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


e5n6nins bis sulhoriiy 70 receive ALLHoNEE DUE
% The State Of Mississippi 70 he date Of Gov.
Tucker's letter. but On The ronlrEfY he letter
vas evidence Of hisIighl % rsosiVo "ull money
due 70 The State" until The expiration Of the term
Ofhis authority or be removal from once.
On ihs Oh Of May lsl2, Governor Ticker,
IN aecordance with The 7th section oflho act Or
thia State accepting The rslinquishment Of the
two per cent fund, directed rcguisition 10
Richard S. Graves, Treasurer Of lhs State requi-
ring him TO draw on he Treasurer OfIhs Uni
ted shios, for the sun ofsl0,0o0 out Of that
fund. Gov. Tucker himself admits that this
requisiiion 10 Graves was never exhibitsdby him
to the Secretary ofths Treasury and none, but
3 mind as dull and confused in ils perceptions
as his exeelsneySwould ever have conceived The
idea Of addueing this circumstance to extenuale
his own misconduct or 70 sustain his charge Of
the want Of ordinary care and diligence in the
Secretary Of the Treasury. Even If the most
ample evidence we're adduced that this roquisi-
ton 70 Ii sTrsssurer Of Mississippi was sxhib-
tied to the Secretary Of the Treasury, there is
nothing in this Of itself BY which he could pos
sibly be led to infer that the authority ofGraves
over the funds ofi the State was more limited
than he was induced TO believe, from the unqual~
lied character Of the Governors letter in regard
10 his powers. The sbioosiousf which ths Hon
Orable Governor makes 10 the validity Of the
payment 10 Graves on The ground Of lie having
been made in United States Treasury Notes,
and the Notes being made payable to r. s,
Gnves, instead otto the State Of Mississippi, or
10 R. S. Graves as Treasurer Of The State, we
consider as Quibbles utterly unbecOming the
| dignity Of Governor Of State, but strikingly
illustrative Ofthe prOfuudity and highly elevated
character Of his professional attainments. BY
his election az Treasurer Of Mississippi, r. s.
Graves was invested with the powers ola gon-
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
slectinR him TO the Office Of Treasurer, and the
Constitution and laws of the State prescribed tC
him in general terms, his duties. A part Of biz
duties was To "receive all money due to the
State" which from Governor fuckers letter
the Secretary had every reason TO Sslieys inelu-
ded the two per cent fund as well ~ all others
In regard to the f6rm,in which he might choose
10 have these funds paid to him for The greater
convenience Of transmission, that was a mattel
within his own discretion and not for the dicta
ton Of the United States Treasurer. 1.-The hat
paid him in U. S. gold coin, be might have ex
changed 1t immediately with broker for bill
on the north, and he consequently lel it to Ora
yes preference whether to receive specie Of
I Treasury Notes. As to the form, in which there
we're drawn in favor Of R S. Graves, instead O
r. Graves, Treasurer Of the State Of Missis
siPPi,' none but pettiioeging lawyer,Whose &C
quaintance with the principles Of law does nO
extend beyond the Revised Code, would eVel
have made an objection 10 il. As the United
States cannot be sued, there is no method o.
enforcing by law the payment of a debt from thai
government; but If this transaction had Occurred
between the State Of Mississippi and an ndi
vidual, there would be no difficulty in making
the drawer 0fthe note responsible IN the last re
sort, if the drawee refused to accept or failed Il
pay the same. When the State Of Mississippi
shall fail to obtain the money upon the present
alton Of those notes, there then might DO NOR,
reason in the objection which Governor Tucke
has urged; but at present Il is like many of III,
bubbles Of the Regulators for refusing to pay
the Union Bank Bonds.
Equipped with this comprehensive letter o
Governor fuckers TO the Secretary Of tht
Treasury, Graves goes to Washington ant
found no difficulty in drawing the whole Of the
two per cent. fund, which was then due the
State.
On the 9lst Of December lS42, the Hon
Jacob Thompson writes 10 Gov. Tucker let
ter evincing the greatest apprehension ant
anxiety Of mind. He states that he was warn.
ed Of facts for the first time that day, switch
have filed him with feelings of fear and hOr
ror. learn to-day, says be, that Richard s
Graves our present State Treasurer, drew flon
the Treasury Of the United States some 8 or {
weeks ago Sl44,000 of the two per CEN
fund" - HWhat is to be done leav,
you to decide, you viii be in some degree in
volved . . let me beseech you to take
some effective steps to secure TO the State thl
fund" On the mex: day Col. Thompson
writes another letter 10 Governor Tucker OF
the same subject, which we copy entire.
blouse Of Representatives, !
December 22nd, 1s43' !
"Dear Sir On yesterday l wrote
TO you in regard TO the drawing o.
"$114, 900 Of the two per cent fund BY
"our Treasurer. Though we have
mot as yet the official statements
"Yet l perceive that the Treasurer o.
soar State relies upon letter Of your
"written in regard TO the three pei
scent fund as his only reguisition from
"you. II seems the Secretary Of The
Treasury yielded TO this Statement
land representation. This wiH inUolU,
"yOu in this most hOrrid transaction
"From all participation in which, fol
"Heaven's sake clear your Skirts
ave are told to-day that Graves wher
SIN New York put into market $780,
1000 Of the Treasury notes. This
"argues badly. Can It be that Grave.
"has gambled ~ never felt so much
concerned about a transaction in al
"my life. | fear il will prove an aw.