Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-06-24

the carrying OF the public mail, and TO the
Southern travel at the season of the year
when the river is obstructed by ice, are go
generally felt and acknowledged, that need
say no more to recommend the additional APP
preparation required; or that the sanction Of
Congress be given In some other form, at an
early day OF the session, to the making ofths
necessary repairs upon the only safe and du-
rab!e plan which presents itself.
Another public work Of great interest COM
mitied to the care Of this Department deserves
some notice at this time. The sum of S75,.
goo was appropriated at the late session of
Congress for clearing out the Red river raft
The large sums of money heretofore eXpend-
cd on this object, the high expectation indul-
ged, after the first successful experiment, Of
the practicabili,y ofeilecting it The subsequent
accumulation and continuance of partial OBJ
structons, and the consequent disappointment
of the public, caused the Department TO give
its early and serious attention to the subject.
Believing that Congress, in making this app
preparation, INDUCED the hope that it would
be all that would be required for the compile
ton of the work, the Department, resolved
! that the highest degree of permanence and u
tlity attainabie by the use of the means plac-
ed at its disposal should be accomplished,
directed that an officer fihc highest credit for
skill and judgment should proceed withou.
delay to ascertain the nature, extent, and eau:
ses Of the distractions which interrupt the
navigation of that river, and to submit plan
for their removal. That officer has not vet
reported 10 the Department. Ii is intended
that the steam and snag boats, after being re-
paired, shall ascend Red river, while IL con-
tlnnes In navigable state, to the point of OBJ
struoticni but it is not designed TO enter up
on the work until Autumn. This policy, as
VIII fully appear from the report of the Chief
OF the Typographical Engineers, and the ac-
companying letter of the superintendent, was
dictated by d sound economy. il not by tho
| necessity of the case.
practice has prevailed in the Indian De-
parment OF making payments from moneys
drawn from the Treasury under appropria-
tons by Congress, without regarding, i'm all
cases, the objects OF the appropriations as spe-
Gifted liz the law.
| This practice virtually defeats that provi-
sion of the Constitution which declares that
| no money shall be drawn from the Treasury
except under appropriations by Congress; for
the object Of this provision must have been
not merely that money shall not be drawn
from the Treasury without being duly appro:
priated, but that 1t shall be paid only for OBJ
jects specified in the acts Of appropriation.
The practice Of making payments under
such circumstances--that is, Of taking money
| drawn from the treasury under an appropriation
for one object, and applying it TO the pay
ment OF accounts, and for objects for which
no appropriation has been made-renders the
reports o4' the condition of the Treasury ell
tlrely iallacious, and utterly destroys ali con-
ildence IN them. The true condition of the
Treasury, or of its liabilities, is not and can
not be presented under such practice.
The Indian department has favored itself
in the means of practising this irregularityb by
another usage, directly in cUntravention OF
the law of Congress requiring that unexpen.
ded balances OF appropriations, at the expira-
ton OF TWO years, shall revert to the Treasury.
1t has been customary, before the expiration
of the two years, to withdraw from the Trea-
sury the balances not actually required for
disbursement within the specified period;
and these balances have been placed i'm the
hands of dlsbursing agents, forming very
large fund, from which payments have been
made from time time ior objects for which
no appropriations have been made by Con-
gress. The amount of funds in the hands of
these specia! agents of the Department has
ranged, on an average, from two to three hun
dred thousand dollars for the last seven or
eight years, and this has been generally de-
posted in Banks selected at the discretion Of
the agent himself.
Under these circumstances, the disbursinfr
agents, having received moneys under an,
thorized heads of appropriation, which have
been applied to objects not sanctioned by
law, have had their accounts brought into
such condition as will not allow of their set
| tIement at the Treasury without, special ap-
preparation by Congress; and hence there
| are disbursing agents who have been unable
| to obtain settlement during several wears,
and whose accounts are still open, nolwitb-
standing The act of Congress, most salutarv
In its object, requiring a settlement annually
on the first Of October.
| AS one irreGulaTity is ofient the parent of
another, so, under the usage Of the Indian
! Bureau, by which large amounts Of money
/ have been held by discussing AGENTS, whi n
shonld 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 tho
| treasury IN other departments Of the Govern
nont or other and distinct branches Of the In
dian department; and, in this manner, Il sys-
tenn OF accommodation has obtained without
responsibility and unknown TO the law.
The evils OF the practice. the subject of
these remarks, will sufficiently appear when
/ 1t is considered that they are precisely those
which it was the object of the provision in the
! Constitution, prescribing the mode Of draw
, ing money from the Treasury, TO guard a.
; gainst; and those also which were intended
: 10 be countcracted by the law Of Congress re-
curing that unexpended balances shall revert
to the Treasury AT the expiration OF two
years.
In the present condition Of the accounts Of
: disbursing agents, it is impossible to ascer,
{ tain the precise amount OF payments requiring
|. appropriations by Congress for their final adj
: justmcnt at the Treasury, but the amount is
: known. thus far, 10 exceed 5000, 00C,- and it
{ will probably require S250,O00. and possibly
! $500, 900.
| hO to ~ lie,