The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-03
"Erscraips Department, !

- AZ manu. duu III lepiy tuSANtot inv
the honor to say, that RIoHARD S.
Graves, Esq, Treasurer Of the State
Of Mississippi, is daily authorized 70
rscsiue all money due TO the State Of
Mississippi, as well from the three per
cent. fund, as FROM ALL OTHER
SOURCES.
sit wss Formerly the duty OF Tue
Governor 70 receive this, but BY sub
sequent legislation, this duty devolVes
on the Treasurer.
With very high respect,
/ am sir, your obi. servant,
T. M. TUCKER"
HoN. w. FORWARD.
The terms in which this letter is written,
have no Qualification, and admit Of no pervor.
sion. The meaning is as plain aud AZ obvious
as the sun at noon, and, like an axiom in math-
smatios, nothing can render il clearer, and ell
the special pleading and.PeltifOggihg subtelty,
that ever we're resoried TO, would be utterly IN
able to fritter away The force, or cireumscribs
the extent Of the comprehensive expression,
ORCHARD GRAVES, Esq, TREASURER
OF TIE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, IS DU-
LY AUTHORISED TO RECEIVE ALL
MONEY DUE THE STATE OF MISsIs-
.sIPPI, AS WELL FROM THE THREEPER
CENT. FUND, AS FROM ALL OTHER
SOURCES" The Governor lays much stress
upon the fact that the Secretary ofthe Trea.ury
sought information solely in relation 10 the
three per cent fund. That may be SO, but why
then did not the Governor confne the iniormas
lion, which he gave, 10 the powers ofthe Treas
ursr to receive that fund.- Why did he 50 I'M
necessarily travel out Of tho direct line before
him and give 50 comprehensive statement Of
the powers and duties Of the State Treasurer as
must necessarily have led to the conclusion that
his authority extended over all the funds belong
ing to the State Of Mississippi Why did he
not inf9rm the Secretary Of the Treasury, that
BY the laws Of Mississippi there were exceptions
10 these general powers Of the Treasurer, and
that Il required special act Of the legislature
to bring any portion Of he two per cent fund
under his eoutrof He says his "repy Of itself
gave no power or authority 10 the State Treas
urer, nor was il 50 intended. II simply stated
the law" &c The Governor is mistaken; that
reply YVES the means, BY which Graves was en-.
abed to PerPetrate his robbery Of the public
treasury. Although there is frequently as much
eriminalily in the suppression Of important facts
as in 4 direct falsehOOd, We do not even suspect
Governor Tucker Of any criminal designs in the
part which he, poor fellow, was made io'play in
this transaction. But we do charge him with
the grossest incompotenoy for his Office, or the
most objectionable negligence IN falling 10 state
the exceptions, which exist 10 the authority Of
the Treasurer over the funds Of Mississippi,
when he undertook 10 give the Secretary Ofths
u s. Treasury other than direct reply to q
categorical enquiry as 10, "who is the proper
person authorised BY the Legislature Of Missis-
siPPi TO receive the amount that may be due on
account OF the three per cent fund" Though
Governor Tucker could confer no authority
upon Graves over the two per cent fund, he was
induced to act the tool, through which Graves
succeeded in imposing himself upon the ssere.
tary Of the Treasury as the person aduly au>
thOrised to receive all money due the State Of
Mississippi as well from the three per cent fund,
as from ALI OTHER sOUEoEs," Cncluding the tive
per cent fund.-
The Governor hangSa bubble upon the fact
that when this letter was written, (l9th April
ls42) no part Ofthis two per cent fund vas then
due, and he had stated alhat the State Treasurer
is duly authorised to receive ali money Due 70
the State" Poor "Old Talabola,h must have
ftlt himself Wolully at loss fos any tenable
ground ts rest his defence upon, when be was
forced to avail himselfof 80 feeble support to
sustain himself against the consequences ofthis
piece Of ignorance ofhis duties or negligence in
the performance Of them. The Secretary Of
the U. s. Treasury had not written to him to
authorize any individual to receive the funds
that were in bis hands, bot 10 Obtain the infor-
nation as to HWhO was tho proper person Az :
THORisED By the Legislature Of the State Of
Mississippi 10 receive the amount that may be
paid on account Of The three per cent fund. "
The Governor in reply, instead Of giving direct
y the information, which he sought, goes into q
statement sfths general pow ers Ofths treasurer
as defined in the Constitution and laws If Mis-
sissippi, and informs him that Richard s. Graves
was the person who was authorized to discharge
ihoss functions. This letter Of the Governor did
not PurPOFt to confer any authority upon Graves
but operated a. q certificate Of his official oapa.
city and the extent Of bis powers, which we're
derived from an election BY the people snder lhs
constitution and laws Of the Stale Of Mississippi
and vested in him during tie termof hisappoint,
ment, or until be should be removed BY impeaeh.
ment. This being the character Of the Go4er.
nOr's information in regard to Graves authority,
il is most ridioulouslY absurd in him to contend
that the idea is preeludsd Of It's extending be.
yond Ghs "mOney due to The State" a: the time,
Q9ih Of April ls42,) when the letter was writ
Ten; and e the fFsi insialment Of the two per
cent fund vas made payable on the first day Of
May, 1912. that therefore he could not be psesu-
med 70 have hsdFeieIence to hhaL The letter
conveyed 70 The Secretary Of the u S. Treas
ury certain informatiUu as to the general pow
srs Of The Treasuror'of Mississippi, and assured
A. - Dill Z A. -. Al. -. =.