The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18
MINISTER BANCRoFTS ACCOUNT.
hHARP CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GREAT
HISTORIAN AND THE SECRETARY OF THE
rprksuRY

HISTORIAN AND THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1870
Hon. George Bancroft has inclosed to Representative
Swami, Chairman Of the Committee Foreign Affairs,
copies Of the recent correspondence between the Secre
harry OF the Treasury and himself and which he designs
tor the information of the committee In letter dated
The l4th inst Mr. Bancroft says he was alike amazed
and grieved finding that an official paper, sent
under the sanction Of the Treasury Department to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, made statement that
'George Bancroft, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary TO the German Empire, owed the gov
ernment S. OLA II, since allowed"
This statement Mr.. Bancroft says, generally and
SPECIFICALLY is Numerically opposed TO the facts On
The LIST day of July 1875, he had account with the
government whatever. He retired from the office OF
Minister at Berlin tho 18th of June, 1874, ana on
that day forwarded to the Fifth Auditor his &C
as Minister for the quarter ending on that day
II was found correct in every particular, and was
promptly adjusted very large balance, though only
\ nominal one was found due him. OF this he was
spprscd by letter from the First Comptroller bear
Ing date OF July 8 1874 He then makes statement
as to the payment OF the money, and concludes by say
ing
The Secretary will how grevously the department
has wronged him. and he invokes the Secretary at the
earliest possible moment TO repair the wrong which
had been done TO him.
Secretary Brstow on the 18TH first acknowledges
the receipt OF Mr. Bancroft's letter. and explains that
the Committee Foreign Affairs had requested the
Register of the Treasury furnish list OF balances
due diplomatic and consular officers as shown on his
the of July that this balance appeared
thereon to Mr. Bancroft's debit 1t appears that the
Register omitted give credit he had been directed
TO by the accounting officers. The credit given
however, as soon the omission discovered The
statement rendered that the balance against him
longer exists the words 'since allowed" being used
to denote that it has been moved The Secretary
regrets that this matter has been the OF annoy
ance to Mr.. Bancroft Mr. Bancroft responds February
IL that
The Secretary is not such as he had right
TO expect from his sense of justice. II is not as
matter that caused annoyance that addressed my
self to you. My complaint is that you have done me
the grievous wrong that Secretary OF the Treas
ury can inaict on a public officer OF the country.
have repeatedly held high stations under the govern
necoup ahu 1 ocers have found when retired from
Office that the United States indebted TO me.
Many weeks ago the Committee OF the House on For
egn Affairs requested OF you, SIR and not of the Regis
OF the Treasury statement of the amounts due
the United States from diplomatic and consular officers
the LIST day OF July 1873 Alter taxing long period
for inquiry you fit, Thursday Friday of last
week deliberately TO report that year and day after
] had retired from Office Minister at Berlin l. who
really in debt to the government remained
debtor IL to the amount of 50 OLA 77swhen In truth
such balance was never, then any time, due
from me- You have further reported that the above
named of SIS, 074 II has been allowed'' me since
July 1875 when in truth as well know, nothngnas
been allowed since the final settlement of my
counts Immediately after my return to my country IN
1874 AS to these erroneous and to me most injurious
Statements made by you TOT committee OF the House,
and so through that committee to the press at home
ana abroad, you will see that for my instant and COM
plete vindcaton have right TO demand OF you, I'M
der your own hand, the most clear, explicit and
equivocal statement That Immediately on my return
from my post at Berlin lost time in seeking from
the Fifth Auditor and the FIRST Comptroller formal
adjustment OF my accounts Minister TO Berlin; that
the accounting officers promptly gave their attention TO
my request; that the First Comptroller, the 4th day
of November 1874, dehntvely adjusted and closed my
accounts, finding balance due me from the Depart
OF State OF $50 o. and balance OF 81 1856 81 due
from the United States Financial Agency of Lon
don, which last not collected by me till about
the 10th of November 1874, that in fact, the
final adjustment of my the government of the
United States in debt to me 81, 4l6 3d. have a
right further to the acknowledgment from you under
your hand, that the statement which you sent to
The House committee that on the LIST day OF July,
1876, l owed a large balance to the Treasury OF the
United States, is Numerically contrary TO the true
Of the facts. And further that the statement
which you the committee that since the LIST day
July 1875 the sum of SIS 0I4 " has been allowed me
in like utterly without foundation; that my
account definitely closed the 4th day ofNovem
Der, 1874; that from that day have had no account
with the government and that since that date you have
allowed me nothing whatever
Secretary Bristow, on February l6, replied as fol-
,cws:-
sm-waivng all objection to the offensive character
OF your letter of this morning which no doubt arises
from pardonable irritation your part beg to say
that you scarcely suppose that the Secretary OF the
Treasury personally keeps the accounts of any of the
officers whose accounts kept in this department.
The system OF accounting and bookkeeping established
by law is carried by the officers appointed under
the authority of the law, and although these
der the general direction of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury, you must be quite too familiar with the
magnitude of the business of the department TO
suppose that the Secretary have actual
personal knowledge OF the various accounts kept
in the department In this particular case the
inquiry of the Commissioner required statement
Of how the accounts stood on the LIST day Of July 1919
The inquiry necessarily referred TO the Register
OF the Treasury, who has charge Of the books for the
purpose OF preparing response thereto, and the
swer furnished by him contains a statement Of your
It stood on the books of his office on said
date In order that there might be mistake IN the
information furnished the paper prepared by the Reg
lister sent the First Comptroller for examination
before being forwarded TO the committee The words
written opposite your name-''since allowed"-were,
perhaps not well chosen, but think you have given
them too narrow construction. II was not intended
by them to convey the idea that an amount had been
allowed and paid to you but simply that the proper
entry had since been made on the books OF the Regis
Ter of the Treasury which caused that apparent bal
disappear 1t is due to rankness TO that IL
been discovered that the mistake your
arose in .he following manner:
Your final account was adjusted and revised Novcm
Der 4, 1874 and you were advised by the Comp
troler on that date. In said adjustment you were
charged with drafts drawn Morton, Rose Co.,
amounting to SIS 014 IT. and there remained you
$50 o. for which you drew to balance your account
When the bankers account subsequently, adjusted,
showing the payment OF the above draft you were
enormously charged again with the drafts max
tng double charge In that amount and causing you
appear debtor in the amount stated. This
was not discovered until after July !, 1875.
The Secretary encloses Mr. Bancroft copy OF the
Communication he has addressed the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, explaining how the error occurred,
and in conclusion begs Mr. Bancroft that he
is ready make whatever reparation may be in his
power for injuries occurring through the in
advertance OF any oficer Of the department