Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-16
Accounts Of the sect'y. Of the Senate.

Yesterday in the Senate, debate arose on
bill appropriating large sum money to de-
fray the expenses of the Impeachment trial.
Mr.. Hendricks was opposed to putting this
immense sum of 900 IN the hands OF the
Secretary of the Senate for miscellaneous items
Mr.. Cameron said there had been consdera-
Bile talk of defacation in the accounts OF the
Secretary of the Senate to the amount OF forty
thousand dollars and the detaulter was said to
be the financial clerk, relative Of the Secre-
tary, This clerk had heen dismissed, and he
(Mr C.) understood that this clerk complained
that he had been treated unjustly He also
understood that there was difficulty between
the Secretary and the Sergeant Arms and
he wanted this thing settled. He was disposed
to believe every man honest, but he wanted to
be assured of it. He wanted to see the books
Of the Senate for the last ten years balanced to
| see how the accounts did stand. r
Mr.. Cragin said the Secretary of the Senate
had no control, as he understood it, over the
money of the Senate and no power to commit
fraud. The Sergeant-at-Arms was the dlsburs-
ing officer ofthe Senate,
Mr.. Hendricks asked for an explanation as to
the alleged defacation of the financial clerk
(Mr. Wagner).
MIR. Cragin said last fall it was discovered
that defalcation of $40, 900 existed in the &C
counts Of Mr. Forncy. Mr.. Forney called in
Mr.. Wagner, and after short time MIR. Wag-
her confessed that he had taken $40, 900 from
the safe and that he had used it for his own
purposes. He then surrendered all the prop
erty he had, and Mr.. Forney went on to Phila-
delphia and raised the $40, 900 and depos tied
it in the Treasury, so that the Government
should lose nothing by it.
Mr.. Cameron asked whether the Senator had
any personal knowledge that the money had
been deposited -. ......
Mr.. Cragin said be had seen certificate Of
Comptroller Taylor to that effect.
Mr. Cameron said it was very strange trans
izen of his State, and had been cashier of a
bank there and had always borne an excellent
character. When he came to this city he
owed nobody, he had no bad habits, did not
| even keep servant, and it was impossible to
see what he could have done with the money.
He understood since Mr. Wagner had been re-
moved, that he complained that great injustice
had been done him, and that he (Wagner) did
not take the money. Now, what he MIR. O.
wanted was to sec this whole thing cleared up.
MIR. Cameron reiterated his determination
not to vote any more money to put IN control
| Of the Secretary until his accounts were salts
factorily adjusted.
Mr.. Dixon said there was leak somewhere
with this money He did not say that Mr..
Forney got it, or who got it., but somebody
seemed to get hold of il.
Mr. Cragn said there were $40, 900 OF bills
| presented now, which had not been paid, and
none of the additional messengers who had
been put on had been paid, although they were
ID some necessity. ..
Mr.. Dixon said it was manifest that tho &C
counts were very Improperly managed.
| Mr.. Thaycr said at the request OF the Secrc
tary he would say that the deficiency in the ac-
Der last; that Mr.. Wagner had made a written
confession to Cot. Forney. and Col. Forney had
it in his possession, and any Senator could sec
it who desired Mr. Wagner had stated that
he had taken $4,000 of the money to pay for
some property Which he had bought in Provi
dcnce, and which he had been called on to pay
for sooner than he expected Furthermore
Mr. Forncy had paid all this money into the
Treasury as stated. He (Mr. Thayer made
this statement at the request of MIR. Forncy.
Mr. Cameron said Mr.. Wagner was man
Of accounts and Mr. Forney was not. MIR. Wag-
| nor claimed that he had been treated with in
| Justice he was an old man and his fair fame
should not be bIottcd il this way by person
| in official station.
Mr.. Cameron then moved that the Commit
tee OF the Contingent Expenses be directed to
| inquire into and report upon the condition OF
| the accounts OF the Secretary.
Mr. Buckalew said that while the accounts
and conduct of their Secretary were being in
quired into he would suggest to his colleague
also to include in his motion an inquiry into
the conduct of the Secretary as Clerk of the
Court Of Impeachment, in daily prcjud ging
that case in the journals under his control, and
whether such conduct is becoming.
Mr.. Cameron said he must stick to his orr
| ginal motion now, but after awhile he would
go with his colleague on the other point.
The motion of Mr. Cameron was then
adopted. '.:.... .- .