Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-21
The Board of Claims.

facts as. ~ - -.,
With the report of the Committee on Army con-
tracts, &C. we have nothing to do in examining this
question. The pressure upon the time of the COM
mittee may have led to hasty draft of the report
on account of which some expressions contained in
it, may seem to involve the integrity of parties,
whose high character places them above the thought
of suspicion. But the ready and manly course of
the Chairman of the Committee, so as his at
tention was first called to it. when in behalf of the
Committee, he disclamed all intention of casting
any imputation of personal character upon any
officer in any of the departments" ought to have
satisfied all parties of the correctness of the motives
of the committee IN preparing the report and ordi
nance, we'll the motives of the members of the
Convention who voted for their adoption. The SUBJ
sequent apparent irritation no doubt arose from a
misconception or a misunderstanding.
And here we take occasion to repeat what we have
heretofore said, that under the administration of
Gen. Martin since the organization o. the several
departments, we can bear testimony from personal
observation and from the knowledge of others more
Immediately cognizant of the matter, that North
Carolina never had more industrious, energetic and
prompt business officers than many of those under
tue supeINiSIOH vi Tie huJuta.!I UeneTal. NO one
under his eye eats idle bread, and we are sure no
man would he retained hour in office if ascer-
tanned to be incompetent unreliable 1t is evident
however, that Gen. Martin, who is said by those
who know him to be highly competent business
and military officer, has heavy task to perform
Few men could bear the same amount of mental and
physical labor that he does. IT. therefore, in the
transactions of some ofhs agents evidence of fraud
peculation and malfeasance" should be discovered
i: would not be chargeabe to him to any of his
immediate leuteRants unless it could be shown,
that they knew it and wnked at it. which we are
sure could not be- But the committee do not say
hen these instances Of fraud occurred and hence it
were supererogatory to attempt to show that they
have not occurred under his administration
The organization of the Board of Claims was felt
necessity by the State Convention at its first session.
Up to this period the financial affairs of North Caro-
lima had been comparatively inconsiderabIe in
amount, and the adjustment of claims against the
State, of the simplest character An Auditors
office was not known in the State. Claims were
presented 20 the Governor, who examined them and
issued his warrant to the Public Treasurer for their
payment, and the Comptroller embodied in his fiscal
annual exhibit the receipts and disbursements in
detail ofthe government No check upon the Treas
ury was provided for, except such examination as
the Legislature might choose to order. The Con.
vention therefore, in view Of the enormous expendi-
ture which the involved, and the intricacy and
difficulty of settling the various claims arising, very
properly selected highly competent Board of Audi
| tors whose duty it should be to investigate the
claims contracted prior to the Goth May last before
the Department provided for by the Legislature
could get fully in operation, and such claims arising
since that period not otherwise provided for
! by law. The Board has faithfully performed its
| duty; and while claimants have found some difficult
ty, perhaps, in getting with the Board easily
they desired the people have felt assured that the
public funds of the State SO far as they came under
the control of the Board, have been well guarded.
The Board has labored to do fu. Justice claimants
while it has been rigid in demanding full evidence of
the justice of the claims.
At an early period of the late session Of the Con-
vention the impoI lance and absolute necessity of
having Board of Auditors to adjust and settle the
accounts of the disbursing officers and agents of
the government was frequently urged by several
| of our most able and experienced statesmen. The
| late Legislature, in passing the militia law and
| organizing North Carolina War Department. had
made provision for the proper auditing and set
Element of the accounts of disbursing officers Such
provision the exiSency of the times called for,
| both to guard properly the public funds Of the
State, and especially to provide for the adjustment
! and settlement of the accounts of officers. Under
| the former regime, such final settlement could
| take place. The accounts Of every dsbursng agent
were liable to be reviewed and examined by future
Legislatures for the fifty years. Such exami-
nations exposed said officers their memories and
estates to damage, even after they had been long
dead and if there had been unfaithfulneSs in Office
it exposed the State to loss The necessity there
FORE for such Board was apparent, and the Con-
vention finding it had already SO competent Board
| for this object with almost a unanimous voice
| larged the powers of the Board of Claims by the
passage of the ordinance published in our last.
The scope and design of this ordinance must be
plain to the merest school boy; yet purblind,
depraved and jacobn public journal of this City,
| with malice and wickedness, which such creatures
| as cater to its readers alone indulge abors to
| raise hue and cry against its provisions, against
| the Convention and against the Board, as if the
devil himself had been turned loose upon the State.
| Look at the ordinance, reader, and see even with
spectacles, except they be green, if you can find
that the new powers conferred upon the Board of
Claims by it depose the Governor, GUST the Adju
tant General any of his officers unless it should
hereafter appear that any of them have been guilty
of fraud, peculaton or nalfeasance. See if it puts
! in jeopardy defers the claims of honest citizens
against the State, disturbs ioa of civil
military system as it existed before, or if-oh
shocking brutality-it sets up triumvrate, in the
shape of Board of Claims, to rule the State with
rod of ironl No school boy with two ideas can
entertain such views for moment after reading it.