The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-11
The Late ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Conversion o
Public Funds TO Private Uses.

PUBIC FUNDS To Private Uses.
The able and judicious articles in the
Opposition journals in defence of the Gov
eminent defaulters have acquainted us
with some facts that had escaped our atten-
ton. The public, indeed, have been
mainly indebted to the Opposition papers
for the facts in Mr.. DENBY's case. There
is one advantage in this, for they will
hardly venture to denounce their own
statements as WHIG lies.
In abiding to this defalcation, which
the sole organ persists in calling an honest
defalcation, or nothing but TECHNICAL
defalcation-not interfering with Mr.. DEN
BY's position among the elite of the dis
tinguished Democrats of Richmond-the
Richmond Times informs us that it was
known in the capital of Virginia as far back
as last May twelvemonth. "Itwas known
at bank" says the Times, 60 last August
We heard it as no secret in September
in December we heard it discussed on the
streets. Mr.. DENLY, who resides in Phil
adelphia, and who, We hear, denies that
he is in default, except through Mr.. Os-
borne, has made it his business for twelve
months to narrate all the particulars of the
case TO every Richmond man he could
see.'
Mr.. DENLY was disbursing officer Of
the Government, and received commits
sion Of four and three-fourths per cent.
on his disbursements. Now, the 18th sec
ton of the treasury act is in the following
words
''SEc 10. find be further enacted That on the first
day Of April one thousand eight hundred and forty
SEVEN and thereafter every officer or agent engaged
in making disbursements on account Of the United
States, Of the General Post Office shall make all
payments in gold and silver coin, or in treasury
notes, Il the creditor agree to receive said notes in
payment; and any receiving or dlsbursing officer or
agent who shall neglect, evade, OF violate the pro-
visions Of this and the last preceding section of this
act shall, by the Secretary OF the Treasury be inn
medistely reported TO the President Of the United
States, with the facts Of such neglect EVASION, or
violation; and also TO Congress, if in session, and
If not in session, at the commencement Of its ses-
sion next after the violation takes place"
Mr.. DENLY was disbursing agent. He
neglected TO make his payments in gold
or silver coin, or treasury notes, or any
other currency. He could not pay even
in bank notes. II was the duty then of
the Secretary Of the Treasury to report him
Immediately" 10 the President Did he
so report him. Is it a violation of the
sanctity Of private life to PROFOUND this
interogatory! Did he state the facts Of
the neglect, evasion, or violation of lawl
If so, did the President communicate them
to COngressl The Times states that this
defalcation was known at the banks in
Richmond in August. AT that time, then,
it must have been known at the depart
ments. Why was it concealed from the
PRESIDENT
II the facts had been known to the Pre-
sident, it is impossible that he should have
communicated to Congress in his fourth
annual message the statement that "no
loss had occurred of any Of the public mo-
ney deposited under the provisions" of the
constitutional treasury, and that " distant
transfers and disbursements had been made
WITHOUT embarrassment A loss had oc-
CURED of Sl55, 900. One distant transfer
had been made from the treasury to an
agent of the Government not only with
embarrassment, but with positive annihila-
ton of the funds.
Why were these facts concealed from
the President and Congress' Is Mr.. Os-
Dor to be made the scape-goat in this
matter' Is IT TO be thrown on the shoulders
of Mr.. DENBY' The imprudent zeal of
Mr.. DENBY's defenders has brought to
light more Of this matter than we had ven
tured TO make public. The bold assertions
of the Opposition journals have induced us
to look more carefully into the law and the
facts. We find the facts TO have been