New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-23

80 muCn puDnc money has peth iost. Due 'hi'
Holt is mistaken in or wilfully misstates the law.
The Sixth Auditor is called an auditor of the
Treasury" But the law says he is Auditor for
"tbe Post Office Department" He is required to
certify and report to the Postmaster-Geueral. His
duties may be assigned by the Secretary Of the
Treasury or Postmaster. General and he is directed
to make such reports as either require. In fact,
he is an officer of the Post-0fice Department.
But whether Mr.. Cobb be guilty or Innocent
in this matter, he may defend himself; that 10
question between him and Mr.. Holt. 1t may be
true that the Sixth Auditor bas failed in his duty.
Nr. Holt cites Id part the act of Congress defining
bis duties, and insists that they were violated.
But be takes good to say nothing OF the duties
the law imposes upon the Postmaster General.
The point be makes against Mr.. Tate Is this: that
the law required the Sixth Auditor to report tn
defalcations. The Auditor ia his letter defends
himself on the ground, first, that knowledge o
" the denqueDcies of post-ofiiccs of the class to
(which the New-York Post Office belongs is not
a. chargeable upon his Office; second, that the law
% has been modified by regulation of the Depart
ment SO as to absolve him from the Obligation OF
reporting such delipqueGcies to the Postmaster
| General, and that it is not the ordinary course
"to do So" The Postmaster General expresses
his surprise at this statement and argues that the
lac should govern the Sixth Auditor, and that
neither the regulations the practice OF the office
furnish any defense for neglect BE this as 1t may,
the Postmat ter General stands sel-cOndemned by
every argument he has urged against the Sixth
Auditor-eondemned with tenfod force because of
the superior responsibility belonging to his Office.
For, let it be true ttat the act OF Congress re-
quired the Sixth Auditor TO make report of delin-
quenees that come to his knowledge, Mr. Holt I'M
| putes TO personal knowledge of Fowler's defaca-
ton to Mr. Tate, but only that with proper dill
| gence he might have known it:
ain making this seesraiion personal iuputson upon the
Auditor intended He has been spoken OF IN his Official 'apa
ely only and knowledge h par Which, has Deen Asserted
Tie ba'i; OF bis responsibility that r5ich Is Ssey5o q
according to the thaoy OF the law he seems to
| be necessarily chafgeable"
Here the sound principle illegal Liability is a.,
bnowledeed The records OF the office afforded tbe
| info nation, aud hence the law charges him with
| that kno 1l,dge. Now observe Mr.. Hollis own pO-
| sitiou:
| The act Of Congress not only prescrbes the du
ties of the Sixth Auditor, but also tho,e of the
Postmaster General; aud among these the follow
ing are specfed:
he (be Postmaster General shall obtain from the Posnas
cen 9Th The balances thereon d,i'ng IN roT II ne Geaedi
2 lie shall Dpe,intend the business Of the Department, in all
the duties that ar or may be assignodto it.
IL shall be has duy to d. eide the manner and form Of
keeping and stating accounts to enforce the prompt rendition Of
ii shs be his dug 70 prescribe the III which Post
masters shall pay over their balances
For the periOrma ce of these duties, he receives
5000 year out of tEepubhc Treasury; has seat
in the Cabinet; is made constitutional adviser of
the Presidents in short receives the highest donors
and emoloment allowed by the Cove rnment to any
one but the President.
Now Mr.. Tate states these astounding tfts, -
a. that it is not in the ordinary of the aas
ministTatiOn Of his Office TO close the accounts Of
"postmasters quaItery; that st least SIX moaths
" necessarily eapse before the debts and credits
for deposits are fully posted on the books of the
Auditors office; that Fowler's account upon the
ledger was an open and running account, where.
L" in debts and credits were perpetuay occurring,
and no Other balances were adjusted than for the
"mere puTposeOfmaking rests and furnishing copies
Z" thereof from time to time, as they were called
" for" The truth of this statement ia not denied
by Mr.. Holt. He rays that he read the statement
with surprise, AID then gees on to pronounce bis
own condemnation, while censuring Mr. Tate, IN
these words:
or srt Of the law cited concuon not easily arrived at In
every branch Of The public service believed that the policy Of
Of Officers IN its service upon the enforcement o. ti pJey
p,nas safety Of the public If relaxed in
ei,tston of the insisted could be INDUCED
then desuers engaged in the receipt and disbursement Of he
public be continued in office for mooh and yesis
without deialcaon being verified and without opPortu
nifty being afforded the appointing them"
The law, as has been seen makes the Postmas-
terGeneral responsible for the form and manner of
keeping accounts, of enforcing returns, of paying
over balances. IT is made the express duty Of the
POstmaster-General by name, to require quarterly
settlements and the payment of quarterly balances.
How then can Mr. Holt escape Impeachment, when
he has formally and deliberately confessed TO the
House of Representatives:
First: That the books and accounts Of his depart
ment are not kept in accordance either with the let
ter or spirit of the law.
Second That the whole time he has been in Of
fee, more than year. the settlements with the
New-York Postmaster were deceptive" " alto
"gether deusiye, that a. not dollar olthe enOr-
nous balance due from Fowler was paid, but only
an unlawful transfer OF indebtedness from one
quarter to another during period of more than
a year.
Third: That by these means, during his term,
there has been deiacaton of Mt Ieas. $50 900,
which is total loss, unless part of il can be
made on the bond OF the security-Mr. Holt and