Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-08-16
ANOTHER DEFALCATIoN.

| ANOTHER DEFALCATIoN.
We understand that Patrick Collins,
Surveyor of the port of Cincinnati, remov-
ed by President Taylor, proves to be de-
faulter to a large amount. His defalcation
has been exposed by the exercise Of the
removing and appointing power. 1t has
been seasonably exposed. Ifhe had been
suffered to femaiti in, office few months
longer, his case would have been that Of
one Of President Taylor's officers. The
adoption and continuance in office of an APP
pointee Of the late administration, is equi-
valent to an original appointments far
as Executive responsibility is concerned.
Long and loud have been the jeremiads
Of the opposition press over the removal
Of Patrick Collins. Fierce have been the
anathemas uttered against the "butchers"
Of this deserving man. Though a thou
sand paragraphs has flashed the CLEAN of
the descending axe, by which he was
(metaphorieally) decapitated. A thou
sand jibes and witticisms innumer-
able-eloquent invectives--whata wretch
ed waste has there been Of all these in the
case Of this meritorious martyrl
Now, by Locoloco logic, it would have
been better that President Taylor should
not have exercised the removing power,
than that, by the exercise Of it, this detail
cation should have been exposed. The
old line peculators used TO think it wise
to retain man in Office who had his hands
full, because he would not want any more.
This was the argument that was wont to
stagger the reas oning powers Of Mr. Sec
rotary Woodbury.. He thought it was
good logic-"rather than wise.'
| What an answer is every such case as
this to whole broadsides of rant and decla-
nation about removals from office -
Without the change of "men" such ssmeas-
ures" as have been taken by these Office
holders can never be unrayelled. Not
peccadilloes, merely, but great pecula-
tons, lie concealed in the dust and cob
webs Of official chambers, until the new
broom comes that sweeps clean.
/ . Stin Another Defalcation.
| Our history of the old-line peculators Of
1884 and 1889 is interrupted by the
chropicling Of later cases. We published
yesterday statement Of the defalcation Of
Patrick Collins, the late Surveyor Of the
port Of Cincinnati, removed by President
Taylor. 1t is now our painful duty to re-
cord the defalcation Of Nathaniel DENLY,
late temporary navy agent Of the United
States at Marseilles, in France. He is a
defaulter to the tune Of 1856, SOB 4S, and
suit has been commenced against him for
the amount.
There are some delicate points about
this case. We are apprehensive that we
cannot do it justice without giving offence
to gentleman whom it always grieves us
to annoy. Mr. DENLY was Virginian.-
He was "known' at Richmond, in tho
circles frequented by the revolutionists Of
'98. We cannot mention his case without
involving some individuals who have gone
into private life. Mr. DENLY is in private
life himself. 1t may be regarded as vio-
lation Of the quiet and retirement which
that gentleman solicits, if we allude to his
official delinquencies. The late Secretary
Of the Navy has gone into private life
1t may be considered an invasion Of its
sanctuary, if we speak consciously Of an
individual who managed to rob the Gov
eminent to the amount Of $l55,6O8 48,
during Judge Mason's administration Of
the Navy Department.
| In amount and magnitude, this defalca-
tion is worthy the golden days Of the Lo-
cofoco leaders, when they did things on q
large scale. 1t would have done honor to
protege Of Mr. Secretary Woodbury.. It
is $4,000 larger than that Of Littlebury
Hawkins, Of Helena. 1t is $45, 900 larg-
er than that Of Wiley P. Harris, Of Colum-
bus. 1t almost approaches the magnif-
cence of Swartwout's case.
Here we have already developed, be-
fore the new administration has got a fair
look at the books, the cases of Moore, Col
Inns, and DENLY, to add to the long lists
Of their illustrious predecessors in the
plumber of the treasury. Try us again"
said the loco foco leaders in 1889 "these
delalcations have all happened because the
government has been employing banks,
and because there are no stronger penal
laws. Pass good, strong, wholes ONE laws;
take the money from the banks, and give
us a sub-treasury and you'll find that
loco foco office holders will be honest
enough"
Well, the penal laws were passed. Du-
ring the administration Of John Tyler,
there were no defalcations that were made
public, or that occurred, to our knowl-
edge. In 1874, the loco foco leaders of
the old fashion came into power, and pass
ed the sub-treasury law. This was to be
a sovereign panacea. There was to be no
more plumber Of the treasury. Only four
years have passed, and here we have
a new crop of defalcations, springing up
right and left, with rankness that prom
ises to overtop the luxuriance Of 1887 and
1888. -a..@.~ as b..
What does this new experience Of Lo-
corocoism demonstrate? 1t shows that no
laws can protect the public money, if you
put it in the hands of dishonest men. It
shows the sschange Of men, which Gen.
Taylor declared to be necessary to arrest
the downward tendency of our affairs, has
come not day too soon. 1t shows that
the outcry Of the Locofoco presses against
removals arise from the consciousness Of
guilt and the fear Of detection. Every
step the Administration takes in the reform
Of the public offices, results in the exibi-