The true Democrat., 1854-07-05
Letter from Washington.
Woshinqton. June 5th. IS;

Washington, June 5th, 1854
 MIR. ED1roR:-Enclosed hand youtwo let ters for publication They relate to the msap- plication of the funds, which we obtained by the appropriation act of last Congress, for inn provement of the navigation of the Arkansas river. 1 discovered a very gross and outrage ous set of charges reported against our part of the fund for western rivers, and have arrested them by filing protest in the treasury depart ment against their allowance, and am assured they will not be allowed.
 Again 1 must call the public attention to the manner in which the fund for improvement of navigation on the Arkansas river has been sqan- dered. Strong and distinct charges of misma- nagement of the snag boats on the Arkansas reached me, and I laid the facts before the War Department, and demanded the removal of the commanders, and the appointment of Arkansas river men as captains, or the immediate with drawal of the boats. The boats deputed to the service were too large and were withdrawn; and the command of one, of lighter draft, and better suited to our river was offered at my in- stance, to two of the oldest, and ablest and 1 most reliable men on the river Messrs. Sketo and Whiting but they both refused ! The lightest draft boat was then ordered to the Arkansas river, under command of Captain Dillingham;, who, I understand, is attending steadily to his duties
 The vessels that were before in the Arkansas did nothing more than waste the time and pub lie money which was allotted to us by act of Congress. The means thus obtained have been squandered and but little good has been done The whole river ought to have been cleared of snags to Fort Smith, and instead of it the snag | boats have not reached Little Rock But little of the fund remains. The official reports of the superintendent show the scandaous man. ner in which it has been done
 The condemnation of the government is now directed to those who have produced this, but 1t can do little good. In times past, the con- manders of the snag boats on these rivers have been nalmostrresponSible,a and have wasted their time in pleasure parties along shore and in hunt ing and fishing excursions and idleness. But re- gently 1t has been worse and is the palpable re- suit of appointing men to the command of the Arkansas river service, who are not responsible to our people, who are strangers to us, who live in other States, who know nothing of our river, have no interest in its navigation, and care no- thing for the State
 The multiplicity of shameful particulars in 1 h;o1, +h,c | our injury, do not here enumerate, but the official reports will show enough to shock the public, and they will not show near all The bitterness feel upon this subject can nottrus myself to express. Almost the entire State is directly interested in the navigation of this river, and all suffer by the recent reckless mis- management.
 Our own people have duty to perform, and to speak candidly they have not hitherto per- formed it, because it is unwelcome, and because what is every body's business is no body's bu- siness Our own people, so immediately inte- rested in the proper expenditure of funds ap- propriated for their benefit, ought closely to ob- serve the conduct of the government agents; l and when satisfied that they are not doing their I duty, report the facts to the government indi- vidually or by means of public meetings, either directly through their Representatives in Con- gress.
 l hope it will be done for the future. and if the government can not, or do not enforce ri- gid accountability, we can do so through Con gress. Those who are now connected with this service l have strong hopes and some confidence will do it we'll, but our people and Me Pu5hc Prsssought to keep upon them closeand strict watch. Give them praise for good conduct but denounce them for all idleness, slothfulness, wastefulness, and mismanagemento of the means placed in their hands for the benefit of the pub lie. Upon the public press, in particular can not too strongly impress the high duty, the ur- gent necessity, and the beneficial consequences of faithful stern and fearless discharge of their duty as sentinels over all official action. and