Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-11
oEe from New Haven, Conn. Itincloses$3o

ore from New Haven, Conn. Itincloses$3o
and the man writes:
Secretary of the Treasury: I have the honor
| to the United States Government. am in
debted few dollars more but am poor and can
not send it. I shall do SO when can. l never
| intended to keep il so long as have and pray
God may forgive me for SO doing. From one
who believes that God will punish those who
| are dishonest
The following is from New York and is
directed to the gentleman who receives
conscience money" 1t reads:
Inclosed find Sl2 being the amount of income
| tax for 1854 with interest. This amount was
| withheld by me, but having lately expert
enced religion wish to make amends for my
return this amount due. My friend, are you
| Christian? II you are not. seek the Lord now
for there will be judgment day for all.
| Yours. CONSCIENCE.
! WON FROM A PAYMAsTER AT PoKER.
| In contrast to these sober contributions is
one letter which came to Mr.. Spinner when
he was Treasurer, inclosing IS cents of
fractional currency which the writer states
he won from United States paymaster at
draw poker, and which he is convinced
rightfully belongs to Uncle Samuel. The
man asks that the amount be applied to the
national debt and signs himself "Con-
Another letter written some time ago and
written with pencil reads as follows:
Treasurer of the United States: The inclosed
s62 is for Uncle Sam from one of his neglected
.nephews.
There was no signature, but at the bottom
was request that the receipt be acknowl-
edged through the newspapers. Nearly
one-half the writers are anxious that their
| money be receipted for in this way. Some
ask that a montioO 0f tho M Of ha oAa hr
| Washington correspondents, and others in
close money to pay for the advertising of
the receipt in the personal columns of the
newspapers in their respective cities. Not
few of them request that their letters be
kept on file, and the reason for this is doubt
less that In case their sins should be found
out they may be able to show that they have
made restitution. In such cases it is fear of
discovery rather than conscience which
prompts the return of the money. The Gov
ernment, when money is sent for such ad-
vertisements, always advertises them and
the letters are always kept. Some of the
letters are quite laconic. Here is a slip Of
paper which incloses 81. 1t has only the
word "CoDscience" and the figure '7" on it.
Here is another:
SHORT AND TO THE POINT.
Treasurer of the United States: Inclosed
nnd check for $50 No matter how obtained.
Respectfully
Here is another also inclosing money:
Render unto Caesar the things that are Cae-
sar's, and unto God the things that are Gods.
Yours penitently, CONSCIENCE STRICKEN.
This probably came from a Washington
clerk. 1t is dated Georgetown:
Secretary of the Treasury: Having taken
articles from the Government which did not
belong to me and which were worth I
F. LIE PEN1TENr
This is in woman's handwriting, but the
lady does not state hsr lowest figure. She
writes:
DEAR SIR-In one sense I owe the Govern
ment SIC, and in another 1 do not; but lnas-
mueh as prize clear conscience more than
SlO nclose you that amount for the United |
states treasury. Yours, with respect,
CONSCIENCE.
Some years ago large amount of corre-
spondence was received from all parts of
the country containing small amounts con-
trlbuted by citizens unanimously to the pay
ment of the national debt. These contribu-
tions were called out by the following let
ter: |
BALTIMORE october Is, 1857 z |
Hon. Hugh McCulloch Secretary of Treasury:
see 1t stated in newspaper that cents |
the national debt. 1t is not stated at what in
terest and have not the time to enter into a |
calculation to test the truth or falsty Of the |
assertion, even If the rate per cent were given,
nor can wait to nurse such an investment, but |
taking for granted that the statement is correct |
will not begrudge the amount and SO inclose |
It. to be applied by you according to your best |
judgment. When you have done this how idle |
will be all the talk of reputation ana the |
world will learn that after all the national debt
is but 2-cent affair. Yours truly,
p. 81 do not wish you to put this contribu-
tion to the Conscience Fund, but to apply it
to the payment of the national debt
TROUBLE FOR ANDREW JOHNSON.
During the latter years of Andrew John
sons administration a number of the con-
science letters contained a criticism of the
Presidents policy. One letter inclosing 8 |
cents reads as follows:
FRANKLIN, PA, December o. 1867.
closed scent piece. Please apply it to wip- |
ing out the national debt and this is not con- |
science money My conscience Is insolvent. |
Send my love to Andy, Mrs. Andy and all the |
little Andes. In order that you may accept |
this will state that indorse the policy of An
drew johnson, and in fact every sneak up ou- |
ADAM GooDsE11.
A great many of these letters relate to the |
unpaid income taxes. Some inclose coun- |
hiOHCy dnu SOou many vi IuC COu-
tributions are sent through the Catholic |
priests. In these cases the letters are signed !
by the priests and a receipt is sent to them |
for the money whenever they request it. |
One man incloses $40 and asks that it be |
credited to the Union defenders and that, if |
possible, the amount be applied to the i'm |
parchment of Andrew johnson. A printed |
letter incloses S170 and says it is the THEFT of |
former controller. and yellow envelope |
postmarked Chicago brings $500, with only
these words penned in blue ink on short |
strip of paper: "The inclosed money be- |
longs to the Treasury Department"
And so it is throughout these thousands
of letters. Each one represents greater or
less amount of money stolen from the Gov
ernment, and each is the index of the story
of crime. FRANK G. CARPENTER.
THE CULTURE OF PEARLS.