New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-15
MIR. p. M. G.. HOLT AND THE FOWLER
DEFALCATlON.

Every one must remember the extraordinary
letter of Postmaster General Holt in which he
sanctioned the violation of the United States Mail
BY his subordinates, for the plumber and destruction
of what he was pleased to term incendiary docu-
ments. more bold and fragrant violation OF pub
lie right and positive law has never been known in
this or any other country. 1t is in the nature of
things that crime begets crime and when the Head
of Department sanctions an outrage upon public
or private right what wonder that his subOrdinates
apply his principles to serve their own purposes
During several months past, Mr.. Holt has been
encouraging and sanctioning the violation of the
mails. At the same time, his subordinates have
been plunderng the revenues of the Department
If Mr.. Holt had been mindful of the duties of his
Office, how could the Fowler fraud have escaped
detection On the 10th of May, the House of
Representatives called on Mr.. Holt for an explana-
ton. On the 9Th of June, having taken nearly
month to prepare bis defense, he has furnished
a letter to the Speaker Of the House, which is
worthy of the most serious attention, not only
of Congress, but of the people of the United
States. 1t is most remarkable document, not
only for the guilt that is acknowledged, but for
what is vainly attempted TO be concealed.
In that letter, Mr. Holt acknowledges, LIST, that
one hundred and seventy thousand dollars have been
embezzled in the New-York Post-Oflice I'd, that
ninety thousand dollars of that sum were embezzled
during his administration Of the office The blame
for the concealment of eighty thousand he imputes
TO two men who are dead, and can make no de-
tense of themselves, namely his predecessor, Gov.
A. V. Brown, and the Third Assistant. But Mr..
Holt confesses that entertainments were going on
ut the rate of nearly ten thousand dollars month
during the whole time he has been in Office These
entertainments were in sums and under circum-
stances that, with any decree of care, could not,
by his own confession, have been concealed single
week. What excuse does Mr.. Holt offer for him
self in this unexampled proceeding Observe it
well: He labOrs to cast the blame chiefly upon
the Sixth Auditor, and indirectly on the Treasury
Department. All that he says in regard to them is
no doubt true; and, if true, their criminal neglect
is plain. But is that any excuse for Mr.. Holt
and has he relieved his own Department Any
one who reads his letter must see that, while he
makes the guilt of others plain, his own innocence
is by no means established, and the completely of
his Department is clear.
There is most remarkable cOnceament of dates
and particulars. For instance: Mr.. Holt under |
takes to defend his Third Assistant, and says:
" On but TWO occasions, does there appear to hace
" bern such falling of IN the amount (Of weekly |
"deposits) as was calculated to awaken inquiry |
"and apprehension" Here is a confession that, |
on "tro OCCASIONS" there ras q falling off in |
Fowler's weekly deposits that should have awak- |
ened inquiry and apprehension. But nobody was
awakened Mr.. Holt was so busy putting out the |
" frebrands," as he termed Republican papers,
that he never thought it worth while to stop Dem
Ocratic stealing. Why was not Mr.. Holt awak- |
ened1 Why did he not inquirel Why did he |
give no alarm! Observe, he is not now speaking |
of the neglect of the Sixth Auditor, on whom no |
justly fixes criminal neglect of duty-nor is he /
speaking of the late Third Assistant now deceased
but he is speaking Of the present Assstant--of |
knowledge that was in his Onn Departmental |
knowledge that he himself should have had, if he /
was not sleeping on his post, and ignorant of what |
q competent Postmaster. General should know. |
" Tro OCCASIONS" he says should have awakened |
inquiry and apprehension. What was the date of
these two occasions What was the amount of |
falling off in eachi Mr.. Holt is silent on these
poi0,. Congress should compel him to answer.
0s..