Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-10-24
Captain A. w. Reynolds.

Cupthln As W. tkcyuOloss
More than one week ago, we had occasion 10
notice the dismissal Of this meritosious officer
and gentleman from the service Of the United
States, under one Of those singular and anon
alous features in our laws, which puts it in the
power Of zone man " to do things, contrary
not only to the letter and spirit Of the Bill Of
Rights, but of the Constitution ITSELF which
said fedsare becomes the more odious, mas
much as the parties who move the pondcrous
lever Of power, are frequently irresponsible and
contemplate.
We have foreborne to say anything farther
on the subject from understanding that the
gentleman himself, smarting under a sense of
his wrongs, had arrived in this city, to remon-.
strate on the injustice and cruelty Of the order;
and that, from manifestations Of regard and re-
greet, in the highest quarters, there was good
ground to expect that he would be promptly
restored to his former position.
And we did not desire to prejudice his case,
as is the consequence of anything said or dcne
in any behalf by anybody known or suspected
of being an American. Indeed, It is known
that distinguished officer Of the army, who
has been for some time a guest of the President,
left his card at Captain Reynoldss hotel, on
the eve of his departure for the North, say
ing, "Call ut the house tomorrow afternoon,
and all will be written and arranged as you
wish" Signed in the unmistakable initials Of
the nation, including the President delights to
honor. a, 3sstf
The victim, first of !" the laws delay" and
next Of its injustice, is kept suspended for ten
mortal days, alternating, between buoyan. hope
and q fear, in which there is no dishonor, and
IS finally informed, as further reflected in the
official organ, that general order, No. ID"
Diminishing him from the service, and disgra-
cling him MS far as an "order" could, Intends
no reflection on his integrity, but, on the con-
trary, that he il very fine fellow, and only
unfortunate from having come under the ban
of the law. A fine balm, truly, for wounded
honor. A newspaper plaster Presidential
salve
As SO much stress is suddenly laid upon law
and regulation, word or two on this subject
may not be amiss.
General Order No 10 contains two points
first, failure to render his accounts within
the period prescribed by law and, second, the
failure to account for public money. This lat
ter involves the idea of defalcation-with what
propriety, may be determined from the article
in the Union, stating that the matter is now
one of Judicial Investigation" We have
other and ample assurance that this judicial
investigation is one Of mutual arrangement
between Capt. Reynolds and the Second Comp
troller of the Treasury; and General Order No.
10 steps in, therefore, to anticipate the action
of the courts Of the country.
The first part of the order is yet more frivo-
lous and oppressive, since the fault if any,
occurred under the last administration A
simple failure Of the mails may, at any time,
bring officers disbursing at distant points, un-
der the pains of the law requiring them to
render their accounts quarterly. But II he
did fail to render his accounts quarterly, 1t
must have been satisfactorily explained to the
existing powers, or they would not have failed
to dismiss an officer politically opposed to
them, and perhaps personally, as he had had
the temerity to run for Congress as Demo
ocrat, in the Territory of New Mexico, against
the foreign party.
We happen further to know that not quar-
ter passes but some officer, sometimes many,
are reported for the same cause, and this is the
first one, that we are aware Of who has been
dismissed for such cause. Some officers
have been reported for years, and one at least
has been allowed to resign without ever having
rendered any accounts at all
But, even had he failed in this particular,
and failed to account for 1T he finally did rem
der his accounts, and they were allowed to re-
main nearly or quite two years in the Treasury
without being touched whereas, the law is
quite as imperative that they should be settled
quarterly, as that they should be rendered
quarterly. This is a bard case, indeed.
There are other considerations, which should
be published but they are rather his province
than ours. We have said thus much TO re-
lieys an injured man, and to denounce that
want Of Independence in the Executive to re-
pair wrong thus virtually confessed
A Democratic Judge and the Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury Of Baltimore, in their re-
port to the Criminal Court, a few days since,
take occasion to reprimand his honor, Judge