ior their final ad ustment at the Trea
sury, bu, the amount is known, thus far TO exceed
500 900, and IL will probably require $3.50 600
and possibly S300,00O
Ii would be easy to multiply remarks upon the
improperly OF this practice of the Department. The
objections TO II are numerous and weichiy, and
some of them are founded deeply in vital prnc-
pies as to deserve some further notice in this report
All officers hold their mowers in trust under the
obligation of fulfilling the objects for which those
powers were granted. Congress is entrusted with
the power oi granting morey for objects 10 be ac
eompiiShed by Executive agents. Ii the agents d.
vert the money 10 other objects, there is breach
OF trust. But as all the officers OF the Govern.
ment are presumed TO have in view the common
good, Congress, more or less, relies upon the Exc
cutivc agents 10 indicate the objects requiring ap-
preparations, with estimates of the amounts neces
sary Tor their accomplishment This confidence
IN Executive agents seems to have been regarded
IN some cases, rs an implied authority in the agent
To undertake objects not yet sanctioned by Com
gresS, the agents looking proSpectively for that
sanction But II this discretion IS To bc tolrtotrd
under any pretence whatever, for objects however
apparently needful or import mt, the checks and
guards provided 10y the Constitution and the laws
are At once removed, and the most dangerous ex-
peflments may be made with the public money ha-
wing no higher sanction than the Judgment OF the
Heads OF Departments, while the discretion thus
exercised ut the fountain is liable to become cen
tousneSs IN the subordinate agents, resulting i'm
ltaGus and deiaicatons ct extraordinary character
and magnitude.
The attention Of the Department has been directed
to the subject Of Indian treaties and particularly to
The manner IN which some of those recently made
have been executed involving the disbursement of
large sums OF money for the emigration and subsis-
tence Of Indians.
The frauds that have been practised in the
Southwest have been 10 some extent inquired
into, but full disclosure of all the facts has
not yet been arrived at. Enough has, however,
been brought TO light to establish the conviction
mat certain contractors have realized the most
enormous profits, the greater portion of which
IS believed To have been the direct fruit of gross
upon the Government or the Indians practised NV
orong some OF the subordinate instruments in the
public employment, or through the Encouragement
oi hlSher pubic agents, who can only screen them
selves from the suspicion of n conniyance in the
frauds ny submitting To the ImpunlOn of gross neg
Iisence ignorance, or incompeIency in the perform
ance of their duty.
From the involved character OF these transactions
- W f'"~u'iHS lull anu precise lntOT-
nation, Il has been found impossible as vet TO fl
upon the point where these frauds commenced or
To ascertain the boundaries of responsibility among
The numerous public officers and agents through
whose direct or indirect instrumenlaIy, connvance
or ignorance the contractors able TO consum-
mate their unprincipled designs. This inyestiga.
ton his been prosecuted with the most painful re-
luciance, though persevered IN under paramount
sense OF duty; and enough has been disclosed to
suggest an inqniry whether the guilty recipients
may not be Compelled TO refund their inquitous
gains TO the Treasury 10y process of law.
AL OF which Is respectfully submitted.
JOHN BELL.
To the PRESIDEsr.