The Democratic Whig., 1843-08-03


o,nfnine hio authority 10 receive ALLMONET DUE
to the State Of mississippi" 70 the date Of Gov.
fuckers letter; but on the contrary the letter
was evidence of his tight to receive "a1i money
due 10 the State until the expiration Of the term
This authority or his removal from Once
On the 9th of May 1912, Governor Ticker,
in accordance with the 7th section Of the act Of
this State accepting the REIMBURSEMENT Of the
two per cent fund, directed y rc4uisitiOn 10
Richard 8. Graves, Treasurer Of the State requi-
ring him to draw on the Treasurer ofthe Uni
ted States, for the sum Of $4,000 oui Of that
fund. Gov. Tucker himself admits that this
requisition 10 Graves was never exhibited by him
to the Secretary ofthe ITrcasury and none, but
a mind 40 dull and confused in its perceptions
as his excelIency swould ever have conceived the
idea of adducing this circumstance to extenuate
his own misconduct or to sustain his charge of
the want of ordinary care and diligence in the
Secretary of the Treasury. Even if the most
ample evidence were adduced that this requisi-
ton to th Treasurer Of Mississippi was exhib~
tied to the Secretary of the Treasury, there is
nothing in this Of itself by which he could pos
sibIy be led to infer that the authority ofGravcs
over the funds of the State was more limited
than he was induced to believe, from the unqual>
fled character of the Governors letter in regard
TO his powers. The objections which The Hon.
orabIe Governor makes TO the validity Of the
payment to Graves on the ground of its having
been made in United States Treasury Notes,
and. the Notes being made payable to II. 3.
GrLves, instead off the State of Mississippi, or
to r. S. Graves as Treasurer Of the State, We
consider as quibblcs utterly unbecoming the
dignity of Cove ernor Of a State, but strikingly
illustrative Ofthe profundity and highly elevated
character of his professional attainmentS. BY
his election as Treasurer of Mississippi, r. S.
Graves was invested with the powers ofa gen-
eral agency, to receive and keep the funds of the
State. The people of Mississippi had exhibited
their confidence in his honesty and capacity by
electing him to the Office of Treasurer, and the
Constitution and laws of the State prescribed to
him in general terms, his duties. A part of his
duties was to "receive all money due to the
State,' which from Governor fuckers letter,
the Secretary had every reason 10 believe inclu-
ded the two per cent fund as well as all others
| In regard to the f6rm,in which he might choose
/ to have these funds paid TO him for the greater
convenience of transmission, that was a matter
within his own discretion and not for the dicta-
ton of the United States Treasurer. lfhe had
paid him in U. s. gold coin. he might have ex-
changed 1t immediately with broker for bills
on the north, and lie consequently left it to Gra-
ves' preference whether to receive specie OF
| Treasury Notes. As to the form, in which thef G
were drawn in favor Of r. S. Graves, instead oi
'R. 8 Graves, Treasurer Of the State Of Missis-
sipp,' none but pettifogging lawyer.whose ac
| quaintance with the principles of law does moi
extend beyond the Revised Code, would ever
have made an objection 10 it. AS the United
| States cannot be sued, there is no method of
enforcing by law the payment ofa debt from that
| government; but if this transaction had occurred
between the State Of Mississippi and an indi'
vidual, there would be no difficulty in making
the drawer ofthe note responsible in the last re-
sort, if the drawee refused to accept failed to
pay the same. When the State oF Mississippi
shall fail to obtain the money upon the present
alton of those notes, there then might be more
reason in the objection which Governor Tucker
has urged; but at present II is like many of the
bubbles of the Repudiators for refusing to pay
the Union Bank Bonds.
Equipped with this comprehensive letter of
Governor fuckers to the Secretary of the
Treasury, Graves goes to Washington and
found no difficulty in drawing the whole of the
two per cent. fund, which was then due the
State.
On the 21st of December 1S42, the Hon.
Jacob Thompson writes to Gov. Tucker let
ter evincing the greatest apprehension and
anxiety of mind. He states that he was warn
ed of facts for the first time that day, switch
have filled him with feelings of fear and hor-
ror. I learn to-day, says he, that Richard S.
Graves our present State Treasurer, drew from
the Treasury ofthe United States some or
weeks ago $I44,OO0 of the two per cent
fund.- = "What is to be done leave
you to decide, you will be in some degree in |
volved . y = let me beseech you to take |
some effective steps to secure to the State this |
fund" On the mex: day Col. Thompson |
writes another letter to Governor Tucker on |
the same subject, which we copy entire.
''House of Representatives, }
December 22nd, 1s43. ! |
"Dear Sir: /: On yesterday l wrote
''Io you in regard 10 the drawing ofI
"$114. 900 of the two per cent fund by
''our Treasurer. Though we have
mot as yet the official statements.
''Yet | perceive that the Treasurer oil
"our State relies upon letter of yours
written in regard to the three Der
'cent fund as has only Yeguisition from
''you. 1t seems the Secretary Of the
Treasury yielded to this Statement
land representation. This ss;u inpolye
''yow IN this most horrid tyonsact;ou
From all participation in which, for
Heavens sake clear your sklrts.-l
I'VE are told to-day that Graves when
IN New York put into market $50
1000 of the Treasury notes. This
argues badly. Can it be that Graves
has gambled ?-l never felt 40 nucL
concerned about transaction in ali
INV 1efo, 4 e.. - 80 - ~n /