Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1843-07-01
IN CHARLOTTE, (NoRTH CARoLNA,) JUNE l6. lS43
rothe Editor of the Raleigh Register:

DnbIc brief history Of nv with the branch mint
this place. and defend my reputation against the mali
cus assaults OF few preudced and designing men, who
have suddenly become the peculiar friends Of the President
and Econs6ted Guardians of the public interest
In J0lA l64l|I recei4ed commission from President
Tyler recRlnp That he, reposing special trust and conf
dence Ia my integrity and ability had nominated and by and
with the advice and Of the Senate had appointed
superintendent Of the branch mint Charlotte North Caro-
lima" which appointment accepted and entered upon the
duties of that Office the 18th Of August with the fixed
and unaerabe determination correct the abuses and
that existed in that institution, and out
in practice the patriotic pledges made by gallant party in
the political contest Of 1910.
In assuming The responsibilities of office, stood pledged
by the principles Of the Wing party to divest myself OF the
character Of the partisan politician and to observe an honor
able neutrality the political scenes Of the day was more
fully confirmed in the proprey of this position by the de-
clinng condition in which found the institution placed
under my supervision which believed had originated in
great from the partisan character given by
predecessor in Office resolved all of
plant Of this nature by extending courtesy TO all and to
know political party in my official connexon with the
community.
By the act of Congress establishing the branch mnts,
had the individual here in the employ
men of the Government except the assayer and coiner
and have filled their places with persons from my po
tca parry; bat in OBJ dence 10 the principles of that party
inquired their political opinions, but for their ability
and integrity and in justice to them must say that found
mo of removal they Democrasbat honest
pable, and faithful was pressed by some OF my political
ends Mr.. w. F. Strange, clerk Of my prede
ssor and give the appointment to some Wing, but
tis6ed that he gentleman Of sterling integrity pos
essng all the qualities of fine cer, and retained him
my confidential clerk during my continu nee in Office Il
e found Wing in The office Of porter dookeeper
the annual salary Of two hundred and forty dollars, and
believing that there no law authorizing bis appointment
that the public interest did require his continuance
II dismissed him and abolished the office.
MY effort the cause OF complaint that
general and SO justly made against the profuse man
ne ia which the public had been squandered by
predecessors upon objects that did net promote the public in
eres and by rigid economy, to bring down the annual
expenditures the simple and republican standard Of North
Carolina economy How far have succeeded in this refer
the records of The mint and the paper A. anne xed to
Originally which have made out by the CLERK Of
cords Of the same annual Expenditures Of the public
moneys appropriated by Congress for this mint from its
in 1887 = The s with
stration Of Democratic ia wing superintendent and
pood In drawing ths ecssa sisls the ys.r 1910
predecessor, and the year 1872 Che only whole Year that
received for coinage 1927 5S5 81 worth Of gold bullion
whiScos the Government in its coinage $3 S75 III and
ia xdnr 1912, there received for the purpose
si77 Ii in value Of gold bullion, that the Govern.
men in coinage $llO70 Sc, showing that in the year
mint did less business by SAG S2l 20 than in the
YET ls4s, and spent So sO4 81 more and this
rthe cheapestear of Democratic supernendence the most
which you s observe by reference this statement has
been saved out Of item in all appropriation
and clerk fixed by law the of lsboer BY usage OF
the mint much per day but the expenditures OF the
contingent fund must necessarily Ia great measure be limit
ed by sound discretion of the superintendent who
sponsble for a such expenditures of this description in all
the departments. In August last put in oPeraon upon my
individual responsibility alone, change in relation the
service of workmen employed that brings down that item of
expenditure for the present year hundred and two dol
lars and from the entire Of the experiment do
entertain doubt but may be continued without the
Inconvenience the public interest," thus fixing that
item oexpendture hereafter at 81 sos instead Of S. 5lO
nuay, under the old arrangement
These of my Wing notions of retrenchmen and
reform and it for the public decide how far President
Tyler was justified in the confidence he expressed in my
commission in integrity and sbity = but strange to
tell, with full knowledge theps Of Mr. Tyler of these
facts have lost that confidence, and considered by him
as no longer worthy of his special trustR
Upon the 2lst March last received unicaon from
Doctor NJ Patterson director of the mint at Philadelphia,
enclosing copy the following letter to himself from
the Hon. John c. Spencer Secretary Of the Treasury and
requesting that would furnish him With my reply the
truth Of the allegation. made I'd With certificates
TREASURY DrpARTnEnT, MARCH II, Is43.
sR In communication addressed the President of the
United States and by him referred this Department, is
charged against Colonel Gather the superintendent Of the
branch North Carolina that he resides with his family
sixty miles from Charlotte. will thank the
necessary inquiries be made ascertain II such be the
and whether Inconvenience caused those having
any with the mint consequence Of the distance
the suPerintendenrs residence am, respectfully
Secretary of the Treasury.
ITO Doctor r. M. PATTERSON, Philadelphia"
responded Immediately this charge and the
tifcates of thTytwo gentlemen, residents Of this place.
Lnconton, and Morganon proving the charge FALSE and
confirming the facts contained in my answer. appended
the paper to my answer showing the condition Of
the mint in comparison with its former operations and the
efforts had made to the institution public conf.
dence. The director of the mint Philadelphia, who by
law invested with the general Of the branch
mints and 10 whom this charge had been properly referred
for investigation made his report the Secretary of the
Treasury the 9Th of April and accompanied the
at my request with all the documents had forwarded and
placed them on file in the Treasury Department
In hs psttar he hiUho piniop
had previously entertained for his elevated character
public officer, and does full and ample justice. He
gaves the charge made and reports that the certificates for
warded 90 show that have the confidence OF the
nifty which reside and of all persons who have business
in the mint that during my superntendence the Of
depoes and of coinage has increased while the expenses Of
the mint have sensby diminished and concludes his report
by adding his direct testimony in saying that his
correspondence with has led him TO the conviction
that am aenipe pigant and able officer, and that my
duties faithfully performed which will fully appear
by reference paper hereto appended From his report
and the accompanying documents President Tyler discover
ed that did not belong to that class Of cehoders that
worthy of holding Office under his administration and
without further issues his commission upon the 9th
of May to Green w. Caldwell, late Democratic member of
Congress from this District appointing him superintendent
buon and public properly and gave him possession These
the facts which spread before the public in order
that mpuations may bs upon my character pro.
scrpive dismsson from oce show the world that
Ihave acted IN ociasphere the principles that brought
hQ intop hath az