The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-28
STILL ANOTHER DEFALCATION.

Our history OF the old-line peculators of
1884 and 1889 is interrupted by the chron-
icing of later cases. We published yes
terday statement of the defalcation of
PATRICK COLLINS, the late Surveyor of the
| port of Cincinnati, removed by Presi-
dent TAYLOR. It is now our painful duty
to record the defalcation of NATHANIEL
DENNY, late temporary navy agent Of the
United States at Marseilles, in France.
He is defaulter to the tune of $155, sos
AZ, 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.. DENBY was Virginian.
He was "known" at Richmond, in the
circles frequented by the resolutionists of
49, We cannot mention his case without
involving some individuals who have gone
into private life. Mr.. DENBY 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. It
may be considered an invasion of its sane
tity, if we speak consciously of an indi-
vidual who managed to rob the Govern
ment to the amount Of $155, sos AZ,
during Judge MAsoN's administration of
the Navy Department.
In amount and magnitude, this defalca-
ton is worthy the golden days of the Lo-
cofoco leaders, when they did things on
large scale. 1t would have done honor to
a protsgs OF Mr.. Secretary WOODBURY..
1t is So, 900 larger than that Of LITTLE
BURY HAWKINS, Of Helena 1t is ~, 900
larger than that or Wiley P. HxRns, Of
Columbus. 1t almost approaches the mag
nifcence of SwARTwour's case.
Here we have already developed, be-
fore the new Administration has got fair
look at the books, the cases of MOORE,
COLLINS, and DENLY, to add to the long
lists of their illustrious predecessors in the
plumber of the treasury. "Try us again."
said the Locofoco leaders in 1899 E" these
defalcations have all happened because
the Government has been employing
banks, and because there are no stronger
penal laws. Pass good, strong, whole
some laws; take the money from the
banks, and give us sub-treasury; and
you'll find that Locofoco ofhce-holders will
be honest enough"
Well, the penal laws were passed.
During the administration of JOHN TYLER,
there were no defalcations that were made
public, or that occurred to our knowledge.
In 1914, the Locofoco leaders Of the old
fashion came into power, and passed the
Sub-Treasury law. This was to be sover-
eign panacea- There was to be no more
plumber OF the treasury. Only four years
have passed, and here we have a new
crop of defalcstions, springing up right and
left, with rarkness that promises to over
top the luxuriance of 1897 and 1889.
What does this new experience of Lo-
cofocoism demonstrated 1t shows that no
laws can protect the public money, if you
put it in the bands of Dishonest men. 1t
shows that "she change Of men," which
General taylor declared to be necessary
to arrest the downward tendency of our
affairs, has come not day too soon. II
shows that the ,outcry of the Locofoco
presses against removals arises from the
consciousness Of guilt and the fear Of de-
lection. Every step the Administration
takes in the reform of the public Offices,
} results in the exhibition of some new cor
ruption. The cafes detected are but the
indicia Of the cases that remain behind.
, What is seen and known furnishes clue
and guide to that which is not yet inyesti-
gated, and which n,ver can be fully and
thoroughly investigated by men who have
a party, if not perscnal interest, to serve
] by the suppression q inquiry.
Is il possible, then, in view of these de-
falcations, for the Administration to satisfy
the people of this Countryside honest
people who desire nothing but honest adj
+ ministration-withou giving grievous Of
fence to the office-holdersi We appre-
bend not We imagine that Mr.. HENRY
A. WISE took about the right ground on
this subject in 1899. As Mr.. WISE is
known at Richmond, and is in high feather
with the friends d the late Administra-
ton, we suppose that he will be received
as good authority upon the proper mode of
proceeding in the present "crisis." We
copy from the Ap,endir TO the Congress
sionai Globe for 1889, page "a, the fol-
lowing pregnant extract from speech of