The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-07-08


years, and whose accounts are still open,
Notwithstanding the act of Congress, mos,
saiutary in It's object, requiring settlement
annually on the LIST OF October.
As one irregularity is ofteu the parent Of
another, so, under the usage Of the Indian
Bureau, BY which large amounts of money
have been hold BY disbursng agents, which
should have reverted to the Treasury, these
agents have had the means Of loaning, and
have actually loaned large sums, within the
last few years, to meet the necessities Of
the Treasury in other departments Of the
Government, or other and distinct branches
OF the Indian Department; and, in this man.
ner, system of accommodation, has OBJ
tanned without responsibility, aud unknown
10 the law.
The evils of the practice, the subject Of
these remarks, will sufficiently appear, when
IT is considered that they are precisely those
which It vas the oblec; of the provision in
the constitution. prescribing the mode of
/ drawing money from the Treasury, TO guard
against and those also which we're intend
ed TO be counteracied by The law of Con
gress requiring that unexpeuded balances
shall revert to the Treasury al the expira
ton of two years.
I In the present condition Of the accounts
/ OF d'sbursIng agents, II IS impossible TO as
certain the precise amount Of payments re-.
curing appropriations by Congress for their
final adjustment al the Treasury; but the
amount Is known, thus far, 10 exceed $780,.
coo, and II will probably require $3.50, 900,
and possibly 100000.
II would be easy 10 multiply remarksup
on The Improperly of this practice Of the
department. The objections to il are uu
merous and weighty aud some of them are
/ founded so deeply IN vital principles as to
deserve some further notice IN THIS report.
+ All officers bold their powers in trust IN
der the obligation Of fulfilling The objects
tor which those powers were grated. -
Congress IS entrusted with The power Of
granting money for objects to be accom-
plishei BY executive agents. fthe agents
divert the money to other objects there is
breach Of trust. But as all the officers Of
The Government are presumed to have in
We" the common good, Congress, more or
less, relies upon Tie executive agents TO in.
d'cete the objects requiring appropriations,
With estimates OF The amounts necessary for
their accomplishment. This confidence in
executive agents seems 20 have been re
garded, N some cases, as an implied au.
ihorliy 10 the agent 10 undertake objects
not yet sanctioned by Congress, the agents
looking p.ospectivcly for that sanction.-
But II THIS discretion IS 10 be tolerated IN
der any pretence whatever, for objects how
ever apparently Beedul or important, the
checks aud guards provided BY the consti.
luton aud ne laws are at once removed, and
he most dangerous experiments may be
made ai'h the public money, having no
higher sanction than the judgment, Of the
heads OF departments, while the discretion
thus exercised al the fountain IS liable to
become RIGHTEOUSNESS in the subordinate
agents, resulting in frauds and defaications
OF extraordinary character and magnitude
The attention Of the department has
been directed to the subjsc, Of Indian ,rea
ties, and particularly to toe manner in which
some Of those recently made have been ex
eculal, involving the disbursement of large
sums Vt money for the emigration and sub
sIs'ence OF Indians.
The frauds that have been practiced 10
the Southwest have beeo to some extent in.
CURED into, bot fun disclosure OF all the
facts has not yet been arrived at. Enough
has however, been brought to Iii ht TO estab
lish a conviction that certain contractors
aaSs realized the most enormous profits,
ihe greater portion Of which is believed 10
bage been the direct fruit Of gross fraud upon
Inc Government or the Indians, pracuced
BY bribing some Of the subordinate nslru
menis N The public employment or through
he Encouragement Of higher public agents.
Who can ouly screen themselves from the
suspicion Of a conniYance in tie frauds by
submitting 10 the impuiatIon Of gross neal
seAce CT ignorance, or incompelency IN tie
performance Of their duty.
From the Involved character OF these
Transactions and The difficulty OF procuring
Uil ard precise information, i, has been
found Impossible as Jet to fix upon the
point where these frauds commenced or
10 ascertain the boundaries Of responsible
~ among the numerous public officers aud
agents through whose direct and indirect
Iasifumeuiahiy, counlyauce, or ignorance
the contractors were able to cousurnmale
their unPriDclpled designs, This invest
gailon has been prosecuted with the mos,
painful reluctance, though perseyered IN
nndef a paramount sense Of duty, and e.
cough has been disclosed TO sugges, an in.
qury whether The guilty recipients may rot
be compelled 10 refund their iniqutous gains
TO The Treasury BY process Of law.
All Of which s respectfully submitted.
JOHN BELL.
To tbs PRESIDENT.
WONDERFUL INDEED.
sg.tI