The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-09

found that many officers had collected and dis
bursed large sums Of money arising from contri-
buttons levied by military authority on the ene-
my, and had retained in their hands various sums
compensation for their services in come xion
with these contributions. As there law
then in existence which provided for the settle
ment of these accounts, they remained unsettled.
In his annual report of December, lS47, Mr..
Secretary MACY brought the subject of these
counts before Congress, and recommended the
passage of a law providing for their adjustment,
and allowing suitable compensation to the Off
GERS by whom the collections had been made. No
such law was passed at the session Of that year,
but the ensuing session, the of Sd of March,
lS49 entitled An act to provide for the settlement
of the accounts of public officers and others who
may have received moneys arising from military
contributions, or otherwise, in Mexico" was pass
ed. Under this act the accounts of various officers
have been settled, and q compensation allowed
them; but until :be settlement has actually taken
place and bala fou nd to be due to the Govern
ment, 1t has not been the practice to charge the
officer with the retained by him a CON-
pensation for his services in making the collec.
| tons.
In applying this act TO particular cases, doubts
arose whether the clause allowing compensation
applied to contributions levied elsewhere than at
| seaports, and in the form Of duties ON imports.
The opinion Of the Attorney General was solicited
| on this question and, the 18th day of March
last, that officer gave an opinion in the negative.
According to this Interpretation Of the act Of Sd
| March, ls49, General Scott was not authorized
by that act to retain the above sum Of 81, 1856 49,
as the collections or contributions on which the
charge was based were not made at a seaport, but
in the interior. There is other statute thatI am
| If which authorizes tbia retentinp
It may be proper, however, to add, that to the
account are appended some explanatory remarks
| of General Scorr, in which the following passage
| occurs, which bears upon this subject:
| "With the moneys which, on account Of the ar
my, came into my hands in Mexico, viz: special
contribution money Gin lieu OF pilage> levied
upon the capital of that country, captured tobacco
money, debt due the Mexican government col.
lected by my order, tax on gamblers licenses,
and small sum saved at the hospital OF Perote,
| the Treasury Of the United States has nothing to
| do Whatever. Not one of those items fall under
the 5Sth article of war, nor under any other provi
| sion of law. Those items were collected under the
| laws of war, and are to be accounted for accord
ingly."
On the 9th day of May last a resolution was
! adopted by the Senate calling upon me to report
Z" what further provision, if any, beyond what is
contained in the act of March g. lS49, for the set
| Element Of accounts connected with the Mexican
contribution money, is necessary to authorize pro-
per and just compensation to be made to persons
| not included in the above act for services con-
nected with the collecting, safe keeping, and &C
counting for the said money, or other useful ser
| vices rendered in relation thereto"
In compliance with this resolution, reported to
the Senate that provision made by the act
for comp ensating those who had collected and &C.
counted for contributions levied elsewhere than at
seaports, or for those officers other persons at
seaports who acted in subordinate capacities, and
suggested mode of supplying this omission.
On the 2Sth of June last bill for this purpose
was reported by the Committee on Military Az
fairs, but has not, believe, been yet acted upon In
the meantime, the accounts of General Scorr, in
which this item occurs, remain unadjusted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
| G. Nj. CONRAD,
Secretary of War.
| Hon. THOMAS CoRwIN,
l oE thc