The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-11
THE REPU BLIC.

4 Il
allow him to punish it as he thought it deseryedt
be punished; and, in the spirit of true reform, he
! took the only stepin his power--he communicated
tue fact To Congress, with the earnest expression
of his wish that Congress would legslate rs To
furnish him with ample authority hereafter. IL II
true, that the President OF the United States, the
| exercise of the very large discretion which the
Constitution and laws have given to him, might
strike such an officer from the list. But that Isa
thing which is unusual, and almost unheard Of in
the Army and Navy establishments. The Senator,
! believe, mentioned this; at all events, headmlted
the statement which | have made, and that sug-
gested by the Senator from Georgia, Mr.. B1w-
| SON, who has told me that Il court-maral WAS
held IN regard to the conduct of some these Off
GERS, and that they were acquitted. After that, il
| would have been the height Of cruelty and nus-
tlce for the President to dismiss them.
] Mr. HUNTER. II was useless for me to sug-
gest more than did. ! sought to have the facts
drawn out. The Secretary, in answer TO that call
stated the facts and did not know ut the time |
introduced the resolution calling for information,
that he had made any suggestions to the Military
Committee. After the resolution was offered, and
an answer came, was informed that he had made
suggestions to the Military Committee
Mr. PEARCE. The only difference between
the Senator and myself in regard 10 that, is that
| supposed he was mistaken in thinking that the
/ action of the Secretary was induced by his call
1 Mr. HUNTER. | did not say that il was
was not aware at the time | made the call that
the Secretary had made any communication to
the Military Committee in relation to that matter
Mr.. PEARCE. AT all events, the Secretary
deserves credit for having brought the matter 70
4 the attention of the proper organs Of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, before il caugh;
the attention of the Senator from Virginia. do
not suppose that the Senator from Virginia in
tended any injustice to the Secretary. did not
so understand him but want to show that the
| Secretary was quite as vigilant az anybody else.
4 | think he is entitled to that much credit. The
! Secretary has been aware, and has suggested in
both of his reports to Congress, that abuses prob
| ably existed in the administration Of the Army.
/ He was endeavoring to find them out and he slig-
gested the means of preventing such Of these
abuses as he had clearly ascertained TO exist.
| Another suggestion ofhis was, that there should
4 he complete reorganization Of the Quartermas-
| ter's Department. | understand that communca-
tons upon that subject have been submitted by
the Secretary of War to the Committees on Mill.
| tary Affairs, both Of the Senate and the House OF
| Representatives; and believe that to one If not
TO both of these committees, he has submitted the
draft OLA bill intended to carry out his suggestions
do not mean to discuss the proprety of these
| suggestions; they may or may not he sutficien,
for the purposes intended; bur that the Secretary
has taken this step is sufficient indicate that he
IS quite sensible of the importance, and by nc
means indifferent to the necessity, of removing
these abuses.
| may mention another fac, that am very sure
is not within the knowledge of the gentleman from
| Virginia, because il was communicated TO me but
very recently. The gentleman from Virginia has
spoken frequently of the delays in the return OF
the accounts Of the different quartermasers; in
| regard to which, without any doubt, there has
| been in times past a great deal of abuse, much
more, believe, than is the case just now. With
regard to that, have to say that the Secretary OF
| War has, within the last year, issued more than
one hundred and forty circulars, addressed 10 the
dsbursing officers of the Army, calling upon them
to render their accounts according 10 law, threat
enmg them if they did not do so, with being re-
| ported 10 the President for dismissal; and | am
happy to say that this course has had a very good
! effect Since those orders have been issued, the
accounts of the Quarrermaster's Department have
come in with unprecedented promp,ness.
| There is another reform which the Secretary al
| War has undertaken to carry out and which may,
IN part, accomplish the very desirable object that
was suggested by the Senator from Virginia bur
! which, lfear, is not altogether practicable. aude
to system ofrests and balances, by which we can
ascertain precisely how we stand at any given line
| The Secretary, about year ago, directed tina, in
recording the vouchers of accounts OF expendi-
lures in the Department, there shall be such dis
examination as shall indicate AT once which Of those
accounts is chargeabe to the service Of the current
year. and which schargeabe to the proceed n year.
think that IS very good reform in our system
! OF keeping army accounts Other reforms will be
necessary, doubtless, at least they will he advis-
able; for | entirely agree with the Senator from
Virginia IN the propnety of our endeavorng 20
secure Il stricter accountability, and more prornpt
returns from the officers. But to accomplish that
object the assistance oflegislaon will be required
indeed, you will have to remodel your whole sys-
| tenn.
! What is the cause of the mpossibity of ascer.
totn III, d,,,,r
proper for that year. IL is not merely disregard
1 of duty by these quartermasers. 1t is not their
neglect of the law which imposes upon them the
duty Of reporting at particular times but il is the
character of the law itself. Now, what is il:
! The quar,ermaser's accounts are returned quar-
terly; but then each quartermaster has a certain
period of grace allowed him, and that period of
grace is another entire quarter. Now, suppose
| that a quartermaster expends money in the month
of January IN given year, which is at the begin
ming of quarter. The accounts of that quarter
ought to be made up at the end Of the quarter OF
course; but then he hns three months more allowed
| him by law; that is TO say the accounts ought
to be made up TO the last OF April Of any given
year, and after the close Of June in the same year
he ought To dispatch his accounts to the Quarter
masters Department. Well If he is al a distant
post, may take six weeks before the accounts can
reach the Department. Thus, it might he seven
months before the vouchers for an expenditure
! nhue W january would reach the Department, ~
the officer complied strictly with the requirements
Of the law. ! say, then, that it is impossible,
while that remains the condition Of the law, that
you should be able to establish system of rests
and balances such the Senator from Virginia
desires, and such as ! admit, to be desirable, il
practicable.
But, then, il you amend the law, do not know
how you would be able, at any given period Of the
year, TO ascertain the exact amount Of your liab-
tiles and Of your expenditures. This is a great
country, sir! ii is not little Republic Of San
Marine, over which man can walk in the course
of day. IL is country Of more than two mil
lions Of square miles, with thousands Of dsbursing
officers scattered all over il, with expenditures
amounting to many millions year; with opera
tons Of great extent and importance constantly
going on How is il possible that, at any given
time, Government, in a country such as this can
ascertain precisely what its fiscal condition is /:
Why, no man, Of varied and extensive business,
can accomplish il. No lawyer, who has. trusts
unsettled and in progress; no merchant, who has
argosies on every sea- nobody, engaged in business
of any description, which is very extensive. and
carried on at remote points, can, at any one time
say what his exact condition is. Some approx.
nation 10 it may he effected, to he sure. think.
therefore, however desirable il may be 10 come as
near as Dosslble 10 the of the mr.