The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-03-29
SURPRISING Information.

Every effort of the Democrats in
the last Congress, as, indeed, for ten
years past, to obtain information which
would exhibit the true condition of
the Treasury and other Departments,
was constantly resisted, so that the
country has been compelled to 10Y
upon partial reports in regard to the
finances and the whole operations of
Government, made up expressly to
suit a particular-iine of policy, and to
present a one-sided view of con-
dition. Facts have been concealed
and misrepresented, which disclose q
fixed purpose to mislead the people
and prevent that scrutiny by which
alone remedies may be applied to the
existing evils.
All searching resolutions of inquiry
have been habitually met with objec-
ton from the Republican side, and
when by accident such a calfhas pass
ed, the Departments have assumed to
withhold'a satisfactory answer, or re-
fused absolutely to reply at all. Take
a recent case for illustration. y
Treasury report issued last year shows
some three hundred collectors of in
ternal revenue to be defaulters, to tn e
extent of many millions of dollars
Attempts were made to break the
force Of these startling facts by pre-
tending that the accounts of these dep
redating officials had not been finally
adjusted. In order to meet that allie
CATION, q resolution was adopted, by
the House, on the 18th of December
last, calling upon the Secretary OF the
Treasury for a statement OF the bal
ances due from collectors of internal
revenue not now in Office, and the to-
tai omount of the balances as they APP
pear upon the books of the Depart
ment on the Both of June, 1870. AL
so, what balances have been paid since
May 2, 1870, the names of the collec-
tors sued on their bonds since their
removal from Office, with the cause of
the removal in case; by what Presi-
dent these collectors were appointed
and by whom removed.
The pungent inquiries would have
exposed the in which the
Treasury has been plundered, and
brought to light the names of the
guilty Radical officials, besides exhibit
ting the immunity which they had
been permitted to enjoy by the refusal
Of the Secretary to prosecute the de-
faulters. To avoid this exposure,
Nh. Boutwell, refused to notice the
call of the House, and Congress ex-
pired on the 4th of March without re-
| ceiving any answer whatever. This
insult is made more offensive from the
fact that the Secretary of the Treas
ury, exceptional to the other heads of
Departments, who report annually to
TIE President, communicates directly
with Congress. In order to bring the
matter to the attention of the House,
| General Morgan, of Ohio, recited the
resolution of last December, and re-
yived it, after a full statement OF the
conduct of the Secretary. But Mr.
Bingham was prompt with al aebjec
ton, which necessarily prevented a
vote. The House, instead sof assert
ing its authority sternly, and rebuking
a public servant who had dared to dis
regard its mandate, by suppressing
Information necessary for the public
service, thus seeks to shelter him from
censure for a mere partison reason,
and consents to disparage its just pow
er to protect the people against usur-
patton and corruption. If the prece-
dent be thus established by the sub
serviency of a Radical majority, that
heads of Departments may trample
under foot the commands of the pco.
Piles representatives, what security is