The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-23

Il
THE REPORT OF THAT COMMITTEE
REVIEWING
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
c.rai, members of the Committee on Public EXpendi
ss have been engaged, during several months OF the
resent session of Congress, in investigating Inc IePo
II the Secretary of the Treasury and have prepared an
elaborate statement purponlng 10 designate rta
hsr The Secretary of the Treasury, ONT Walkero OF
,ha Acting Secretary, Mr. Young. or any OF us as CO.
members OF the same committee, 'ha1 sncn a h dsna
hon was pending. or would take place al the Depart IL
msn, No application was made TO the Secretary OF
,bs Treasury or to the Acting Secretary, iof hlof,
nation no opportunity gwen Tor explahauon anu
ma was entirely unknown as well 10 Inc secretary
n the Treasury as also to the Acting Secretary and
~ The undersigned four members OF that commiuee,
%on,sd nv The committee Thus, whilst the Secre-
,ary Of the Treasury charged by this portion OF the
Committee with certain alleged errors, and whilst Judg-
nt was pronounced against him in Their report, no OPP
nr,nn;tv whatever was afforded him to submit any in
ornation or explanation TO answer the charges OF
syro preferred against him by the committee Thus the
vSecreiay of the Treasury was placed on a oy part
NJ the committee and condemned without ever having
Known that any investigation was pending until after
The Judgment had been pronounced against him 1t is
,ue thai this trial not for any CRIMINAL onence 1or
due to the committee to say, that they entirely exon
crate the Secretary from any Intentional error but at the
m time. thew do charge him with errors unnentional
aec,ng the accuracy of his report and financial state
ments Under such circumstances, we thinS mar the
rue course on the part OF the committee would have been
% apprze u.s. their comembers, and the Secretary, that
such an investigation was pending, to have conferred
with him as the alleged inaccuracies In his financial
statement and offered him the fullest opportunity OF de-
lending himself against the charges OF the committee.
This course rendered more proper both as regards
ourselves as co members of the committee and the Sec
ary BY the fact that neither by any special resolution OF
Congress nor by the rules of the House designating the
ues of this committee, did they have any jurisdiction
the case, any authority TO make this investigation
and report Notwithstanding this total want OF any au-
horty prosecute this inquiry, neither ourselves nor
he Secretary would have made any question OF ursdc-
hon. nor nterposed any objection to the investigation
but notice had been given to US and the Secretary, 1t
is now clear that these charges OF inaccuracy IN his
financial statements preferred by the committee, never
would have been sanctioned by them. and that the COM
nee themselves would have been convinced that there
was no Just ground for the allegations which they have
made against the report of the Secretary.
We shall, in the sequel, proceed to show the numerous
and important made by the committee in their
port in which, whilst endeavoring to point out errors al
d by them exist in the report of the Secretary of
the Treasury they have themselves committed numerous
and important errors, in form in substance and results
Before however, designating these errors OF the commit
tee will prove that if the alleged by them
aid exist they not the report OF the Secreta
~ Of the Treasury, but in certain tables appended to it,
furnished and certified by the Register of the Treasury.
Office Of Register of the Treasury is entirely distinct
from that of the Secretary of the Treasury Its duties
prescribed by law distinct, important, and indepen
dent; and the Register does not derive his appointment
rom the Secretary of the Treasury Is he removable
BY the Secretary, or responsible to him in any way for
The performance of his official duties
Before concluding this report, we mean to show that
The Register, who Is most capable, experienced, and
excellent officer has committed scarcely any OF the
errors designated by the committee that the errors OF the
committee themselves after so much toll and laborlous
vesigaon upon this single subject, are far more nu-
nous than those imputed to the Register, who will be
hown under the circumstances be free from lust
ause for censure.
Before however proceeding TO this branch of the sub
e we will clearly prove that, even if the errors alleged
the committee did exist they of the Register
Ahe Treasury, and not of the Secretary. To demon
ae this, will quote sections and OF the act OF
Congress Of September the I'd, l7ss entitled 'An aci
establish the Treasury Department"
SECTION That shall be the duty of the Secretary OF
be Treasury digest and prepare plans for the improve
nn and management OF the revenue and Tor the support
public credit; prepare and report estimates oil the
public revenue, and the public expenditures to suPerin
tend the collection OF the revenue TO decide on the forms OF
keeping and stating accounts and making returns and to
grant, the limitations herein established or TO be
hereafter provided all for moneys to be issued
such services the sale OF the lands be
Dnng the Uued States, may be by law require OF
him. port and give Information to eiter branch
Of the egisature in person writing Gas he may be
ad) respecting all matters referred 10 him by the Senate
House OF Representatives or which shall apperan to
his office generally perform all such services Iela-
I've to The finances lie shall be directed to perform
Srcroy ssTbat it shall be the duty OF the Register
eep all accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the
public money and OF all debts due or the United
States from the Comptroller the accounts which
shall have been finally adjusted, and to preserve such &C,
Counts with their vouchers and certfcaies to record all
warrants for the receipt OF moneys at the treas
ay certify the thereon, and TO transmit to the Secre
of the Treasury copies OF the certificates OF balances oil
accounts adjusted, as is herein directed"
will be observed that the duty of the Secretary OF the
Treasury, herein prescribed does not include that
Of keeping the books certifying the condition OF the
public debts receipts, and expenditures The Sec
tayis to prepare and report estimates OF the pubc
revenue and expenditures, but the actual receipts and
expenditures, and debts to be registered in the Regis
s ofce and the statement as to them furnished by the
REGISTER OF the Treasury, over which duty the Secretary
OF the Treasury has other control than to direct the
Gm of keeping and stating accounts. Now, there is no
alleged the estimates of the Secretary Indeed,
hese too correct and had been too fully realized to
ADMIT of any doubt question. Yet this. which was
duty 10 be performed by the Secretary, and which
performed in manner TO which the committee could
AXE no exception is not alluded TO by them whilst
he certiyn not OF estimates but OF the actual debts
receipts, and expenditures, which is not at all the duty OF
HE Secretary of the Treasury, but of the Register of the
treasury, commented though II the Secre
ary who was bound TO keep the books and certify the
sbes of the public debts, receipts, and expenditures
thus, whilst no aluson is made by the committee to
he correctness OF estimates in which duty de.
voved by Congress upon the Secretary, the errors
which they allege found in the tables certified
BY the Regster IRON the books which he is required
by law to keep, of public debts, receipts, and ex-
pendItures And here do not hesitate to saw that ii
the Secretary had attempted to furnish statement of his
own of these debts, receipts, and expenditures he would
have violated the law and his duty Tor he bound BY
aw take the tables furnished and certified by the Re-
ger who is bound by the law TO keep the books and to
furnish ihece tables, which legal evidence only
to the Secretary but in court OF justice. The books
not kept by the Secretary of the Treasury and he has
no materials in his Office from which to furnish such Ia
bes, and he can only obtain them las they had been OBJ
famed by all his predecessors from the Register OF the