The true Democrat., 1854-07-05

sure of the bad or approval ot the good con- duct of those entrusted with them. But let the notice be sternly truthful, regardless of petty courtesys and attentions such as delin- quents like to show, regardless of friendships or prejudices. It is the great and surest remedy after all. Very respectfully,
 R. w. JOHNSON.
 Treasury Department, March 22d, 1854.
 o!R:-l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt ot your letter of the 16th inst, in rela- ton to the application of part of the appro- prlatlon for the improvement of the Arkansas rlver, to the construction of snag and dredge boats, and in reply, enclose herewith copy of report on the subject from the Third Auditor ot the Treasury, which it is presumed will af- ford the information desired.
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 J. G. WASHINGTON,
 Jor he Sec'yef the Treas'y. Hon. R. w. JOHNSON, U. s. Senate.
 Treasury Department, 3rd Auditors qce(
 March 21, 1854.
 SR:-In reference to the letter to you from the Hon. R. w. Johnson, of the Senate, dated the 16th inst, inquirng whether the appropri- ation of $4O,OOO, by act of 3Oth of August, 1852, for the improvement of the navigation of the Arkansas river, has been applied in un- due proportion to the equipment of snag- boats, designed for use in improving the navigation of the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri Illinois and Ar kansas rivers, have the honor in compliance with your request to report,
 That the subject to which Senator Johnson refers has already engaged the attention of this office, and to respectfully submit herewith for his information, extracts from a report to the second comptroller in reference to 1t dated the 1st instant.
 ExTRACTs.-* "It will be seen that $366O7 10 of the several appropriations for improvement of rivers has been charged by the agents as applied to the construction of snag and dredge boats, for which special appropri- atlon was made; thus in effect increasing the amount appropriated by Congress for that pur- pose, and decreasing to that extent, the amount which by law had been assi gned to the improve ment of the rivers upon which the boats spe- clally provided for those rivers were to be used. This departure from the manifest purpose of Congress IS deemed wholly inadmssible as has been already stated in report on this subject, which l had the honor to make to you on the 18th of July last, of which beg leave to sub init copy with copy of your concurrence in the views there expressed endorsed upon it, In that report it was stated that if, in the con- struction of snag and dredge-boats appropriated for by Congress, an amount had been expend- ed, and liabilities contracted greater than the amount appropriated, the excess could only be supplied by an additional grant from Congress; and 1t was in accordance with this opinion that the amounts which, to supply an excess in those expenditures have been charged to other appro- priations were disallowed"
 "The $36,6O 10, of the ap- propriations for the improvement of rivers, al- ready known to have been diverted from that purpose by the disbursing officers and applied to the construction of boats ought. undoubted- ly to be restored from the appropriation for boats to the purposesdesigned by Congress and IT, after its restoration the balance still remain ing applicable to the construction of boats is found to be insufficient for their completion, 1t IS not perceived how the deficiency can be other wise supplied than by an appropriation for that purpose by Congress. The progress made in the construction of the boats, and if still un- finished the amount necessary to complete them are alike unknown in this office." *
 These extracts, 1t is believed afford the nfor- nation desired in the letter of Senator John son, which is respectfully returned herewith. Very respectfully, your most obt,
 Signed F. BURT. Third Auditor. Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE, Sec'y of tue Teas,lry