The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-12-26

Ramsey,T hoHdas Foster, Giles s. Filey,
John Condor. Rodney Parker, Phillips
s Co, &c, &c-' ii
= All but ght of these credtors-toI
wit: thirty-two Of them, were members
and officers Of the Legislature, who had
not dollar due to them from the Treas
ury, at the time whenit was sonecessary
for the Secretary to borrow S4 GOO i"'to
prepare house for the Legislature"
Was any of il paid to the proprietor of
the Pioneers who expended, and was
daily expanding larger amount for the
public service than almost all other crcdi-
tors combined? Not dollar until just
at the close of the session. Every doll
lar of the money SO borrowed by the
Secretary, was paid out, loaned and IN
rested IN he purchase Of soldiers warrants,
long before the end Of the session-be-
fore the Sd day of November, when we
saw the Secretary,pay cut to Henry N.
Setter and others, sovereigns at s. 80
cach-of the identical coin, unquestion-
ably brought from St. Louis by justice
G.. Ramsey, for the Secretary; being the
identical hind Of coin, Of which a part
Of that coin consisted, as VIC arc ready to
prove that Mr.. Ramsey has himself ad-
mitted viz: English sovcrcigns. To
what creditor of the United States, has
the Secretary ever paid any of that
american gold, which Mr.. Ramsey
brought from St. Louis? But what does
the Secretary's defence amount to, if
true: Nothing. He admits more than
enough to condemn himself. If the ad-
ministration has the least sense Of de-
cencv, the Secretary must be dismissed
at once from office, upon his own con-
iession of guilt. The pretended neces-
sity of borrowing money at shave, Is
all sham. 1t is an after thought. If
the necessity for money was so great,
why did net the Secretary send to " ash
ington and get the draft for the appro-
priatiou. before the first Of August! His
duty was plain enough. 1t is presented
IN the 18th and both sections of IAN Act
TO provide for the better organization Of
the Treasury, Sc, in these words:
SEC. 10. That on the first day Of
April, one Thousand eight hundred and
forty-seycn, and thereafter, every officer
/ or agent engaged in making disburse-
ments on account of the United States,
or for the general post-ofi.ce, shall make
all payments in gold and silver coin, or
in treasury notes, IF the creditor agree to
receive said notes in payment; and any
receiving or disburslng officer or agent
who shall neglect, evade, or violate the
provisions Of this and the last preced-
inc section Of this act, shall, by the Sc
cretary of the Treasury, be Immediately
reported to the President Of the United
/ States. with the facts of such neglect,
evasion, or violation; and also to Con-
gress. if in session: and if not III session,
at the commencement Of its session next
after the violation takes place.
-, SEC. 20. That no exchange of funds
shall be made by any dishursing officers
or agents of the government, of any
grade or denomination whatsoever, OF
connected with any branch OF the public
service. other than an exchange for gold
and silver; and every such disbursing
! officer, when the means for his disburse-
ments are furnished to him in gold and
silver, shall make his payments 10 the
money so furnished; or when those
means are furnished to him III drafts
shall cause those drafts to be presented
at their place Of payment, and properly
paid according to law, and shall make
his payments IN the money SO received
for the drafts furnished, unless i'll either
case, he can exchange the means in his
hands for gold and silver at par. And
it shall be and is hereby made the duty
Of the head of the proper department
Immediately to suspend from duty any
\ disbursing officer who shall violate the
provisions Of this section, and forthwith
to report the name OF the officer OF
agent to the President, with the fact o
the violation, and all the circumstances
accompanying the same, and within the
knowledge Of the said Secretary, to the
end that such officer or agent may be
promptly removed from Office, or festor-
ed to bis trust and the performance o
his duties, as to the President may seen
Just and proper: Prorided, holcere'', That
those disbursing officers having at pres
cnt credits in the banks, shall, until the
first day Of January next, be allowed IL
check on the same, allowing the public
creditors to receive their pay from thC
banks either in specie or bank notes.
Does this law mean anything or not
Does it intend to make exceptions' |.
any real or sham necessity to be an eN
cusc for yioIatingit:: Does it authorize
the Secretary to pay any thing to public
creditors but treasury notes or specie re