The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-12-21
MR.. WHITTLESEY.


MR.. WHITTLESEY.
Elisha Whittlesey, Esq, late Auditor Of the
Post Office Department, was long and extensively
known as a most efficient, active, and indus
trious Chairman Of the Committee of Claims in
the House of Representatives. 1t may not be
too much to say that in the capacity Of chairman
to that important committee he had no superior
His labors were unremitting, both night and day,
in the investigation Of the many important and
complicated cases presented to the consideration
Of Congress, and which were referred TO the
Committee Of Claims.
General Harrison, on arriving at the seat OF
Government, was satisfied that the accounts q
the Post Office Department were in deplorable
state of disorder and confusion, arising from the
manner in which the accounts were kept, as
well as from the way the money was collected
and paid. For under the administration Of Mr..
Kendall the usual system Of bookkeeping was
abandoned, and the ledger, which is the key Of
bookkeeping, was set side, for what purpose, or
by whom, is not positively known to this day.
| Every person conversant with accounts and book
keeping knows that the ledger is indispensable,
and, strange to say, that essential book was dis
pensed with, and for several successive years, in
Department of the Government where nearly
| twenty thousand accounts are to be examined
and balanced four times each and every year,
and involving the accountability of much more
than four millions of dollars each year.
Without stopping to inquire why this extra
ordinary may, inexplicable step had been taken,
General Harrison promptly superseded the Audi
tor by the appointment of Mr. Whittlesy This
gentleman went to work with his accustomed
diligence, both night and day, to unravel the
mysterious web which enveloped the accounts,
and soon discovered more than half million of
dollars, and was adding daily to the amount
that had been shrouded in obscurity by the plan
adopted by his predecessor under the admins
tration of Mr.. Kendall; sum in amount more
than sufficient to meet the then existing demands
upon the Department, and to render unnecessary
the half million Of dollars appropriated by Con-
gress, at the special instance of Mr.. Tyler, to
relieve the embarrassment of the Department
soon after his induction to office. He also re-
stored the old system Of keeping accounts by
the use Of the ledger, course that had been pur-
| sued by all the Postmasters General who pre-
coded Mr.. Kendall 1t may with propriety be
asked why Mr.. Whittlesey was removed, and
especially SO while he was daily making some
hig: ly important discoveries OF some of the
countless errors committed by the mysterious
plan ofkeeping accounts SO at variance with all
experience and propriety.
1t may be said that be was not dismissed.
That is true; but much more Objectionable
course than dismission was pursued to cro,ud him
out of Office. A dismission would have been at
least frank. if unjust, but far less Objectionable
than the course adopted by the President through
his Secretary Of the Treasury.
ON-TRAITORS IN THE CAMP.
We were utterly astounded on looking over
the Charleston Courier of the 4th inst, to per
ceive the announcement of meeting of the
Clay CLUB of Charleston, S. C. What is re-
belion rearing its front in Mr.. Calhoun's own
Palmetto State? Are there Wings enough in
Chorlo All -