Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-22

instead Of the proper handwriting Of the parties Where
dd those vouchers go? To the Quartermaser Generals
bureau There they undergo the first examination
Then they sent to the Third Auditors Office where
thqy undergo final examination The Secretary Of War
has nothing at all to do with matter Of that sort unless
ms attention Is specially called to such Of abuse
By those in whose bureaus it is examined and where il is
the duty OF the persons employed examine and detect
all such practices. The Secretary be held respon
ble, even II system of abuse Of that sort should be-
discovered to prevail because might prevail without hs
knowledge 1t is the business Of the Secretary 10 in
vesgate accounts II would be utterly impossible for
him to do Do gentlemen know that single quarter
masters account sometimes comes in accompanied by five
or six bushels Of vouchers No Secretary Of War; even
sppposng he had nothing else to do could accomplish the
business Of looking the in the most cursory
manner No, sir not il he had the eyes Of Argus
and the hands Of Briareus. 1t u.s. however, part Of
his duty do not suppose that the Senator from vir-
gnia meant to charge this derection of duty the
part Of the Secretary. very far from thinking
But nm making this reply not MERELY for the benefit Of
the Senate confess, but BECAUSE as said yesterday
know how the slightest fact mentioned in speech Of this
sort, coming from gentleman Of the character of the
Senator from Virginia. would be seized upon by those
parsans who pervsrt the truth, when there is
opportunity discover any thing like shadow Of just
suspicion.
few words upon the subject Of transfers The Sena-
tor thinks that in regard to transfers. abuses have pre-
vailed and he has been candid in saving that he thinks
part OF those abuses originated before the period Of this
Administration that OF General Taylor He lays it at
the door Of his political friends That is fair and
candid But then he thinks there other abuses in
regard to that system which originated with the present
Administration. In that he is mistaken There are
great many acts Of Congress in regard transfers but
there only two to which wish particularly to call
the attention Of the Senate One is the act Of 1885,
der which the Senator thinks that whenever balance Of
appropriation has remained in the Treasury for
than two years. it ought be carried the
plus fund.- And he referred to an opinion which was
given as far back 1881, by the Senator from Georgia,
MIR. BERRIEN then Attorney General and who had
pressed the same belief Ipresume the Senator not
at the time he made his speech and indeed know
from Conversation which had with him this morning
the subject that he not aware, that subsequent
construction had been given this act by the Attorney
General The Senator that different practice
had prevailed in the Departments and he stated very fair
ly that it began with of his political friends
believe he dated back about far ago eight years.
The fact is however, that it originated long before eight
years ago. The change Of construction was effected in
the year 1888 or '89. have my table opinion Of
MIR. Attorney General Grundy, opinion which differs
toto clo from that of the Senator from Georgia. when he
was Attorney General 1t is not my purpose to contrast
these two opinions, to determine which is the sounder
construction is enough for my purpose to show that
during the administration of Mr. Van Buren, the Attorney
General admitted different construction Of the act Of
1895 from that which recommended by the Attorney
General OF General Jackson in 1881 and that the ad
ministration Of Mr. Van Buren, and oil succeeding Adj
minstrations have acted upon that construction from
that time down to the present day
In this connexion the Senator from Virginia referred to
transaction in 1850 which he supposed to be wrong,
much the practice had been pursued by the predeces
Of this Administration He introduced the Of
the steamer Waterman wl not believe that the Sena
tor intended to throw any sur the Administration by
the statement which he gave of that And yet
think it is necessary for to explain it somewhat
fully to prevent construction abroad being
put upon it.
The steamer Waterman was employed during the Flo
Hda war, under the administration Of Mr. Van Buren, in
the transportation, believe OF troops and supplies in
Florida The account for the transportation consd
cred finally settled by the accounting officers in 1896
Upon inquiry ascertained that the account had been
examined subsequent period upon the production Of
new testimony. In 1850 the account finally audited
and passed by the accounting officers Of the Treasury.
They the present Auditor and the late Second Comp
troler-a very good officer and quite good Demo-
crat. The claim therefore concluded far the
obligation of the United States pay it concerned
1t had been adjusted by the officers whose duty it
dust it. The next thing be done for the Secre
tary Of War to order its payment If fund could be found
which could be applied to its payment. There was
fund directly applicable to this case but the Secretary
informed that there was BALANCE Remaining of
fund which had been appropriated for Che payment Of the
Florida militia which, in the exercge Of the general pow
Of his Department. be might transfer for this purpose
He doubted his authority. and expressed his doubts
believe, in writing and called upon the Attorney General
for his opinion. The Attorney General Of the United
States the properly constituted law officer fhis Govern
men whose business it is to advise in of doubtful
legal construction advised in accordance with the prac
tice which had prevailed from the time of Mr. Van Burens
administration and Mr. Grundys opinion to this time,
that that fund was properly applicable to this case,
The Senator stated Also that this account for the
Of S24 600 for about days service Of steam
boat 1t looks like very large sum- and without
explanation it might be thought ths this amount was al
lowed guantum meru and thai there had been
Of that favosm which is said 70 have prevailed at times
in the Departments. The Senator minated that the
allowed was altogether dspropofonate to the service for
which it allowed am happy to say that the sum
allowed was upon charter-party, about the terms of
which suppose there coad be mistake and if there
any thing exravsgsnt and exorbtant In the amount
IL the service OF this steamboat during the Florida
should not have cost much if that is to charged to
any officer of the Government dereicop Of duty it
must be charged to him by whom the contract made,
and not to this Administration, which ordered it to be
paid when the accounting officers had aseertained the
amount which due Then the plain duty Of the
Secretary to order it TO be paid 4,8
II will be observed that the fund out Of which this &C
allowed for the payment Of the Florida
militia and the Senator think, said that it was fund
ed that it had been carried to the surplus fund prior
1850 The fact that it not carried is pract
cal construction of the act Of 1895, equivalent the
theoretical of Mr. Attorney General Grundy in the adj
mnistration Of Mr. Van Buren,. This remained
unsettled during nearly two years Of Mr. Van Burens
administration, which purely Democratic admins
tration Then il came through the administration Of Mr.
Tyler, which was, believe, amphibous- one. In it
were Of the Simon Puresn know and do not
know that the Administration any the worse for that
On the contrary, rather think it improved by
of them. Mr.. Nelson was sitting by Mn p. The adj
ministration of Mr. Tyler adopted the construction
and Mr.. Folks administration adopted the same con-
suction else they would have allowed this fund
lie 50 long without being carried back the Treasury.
understand that the practice every year to make out
list Of the unexpcnded appropriations and then call upon
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