Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-12-27
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Although this lmpofeaht fs1iAeo A0
allied by a party vote, all the members, anc
Z indeed, the whole Commonwealth, share IN
the honor or disgrace attached to it. and, oil
cour.e. feel deep interest in the selection Of
a suitable person. The Office is one of vast
responsibility, having the selection OF all the
various committees, and requiring integrity
and capacity of the highest grade. Even the
suspicion of dishonesty would cause lnuen as
ouietude. and jeopardIze the harmonious ac-
ton of the House. What, then, must oe the
surprise and rain of every candid mind' on
finding published, as prominent canoloate'
the name of a man, whose palpaole dishones-
~. in an Office of high trust, Stands recorded
an the hooks aud records of the State, beyond
the power of contradiction. We refer to tbs
Office of Adiutant General, several years pre-
vious to 1851, AMI upto May 9Th, of that year.
which was filled by Gen. GEORGE II. Dew
RREux. While in this Office, and long before
he left it, he repeatedly, and without any au'
thority, sold property belonging to the COM
monwealtn, to a considerable amount, auo
converted the proceeds thereof to his own use,
without giving any credit for it OH the books
or in any way accounting for it, till the fraud
: was discovered and he was charged with the
facts. Among the property thus sold, were
two brass cannons, kept as sacred memorials
of our early struggles for Liberty, which were
held SO dear, that our Legislature caused to-
be engraved on them the following inscription;
"The Legislature of Massachusetts conse-
crate the names of Maj. John Buttrlck, and
Capt. Isaac Davis, whose valor and examples
excited their fellow citizens to successful
resistance OF British troops at Concord Bridge,
the 18th of April, l775, which was the be-
ginning of contest in arms, that ended IN
American Independence.
On discovery of this misconduct, by Gen.
Stone, the successor of Gen. Devereux, IN
the Office of Adjutant General, the former
wrote 70 the latter, May sth, 1852, to come
and see him. Gen. Deyereux called accord
ingly, and acknowledged the sale of the prop
erty. But no trace Of any record of the sale
could be found. The money had been peck
eted by Gen. Devereux, and not accounted
tor.
On the 22d of May, the same year, the
Council instructed Gen. Stone to settle with
Gen. Devereux. After waiting till the 18th
of June, the Council passed the following
resolve -
Resolred. That the Adutant General be direct
ed to settle with the late Adjutant General Dew
ereux, upon condition that said Devereux return
the guns, and pay for other property sold BY SAID
Deyerenx without authority OF law, and not mere,
tOfore accounted for by said Devereux, provided
q final settlement be made within hye days ana
if settlement be not made within said five days,
that the Adiutant General be instructed to lnsti-
tute legal proceedings against the sureties on
said Devereux S bond
After waiting several weeks, the Council
passed an order to have the matter prosecute
ed, and the following letter was sent to Gen.
Deyereux -
COUNCIL CHAMBER, Boston. July 3, 1852.
Dear Sir:-Tke engraved guns not having been
returned to the State, as agreed upon between
yourself and the Military Committee OF the
Council, am directed to give you notice that it
the guns are not returned on or before Wednes-
day, the 9TH instant, the matter will De placed IN
the hands of the Commemorative Attorney, to-
be proceeded in, against yourself and bondsmen.
Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
lSigned) AARON HOBART,
For the Committee
40 yen. OeO. n. OeFeteuA, CdleAus
After all this trouble and effort, the guns
which had been sold by General Deyereux
On the Goth of February, 1850, were finally
returned to the State, not within The time
fixed by the ABOVE letter, but on the 10Th of
July, 1852. almost two years and half after
the sale.
But this was, by no means, the only in
stance of fraud of this kind. On the 10th Of
March, 1919. General Deyereux sold guam
tity of iron, belonging TO the State. for sixty
seven dollars. and made no account Of it, but
appropriated the money to his own use. On
the 22d of June, l849, he sold shed, also
belonging to the State, and pocketed the
money, but made no record Of it on the books
of the Office. and did not account for it, on
settlement with the Commonwealth, nor un-
I'll about three gears after the property was
sold When the fraud was discovered, and
he was pressed to pay, he did. on the lth Of
June, 1852, pay $l7l &c., apparently the
amount received, and interest, for the shea
and iron.
1t may, perhaps, be said, that the election,
by the Know Nothings, of q Speaker, with
such records of his doings, would be fit Sc
quel to the Hiss affair, and to the Nunnery
Committee travelling IN state, and faring
sumptuously, at the expense of the State;
but, we believe there are men enough, even
in that party, who would regard the honor of
the State too highly to help elect man with
such public history. Having men Of their
own party, in the new Legislature, every
way better qualified for the Office than Gem
eral D., they ought not to permit themselves
to be driven into the supporter such man.
1t has been stated that Con. Devereux's
health is very poor, and the probability is,
that, If he should be elected to the Office Of
speaker, he would be able to perform the du-
ties but short time. 1t is said, moreover,
that he is not himself DESTROYS Of the place,
but that his name is urged upon the party by
several individuals, who have pers9nal objects
to be subserved by his election. If this is so,
il adds another to the already great objections
to his election, and II under such clrcumstan-
cea. the party are infatuated enough to actual
ly present his name as a candidate for speaker,
We trust that some member Of the House will
offer an order, requesting the council 10 fur