Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-08-30

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The Case u Patrick Collins.
Notwithstanding the reservations Of
the Cincinnati Enquirer, il is hard to force
OF coax the money out ofthe hands Of Pat
rick Collins, late Locofoco Surveyor Of the
Port of Cincinnati and SubTreasurer.
The Cincinnati Atlas, Of the 18th, furnish
ed the following plain statement Of the
case:
"The Washington Union having copied
the statement Of the Enquirer, of this city,
and boldly announced that Collins is no
defauitef, there need be no delicacy in
stating the facts. The simple truth is,
the Government has drawn an order on
Collins for two balances ,chich he has not
paid, and of shich we learn there is no Of
fer to. pay in cash. What probability there
is may be gathered from the following
facts:
"The Secretary Of the Treasury sent TO
Col. Bond, the present Surveyor, an or
der on Collins for two balances, in cash,
which are as follows in round numbers
One for $79,5OO
10l,0 900
Total $3.50, 900
"Now il is plain, that these balances
were furnished by the Collector himself.
The Treasury Department had no other
means than his Reports TO ascertain any
balance at all against him. Moreover, they
were furnished sometime before Col.
Bond called upon hiln.so that il is probable
there were further receipts TO be account
ed for.
ave understand that from the 9Th of
June to the present time, efforts have been
made to procure the books and paper: Of
the office, and they are not yet delivered
over. Now, for the money. The late
and present Collectors counted in monies
in the Sub-Treasury Safe. The total was
1863, 900. A demand was then made for
the remainder-a Government Draft, then
waiting to be paid-and no more was
forthcoming. 1t was discovered, that on
different accounts Mr. Collins had about
1876, 900 in the Commercial Bank. The
Bank was duly notified that this money
must be paid to the Government, and no
one else, on its peril. An offer was then
made of some $l2, 900, said 10 be speci-
fc deposit in coin, in the Commercial
Bank. The Collector was perfectly will
ling TO receive any money whatever, that
should he paid by the late Sub Treasury,
but not 10 receive of the Bank anything
less than the whole in its hands. So res
ted the matter yesterday morning. But
let us see how the matter will stand when
all is done, that it is pretended can be done.
The Government claim is $lS0,O00. How
is this 10 be made up? The amounts paid,
are in the total, we learn, as follows:
Sub-Treasury Safe $4,000
Commercial Bank Deposites $4,000
Total $4,000
What is to be done with the balance?
We understand further, that there are
near 500, 900 of Merchants Bonds, Notes
of what not, which it is proposed to de-.
liver up! Now, there is not one of our
readers, who does not know that such a
proceeding is violation of the Laws OF
the United States? The Revenue Law,
which Mr. Secretary Walker procured 10
be passed, contemplates just two things.
First, that the Revenue Duties shall be
paid in cash, then the goods must be
Warehouses;; that is, the United States
must either have the money, or like
Mortgage, they must have specific lien.
This law is positive, and there is no es-
cape from il. Bonds and notes cannot be
receipted for, as money; for, they may
never be paid. But, if the goods, on which
that money is due, is in the hands of the
Collector, then the Government has a
specific lien, by which it can recover the
money, and save the Collector.
The sole cause Of Mr. Collins difficulty
is, that he has not acted in conformity 10
law. A public Officer must conform to
the law OF the land. Ii the late Collector
shall produce in money, and legal Bonds
the whole amount of the Government
claim, he will not have exonerated him
self, by law but he will show that he is
not morally Defaulter. He has commit
ted an error; but if the Government re-
ceives its dues, now or hereafter, he may
be charged with no higher offence, than a
violation Of the Revenue Laws. But as
yet. the account is not balanced.
The same paper Of the l7lh, reports
further progress in the settlement, but no,
that all is settled. 1t is said, since our
article of yesterday: some further pro-
gress has been made, in this case, and
some further particulars are known, which
will show the condition of the affair, at
the present date, the end OF it for the pre-
sent.
The Treasury Order, to which we al
luded, was dated July 27,h-and instruc-
ted the late Collector TO pay his successor
the following sums, viz: ..
As Surveyor Of Customs $lOl $50 al
AS Depository - 1886 10
Making in the aggregate $l8O,876 81
This was substantially what was stated
by US. Yesterday, the late and present
Collectors met at the Commercial Bank,
and the further sum of $3S, 1897 was paid
over to Col. Bond. This is all, we be-
lieve, that it is proposed to pay in money.
The total Of payment then is: