The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-03
NEW York Defnlc ntlon.O

We extract the following from the National InteIliaen
Ger of yesterday being from article copied into that
paper and credited to the New York Express. After
his deputy of the southern district of New York in the
of the United States u.s. the barque Laurens the wr-
ter says:
'The in this bespeak official looseness alto
gethe objectionable 1t affords evidence too neglect
of duty Washington the part of the law officer there
communication with the district attorney here, which at
least ought to be explained which. left unexplained,
ought to lead to his summary ejeotment from office. The
officers here bound to keep the government Wash
ington well informed, and any omission of duty here
ught to lead to prompt inquiry the of government
But such inquiry seems to have been instituted and
everything appears have been left ends take
care of themselves The marshal failed in his dny the
deputies in theirs, the district attorneys in theirs the Solicit
of the Treasury in his and the late President putting
these most unsuitable persons in such responsible Offices
"Uu,'er the wing administration moneys received are
deposited with the Assistant Treasurer in New Yok-the
President (hrough the Solicitor of the Treasury having
ordered"
We will not undertake to these charges for the
persons referred to residing in New York. but we are
authorized to state that the imputatons upon the
Solicitor of the Treasury without shadow of foun-
daton. On the 18th of March, 1913, libel was filed by
Mr. Butler United States attorney, against the barque
laws for the suppression of the slave trade The suit
has been continued to the present time mostly on ac-
of the absence OF witnesses Prior to the 2st of
April last information had been received at the
Solicitors office that any specie had been found on board
the Laurens when seized
By the 9th rule adopted at the January term of the
Supreme Court in 1s45 for the guidance of the proceed
ngs in admiralty cases, the marshal in all cases in rem is
to arrest and take the ship goods other thing into
his possession for safe custody" This rule however
does not make it his duty report such arrest to the So
citor And at the time of this seizure there was no
law, rule of court, regulation of the Solicitors office,
requiring the marshal any else to make report to
that office OF the of executing that rule The
property, when seized, is in the custody of the law sub
ec to be condemned and sold for the use of the captors
and navy pension fund.- to be restored TO the claimants
is doubtless true Judge Belts has decided in this
case above referred that the judiciary can protect what
is seized and held by its authority But the law had
made no other provision than the rule above quoted on
this subject
The statute creating the Solicitors Office authorizes
him to require reports" from marshas and others To
guard against future difficulties, the present Solicitor
previously to any information Of the facts lately made
known in the case alluded to by of his new general
rules dated the goth Of November last and which went
into effect on the LIST of January ls40, provided "When
marshal, in United States case, makes seizure or
levy he will report to the Solicitor full description OF
the property seized or levied upon, in whose possession
found, where and how kept, by whom and upon what
terms, and how long il will be necessary to keep it,"
This rule, It is expected will secure the public as far
the Solicitor can do it. Should he. under it, learn that
any seizure or levy unsafe, he would, through the
United States attorney, call the attention Of the court,
as well ss of the marshal. to such fact II the latter
should fail to comply with a reasonable request, the
President would be apprized Of IT, to the end that he
might, by removal secure the rights Of all concerned
On the 2ia April last, the Solicitor was notified by the