The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-06-22
Democratic Defalcations and Corruptions.
REMARKABLE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN
SECRETARY WOODBURY. AND HIS DE-
FAULTiNG RECEIVERS.
NUMBER THREE.

NUMBER THREE.
In the correspondence of Secretary Levi
Woodbury. with the defaulting receivers and
their friends, is to be found great deal that is
curious and interesting, and that sheds not
little light upon Democratic procedure in the
past.
One John Spencer was, in 1886, receiver of
public moneys at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in
May, 1886, Secretary Woodbury. writes him
that according to his own showing he is in ar
rears to the Government ia the sum of S247,-
PSI; that this sum must be Immediately depOs-
tied in the Government Depository, and a GER
tificate of the deposit forthwith transmitted to
the Treasury Department. and that on failure
to comply with all the requirements. as to the
accounting for monies received, he s'would be
reported to tile President with Il recommends
lion for removal from Office
On the Sth Of July '36, the Secretary again
writes Mr.. Spencer, demanding to know why
the sum then In his hands-s60, 947-had not
been paid over. for which delinquency Mr..
Spencer makes very lame excuse, and COM
forts the secretary by saving, thereafter, as
sure you the deposits will be made, so far as |
am concerned, In strict accordance with my in
structions.''
Things, however, went on no better with
Mr.. Spencer, for OIL the 18Th of August, 1886,
the Secretary addressed him the following
warning letter /:
s'Sir Your letter of the 2Sth ult., enclo-
sing your monthly return for June, is received
Seeing that the balance IN yoar hands dmonists
to the sum of 500, 599.32, must require that
the same he transmitted to the bank of depos-
lite .fortAvith, and request you to explain achy
the amount has been so long detained in your
hands,.
No answer to my letter of the 9Th ult., has
been received. I am, &C.,
LEVI WOODBURY.,
Sect. Of Treas.
Col. Johu Spencer
Receiver Public Moneys,
Fort Wayne, Ind.'''
70 this up and down missile from his slipe-
rior officer, Mr.. Spencer replies in another
apologize epistle concluding us follows:
II beg to repeat the assurance that every at !
tention shall be given to the subject Of depos-
ting which its importance and my duty re-
quire.''
The Fort Wayne receiver being thus raped |
over the krnckles by the Secretary. Mr.. Hugh !
Mccullough cashier of the State Bank of Indi- |
ana, puts IN a word of excuse for the tardy |
delinquent in a letter of which he says: u
Sioe the foregoing letter to be used by Col.
spencer as he may deem proper" That is to
get him off, If possible.
But lest this backing up by bank official
might not roll back the adverse tide, political |
Influence was illterposed in tie form Of the |
following letter of mercy add1essed to the Sec
Rotary of the Treasury:
'MADIsoN, Aug 81, 1886.
SIR Il am informed that some things are
stated recently to the prejudice of Col. John |
Spencer, recelvera5 Fort Wayne, and l an re-
quested to write to you. In doing so, can
only state that have been gratified in learn
ing that his depostes have beeh made to yonr |
and if so, hope that minor mat
tiers, if mere irregularities, will be over looked.
he is qeputed to be an honest and honorable Nan.
and I do net 6eliere that he has Intentionally I
done aorong or oiozated his Instructions. 1t
would to some extent produce excitement if |
he were removed, for he has many wagns and
influential friends, both at Fort Wayne and in
Dearborne county, from which he removed to
his present residence. Better let 1t be.
With much respect,
WILLIAM HENDRICKS.
Hon. Levi Woodbury.,
Sec. Of the Treasury"
Now, this Mr.. Hendricks was n member of
Congress from Indiana, and his i1lterpostion
seems to have saved the ''honest and honor able
man" who chad many warm and influential
friends. both in Fort Wayne and Dearborne
county," at least for a time, for the Secretary
after addressed the Indiana NJ.
c., the following letter:
''TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
September 7, 1886. {
SIR You letter of the 31st ut.. is re-
ceised, and am happy to inform you that M.
Spsncer's explanations haze been SucA that he
sgW, probably, continue IN office.
am very resp'y your OFT sery't,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon. VIM. Hendricks,
Madison. Indiana''
Now, this correspondence suggests surdry /
reflections we'll worthy to be noted. 1t shows
in the first place, that, i'll the past history of
the Democracy-even its pamie.t day-it mat
tered not whether an official was Il defanler I
or not, so he was good democrat, and had I
'..oarzs and Influential friends" to save him
from sinking!
..Better let it be- said Congressman Hen
bricks, Better let 1t be-" said Secretary Wood
bury, for though he has not paid up the Gov
Dues he ''kas many EARN and ant9u-
entail frie7aas,'' and he is honest and honora-
6le," and to remove HIM might produce er
citement. .,Better let it be ~
And so the ofter-warned defaultcl was not
removed as he would have been in
the days of our early purity, and would be
now when the Republican maxim is Let no
guilty man escape.'' But he went out as de-
faulter, marking his exit with Il dutiful writ
ten message 70 his le>ient Secretary and friend,
..Mu Democrat friends think I ought not to
zeave Ito make my depostes) atnti1 utter ace hold
ou, election fon President, on the It'll. IF No
vember, aohichI haze concluded to Await. y
Which being interpreted means, Help the
Democratic friends first; pay up to the Gey
afterwards
Another matter deserving Of note: A high
digslitary OF the Federal Executive Govern
ment comes down to the low level of familiar,
almost crouching, correspondence with subordl-
mates who were admitted to have piundered
the public treasury.
Has it ever been thus with tie Republican
party since It held the reins, and if we restore
the Democracy to power shall we not have the
right to expect repetition of its grave misto-
ings? Why not? and i'll Gods name What i'm
aginable right have those who associate on
terms of intimacy with confessed defanlters
and thieves and stood by them in their f5shon-
est practices. What light, | say, have these
democratic saints to be crying out corruption
a. ainst the Republican party, OF any party
uAMPDEN.
GeoD Apy1CE.-The Sunday School Times,
publishes the following
ssYour favor OF yesterday, askinga message
from me to the children and youth OF the
United States, TO accompany your Centennial
number. is this moment received. MY advice
10 Sunday Schools, no matter what their de-
nominations isi Hold to- the Bible as the
.l,n,+ oy ~ vopr 1ihnrtasA write IFS Ure-