Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-20
Trio Randolph Account.

AZ last the Fdmuu1 NandOlpn luiept-
elness is likely 10 he removed. 4 few
DAYS ago Senator Daniel, OF Virginia,
who is, We believe, related to the Ran
doph family, submitted resolution,
winch was considered by unanimous
consent and agreed to, calling upon the
Secretary of the Treasury TO inform the
Senate whether the account OF Edmund
Randolph. formerly Attorney-Ceneral
OF the United States, had ever been set
tied and paid in full and to state what is
its condition.
The causes that led to this resolution
are interesting. The Register OF the
Treasury, General Rosocrans, undertook
when he came into Office at the begin
ming Of tie Cleyelsnd administration 10
give the country what it had long de-
sired, peep at the books. Though the
actual cash, when counted. seemed to
correspond with the lreasurer's ledgers
vet there were millions held by disbnrs-
ing clerks and receivers unaccounted for.
As Secretary Guthrlo had set the Demo
Gratis OF 1880 the excellent example OF
bringing 10 book cimilar Celinquents
thereby adding 10 orr Golfers the inn
mense sum Of one hundred and thirteen
million dollars, General rosecrans began
with a will 10 give fair and complete
transcript Of the public lcdgers, with
the purpose both OF Inducing debtors TO
settle, aud aiding the comptrollers IN Sc
iecting suitable cases upon which to IN
stitute legal proceedings.
Among these names were those Of
many OF ourmost distinguished citizens
Washington ,ryiug, Motley, Bayard,
Gadsdcn, and Randolph, for example
aud 2 careful reylow of the vouchers
showed ~ the case OF many OF them that
in Treasury psrance the balance was
only nominal that is, that fuSl state
ments showing full settlements had never
received what is known az admiDistra-
tive action; in other words, they were
living IN the p geon-holes Of the depart.
ment TO which these debtors belonged.
IN other cases genuine errors were DIS
covered. which The Treasury officials cor
iectei promptly. There were few
cases, however, which, though they
seemed UDOn review to demand reset
Element, vet involved amounts 50 great
and Won hers so Old as 70 make 1t q mat
ter of great ielicacy 10 reopen them and
apply principles different irom those a.
ready acted upon.
Among these was the case OF Edmund
randolph, orr second Secretary Of state,
whose Indebtedness on account OF
moneys placed in bis hands to dsfray
The expense OF our foreign establish
ment5 was put down Mt over > 1000. An
iuaury was set on foot n.mOot imme-
disteg otter the publication Of TIE re-
gi,ters " Lat of Balances, upon request
Of Representative tOrney, OF alabama,
who seemed to know lutuitively That
there Was some mistake IN the matter.
After this Mr Noucure Conway, who
was then engaged upon his biography
Of Edmund randolph. since published,
caused an exhaustive search 20 be made
OF the various papers fled with the nc
counts. which resulted n the unearthing
Of some very peculiar facts. These de-
yelopments have been gwen to our read
ers by Nr. Conway himself 1t IS only
necessary now TO say that in answer 70
the resolution Of the senate the Con-
NAV "tnd" has been fully de-
scribed This discovery consisted,
as viii be remembered, OF let
ter written by secretary Guthrie N
1896 to the First Auditor enclosing q
full report on the Randolph indebted
ness, prepared 10y Solicitor Streeter, Of
the Treasury. In this letter the Secre-
tary severely condemns the adjustment
made at tho Treasuary in 1873, by which
randolph, being charged with the origi-
nal judgment OF Sj3, 900 obtained in
1903, and with interest thereon to the
date OF stating the account, had been de-
ciared q debtor, after allowing certain
credits, in the sum Of sjl, OOO-fS, go
more than the original debt. The Secre-
tary showed very clearly that when
Cary Nicholas assigned bonds secured
by n lien on real estate in discharge of
the Randolph debt, the arrangement was
accepted as in full payment, together
with the small sum then deposited, and
that it was absurd md unjust to keep
the account open, to he stated from time
to time for the purpose Of entering
credits as the lind was sold. The face
value OF the bonds aud the deposit
amounted to as much rs the debt, and
the Secretary maintained that they
should have been SO entered on the
books as to close the account at the tlmo
they we're accepted.
This letter was found by those who
were aiding Mr.. kandolph's Jealous
biogrSpher and vindicator, filed away in
an old Randolph settlement Of 1921, con-
tanning no indication by way OF memo
randum endorsed thereon, or otherwise,
that it had ever received Official notice.
he clear presumption is that through
negligence or most culpable wilfulness,
il hal been pigeon-holed. The action of
tue Senate upon the papers presented
will. we douot not, be such as to cause
immediate obhteration of this unjust
item Of Indebtedness.
Burn TIE Ola Letters.
Whittier, the venerable poet, has writ
for a. f,IIoUa IN O friend ia regard IN