Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-12-18
Report Of the Army Contracts Committee-The
- Board of Claima.


- .-.... Board Of Claims. !
We publish to-day the report of the committee of
the Convention to inquire into the accounts, con-
tracts, and disbursements of the dsbursing agents
OF the State from the LIST of April last up to the
present time together with the ordinance contnu-
ing the Board of Claims.
The Army Contracts Committee consists of
Messrs. Satterthwaite of Pitt, Carson of Ruther-
ford, Dickson Of Duplin Jones of Rowan, and Set
ger Of Catawba Their report, it is true, is general
IN its scope, for the that they had no time in
which to institute particular invesgations but hav
ing arrived at the conclusion that there had been
fraud, peculaton, and mafeasance in office, they did
not hesitate to announce the fact. They also say
and truly, that Justice to the public interest, as
well as to the honest and faithful public officers and
agents, imperativey demands full and fair investi-
CATION of the past and proper checks and safe.
guards for the future" Who can object to that ?
No one who is honest, or who has performed his
duty in office as he should have performed it. We
feel sure, however, that no member of the Commit.
tee or of the Convention intended to imply, by &C.
cept'ng the report and passing the ordinance, that
either Gen. Martin or his "Staff" in this place, as
1t is called, have been guilty of fraud, pecuaton or
malfeasance in Office but it impossible to dis
claim for one without disclaning for others, and
those who feel and know that they are innocent,
can well afford to await investigation, which will
result not in Furnishing them, but those only who
are gultty. That there cases of guilt, especial
ly among employees, there can be no doubt These
cases wall be reached when the accounts are laid be-
lore the Board OF Claims. The proper checks and
safeguards referred to by the Committee, have
been provided by the ordinance which we publish
today and which, if properly enforced, as we be-
lieve it will be by the Board OF Claims, will not
only run the dishonest and unworthy out of office,
| but save thousands of dollars to the State.
The opinion is entertained by some, that the Or
dinance continuing the Board of Claims ties up the
hands of disbursing agents and prevents them from
paying for supplies, until their accounts shall have
been allowed by the Board. This opinion is erro
neous.-The second section refers to expenditures
made, or responsibilities incurred or allowances
claimed" "'chich Aore not already been finally set
tied ind alloUed at the Teasury,"-a mo such
account" says the misunderstanding, of course,
for expenditures made, or responsibilities incur
red allowances claimed "-'s shall hereafter be
settled allowed paid unless the same shall have
first ben passed upon,' &c. And then, in the
fourth section, provision is made for quarterly re-
ports and exhibits oy disbursng agents, to be laid
before the Board of Claims so as to continue in the
future this salutary check on those who handle and
disburse the, public funds.
As the result of the report of the committee and
the passage of the ordinance, Gen. Martin addressed
letter to the Convention offering certain adcice to
that body No doubt the General meant well, and
we wish to say nothing unjust unkind of so gal
liant and worthy man; but his letter, to say the
least was not pertinent to the occasion. 1t was not
called for by any thing which the Convention had
done; and no matter what might have been the pro-
ceedings of that body, he would not have been JUS
titled in sending them message by way of letter
containing advice which he wished them to follow
The Governor Of the State is the medium through
which the different departments military as well as
civil, should communicate with the peoples repre-
| sentatves; and we surprised that Gov. Clark
should have permitted his Adjutant General to steE
in his Shoes as it were and offer suggestions to the
, Convention.
Weshall notice this subject and matters connect
ed with it, more at length hereafter