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Sd-llU'chln Cljronick&Sentittd.
WILLIAM E. JONES. AUGUSTA, Ga. SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 9, 1839. Vol. lII.— No. 38
THE CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL
PUBLISHED,
DAILY, TRI-WEEKLY, AND W EKLY,
At No. Broad-street.
TEB M S !
Daily paper, Ten Dollars per annum, in advance.
Tri- Weekly paper, at Six Dollars in advance or
Seven at the end of the year.
Weekly paper , Three Dollars in advance, or r our at
the end of the year. _____
chronicle and sentinel.
A V G IT S T A.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH S.
From Maine.
The Boston Daily Advertiser of the 28th ult.
ays :—By the Eastern mail of last evening, we
]earn that the Maine army had moved forward in
the disputed teiritory to the junction of Aroos
took and Little Aroostook Rivers, this being a
It point where the trespassers had been cutting tim-
E . her.
p- R was expected that the Maine troops would
ffifcroceed to the mouth of the Madawaska, and
Mherc establish themselves, It was reported that
iihero were about 300 British regulars opposite
Aflfr" mouth of the Aroostook, on the Eastern side
iSSf St. John. The number of this detachment has |
IlKcen heretofore stated at 200, consisting of the ,
igHjfoops 'which were in garrsison
will probably he no fighting at present. j
'i:«V I
®V About 400 of the Northampton, Mass, growth I
ip of Mulberry trees were lately sold at auction at i
1 St. Louis, (Mo.) for $l5OO. |
Communicated. j,
Theatre.—The Opera. .
To-night Auber’s beautiful Opera of Fra Dia- ]
iioio. is to be performed for the last time, for the ;
R;S|Enefll of Madame Otto, —a sufficient announce- |
|@||cnt to insure the fair Madame a bumper. There :
a rich flow of melody in this Opera, pleasing to '
E’/ : -even an uncultivated ear in the science of music. |
f Mr. Timm, whose astonishing performance on the ,
flSriano Forte, created such a sensation at the north, !
Bj-Avill perform this evening. All lovers of harmony
Rtshould not miss such a mnsicale bonne bouche. j
V I
■fv, It is stated that there are at present in the
pv' British North American Provinces upwards of i
I 15,000 regular troops, besides numerous compa i
fogies of local militia, brought into activity and [
pV'Comparative discipline by the late troubles in the (
R: Canadas. !
Bfe The following resolutions have passed both |
llpbranches of the Maine Legislature with scarcely ■
SSi/? s A dissenting voice: j
Resolved, That the honor and interest of this
v. fißtate demand that a sufficient military force be I
~ forthwith stationed on the Roostook river west of
the boundary line of the State, as established by
the treaty of 1783, and on the river St. John, if
found practicable, at such points as may be best
i * ! apted to the object—to prevent further depreda I
fe'lions on the public lands and to protect and pre
pfelervc the timber and other lumber allowances cut
iSv'fcy trespassers, and to prevent its removal without
limits of the State.
1 Resolved, That the sum of Eight Hundred
Thousand Dollars be and hereby is appropriated
■; ‘ for the purpose of enabling the Executive to oar
. ry out the purpose of the foregoing resolve, and
the resolve passed Jan. 24th, 1839, and that the
Governor be and hereby is authorised with the
advice of the Council, to draw his warrant for the
same from time to time, as it. may be needed for
that purpose.
Pesolved, That the Governor be requested
r forthwith to communicate to the, President of
United Slates the measures recently adopted by
the State of Maine, in relation to the trespasses
on the public lands of that Stale; and also copies
of the correspondence between the Governor of
, New Brunswick and the Executive of Maine, in
m relation to those measures; together with any in
ly formation in his possession relative to the subject;
~ and to request the aid ofthe General Government
in support of the rights of the State of Maine.
Upper Canada.
WHO I.ESA LE CONDEMNATION.
We learn through the Montreal Herald of the
21st inst. that one hundred and eighty persons
have been sentenced to death by two courts mar
tial—l 37 at Fort Henry, and 43 at London—
the time and place of execution left to the Lieu
* tenant Governor, and twenty four of the con
i' demned recommended to the “ merciful considera
tion of the Lieutenant Governor.’’ Three per
5, sons tried before the court at Fort Henry, and one
■$ at London, were acquitted of the offence of which
the rest were convicted; that of “ havinor I--*.,
f uulawfully and traitorq”-b- ! “ ‘ irlns against our
LaHv tW- H^aea. '—Albany Argus.
A preamble and resolutions have been offered
J in the Territorial Senate of Florida, by Gov. Du
val, requesting Congress to divide the Territory,
so that Suwannee river shall be established as the j
line between East and W'est Florida.
Proceedings of Council.
Council Chamber, March 2, 1839.
Present Hon. S. Hale, Mayor,—Aldermen
Nimmo, Parish, Jackson, Dye, Hill, Dugas,
Crump, Kirtland.
( Minutes of the last meeting were read and |
approved.
The Trial Docket was taken up, and the fol
' lowing cases were disposed of:
I John Clary, fined S2O, and to stand committed !
until paid.
Wm. R. Tant, fined $lO.
[ C. Batty, fined $5.
| Mr. Hitt appeared and took his seat.
■wl M. Antony, fined $2.
L. Mima, fined §5.
"j -Mr. Bishop appeared and took his scat.
fVWm. Whitlock, fined $5.
A. Claig, fined $2.
Henry Hackle, fined $2O.
J. P. Lewis, fined $5.
- Duffy, fined $2
mm
The petition of A. Read was read, and ordered
to lie on the table.
The petition of J. 11. Spencer, for transfer of
Retail License, was granted.
The petition of L. Hopkins and others, for a
City Lamp, was granted.
The petition of W. G. Nimmo, to be released
from the payment ofhis City Taxes, as the pro.
perty taxed is not within the jurisdiction of the
city, was read and grunted.
The petition of H. Cuflin and Joseph Gantcr,
was read and referred to the Pump Committec j
with power to act.
The petition of W. Lawson, was ordered to lie
on the table.
The communication from W. H. Turpin, John
Edgar, and others, was read and referred to the
Committee on Streets, who arc authorized to
build a bridge, &c.
The proposal of N. Delaigle, respecting the
| drains, was accepted.
A communication was received from the Clerk
of Council, with a statistical table, &c., which
was read and ordered to be entered on the re
cords.
The Committee on Accounts report the re-
I: ceipt of §1443 of change hills from the Collector
t and Treasurer, which were burnt under the rcso
• lution of Council of the Oth October, 1838.
The report of the Clerk of the Upper Market
was received, with the Collector and Treasurer’s
; receipt for §5,12, for the month of February.
The report of the jailer was received, showing
a balance of §43,81, with the collector and trea*
1 surcr’s receipt for §16,71, and John Clary’s note
for $27,10.
j. The report of the City marshal was received,
| with collector and treasurer’s receipt for $03,75
. received during the month of February.
The report of the clerk of the lower market,
with the collector and treasurer’s receipt for
j- §108,53, fees from market and scales during the
| month of February.
The return of the keeper of the magazine was
I received, with the collector and treasurer’s receipt
[ for $25.
| The sexton’s report exhibits the interments op
11 persons, 6 whites and 5 blacks, during the
| month of February.
j The keeper of the hospital reports one patient
j remaining in the hospital.
\ The following accounts were then severally
j read and ordered to be paid.
Night Guards, for the month of Feb. $306 00
M- Warner, 6 mos. salary as fire master 100 00
M. Wagner, expenses on engines 35 00
H.Caffin 4 50
» E. Uiodget, wood for jail 17 50
S. H. Oliver, wood and stationary for
office 7 25
S. Oliver, for digest for 1839 500 00
Messrs. Watson, Shopp, McGolrick,and
Timmerman,city constables, $5O each 200 00
John Dreghorn, cartridges for 22d Feb. 9 12
Browne,Cushney & M’CaUcrty,printing 6 00
O. Danforth, sundries for 22d Feb. 6 00
Foster Blodgctc, wood,&c., for Guard
Room, &o. 24 50
W. Lawson, jailer, 1 month salary 58 34
J. & D. Morrison’s account 1 25
W. Moody, keeper of hospital and
sexton. , 29 75
1305 21
The committee on the constables’ petition, re
port that in consideration of the advance in ront>
&c. &c. that they recommend an increase in their
salaries of $lO per month, and an increase in the
salary of the jailer of $lOO per year both to com
mence from and after the Ist of March, 1839’
which was accepted.
The committee on the magazine, to whom was
referred the petition of A. Gardclle, reported in fa
vor of allowing for the damaged powder, which was
accepted and the bill ordered to be paid.
The committee on the petition of J. Bignon’
praying remuneration for buildings pulled down at
the late fire, reported unfavorably for the petitioner.
The committee on accounts to whom was re
ferred a resolution of council, passed Nov, 10.
1838, reported thereon. The report was accepted
and ordered to be filed.
The jail committee report that the whole eon*
tract oi* O. M. Curtis has been completed, upon
which it was ordered, that the bill of said Curtis
I be paid.
The following applications for slaves to live
apart from their owners, were granted,
i Win. Mackie, for his negro man Jack.
! H. N. Wilson, for his negro girl Mary.
E. F. Campbell, for his negro woman Nelly.
T. O. Hall, for his negro woman Rose.
1 A. Johnston, for his negro woman Innis.
M. M. Dye, for his negro woman Mary,
On motion of Mr. Nimmo, Resolved, That ap
plication hereafter made for permission to allow
| slaves to live apart from their owners, he made to
a committee, to be appointed by the mayor, who
| shall grant or reject such applications as said eom
i mittee may deem proper. The following were
the committee appointed, Messrs. Nimmo, Crump,
| Dye ami Hitt.
On motion, Resolved, That a committee he ap-
I pointed to examine, and enquire into the expedi,
l ency of enlarging the City Cemetery ; whereupon
I Messrs. Bishop, Crump, Dye, and Hill, were
named that committee.
1 he committee, to whom was referred the suh
| jeet of revising the rates of wharfage for the city
request authority to act in concert with the Presi
dent of the Union Wharf Company, and report j
to next meeting of Council: the authority was I
j granted.
On motion of Mr. Parish it was Resolved, That
the committee on the Cily Hall, be authorized to
advertise for proposals for erecting an iron rail
fence with a granite base in front of the City Hull,
and report the same to the next regular meeting.
On motion of Mr. Parish, Resolved, That the
committee on.drains, be authorised to advertise
for proposals for keeping the roads and drain s
connected with the city in good repair, from the
Ist day of April next, for one year.
On motion, Resolved, That a committee be ap
pointed to examine certain lots, the properly op
the city, and report the expediency of selling or
renting the same, and also to report an eligible
sile for a public parade ground, and Messrs. Pa
rish, Jackson, Dugas, and Nimino, wore appoint
ed that committee.
13. B. Kirtlund, Esq. offered the following reso
lution :
Resolved, That three thousand dollars be ap
propriated for the erection of a suitable building
in the centre of Broad street at the junction of
Jackson or Mclntosh streets, to put the City Clock
in, and for any- other use that may be required.
Mr. Parish offered the following as a substitute:
Resolved, That the committee on the Market
House be authorized to put up the City Clock in
the lower market, and appropriate one hundred
dollars for the same.
The question on the of the last resolu
tion having been put, the yeas and nays being
required, they were as follows:
Yeas—Parish, Jackson, Bishop, Dye, Hill’
Hitt, and Crump.
Nays—Nimmo, Dugas, and Kirtland.
So the substitute resolution was agreed to.
Council then adjourned to meet on Monday
evening, 4th instant.
Since the commencement of hostilities in Flori
day, it appears from a statement of the United
States Adjutant General, there have been eigh
teen officers of the regular army, and one volun
teer killed, and that sixteen officers have died of
disease, contracted while in service. During the
same period, fifteen officers wore wounded. Up
t o March 29th, 1838, the number of rank and
file killed amounted to 132—wounded, 235. Th P
number of men who have died of disease in Flori
day, is supposed to be great; but the Adjutant
General, has not yet been able to compare it.
Johnson Cook. —This individual, in custody
of Mr. Wilson, the sheriff of Galveston county,
Texas, arrived at Jackson, Miss., on the 9th inst.
The correspondent of llie rttiu Vie*. OsmA,
that the House of Representatives, with a prompt
ness worthy of all praise, immediately passed a
bill allowing a compensation of$200() to Wilson.
A few more such cases as the arrest of Cook and
of the murderer of Capt. Powell, will show des
peradoes, both in the United States and Texas,
that neither country is a refuge for culprits. It
will be recollected that Cook is implicated in the
murder of Mr. Pcese, in Scott county, last sum
mer.—[N. O. Picayune. 5
The following arc the most important provi
sions of the Bank law recently passed by the
Legislature of the State of Indiana:
It provides that the State capital may be in
creased, this year, one and a half million of dol
lars, and seven hundred thousand dollars per an
num for five years more, in all five millions.—
The bill further provides that four more branches
may be established when the State Bank thinks
the interest of the State shall require it, and the
consent of the Branches shall be obtained.
Washington, February 27.
In the Senate to-day, a number of private bills
were read the third time, and passed, in pursu
ance of the resolution adopted to that effect, the
Senate went into the election of a printer, and the
first ballot resulted as follows :
Blair and Rives received ----- 25
Gales and Seaton, - -- -- - -11
Ogden Niles, ........ 4
Thomas Allen, - -2
Blank, 1
43
So that Blair and Rives were duly elected.
Distressing Homicide.— Mr. David Hume,
of Blount county, was shot through the head
about 8 o’clock, P. M. on Saturday night last,
while sitting by his own fire-side, and died in
about two hours. He was engaged at the time
in playing at drafts with a neighbor, resting his
head on his hand—the balls, for there were two
in the gun, entered through the window, pene
trated his hand and into his scull. Mr. Hume
had lately returned from Scotland, his native
country, wither he had gone for a legacy left him
by his’aneestors. No discoveries have been made
as to the perpetrator of this diabolical act. Mr.
Hume was an intelligent and enterprising citizen,
and has left an amiable and affectionate family to
lament his sudden and afflictive death. —Knox
ville Register,
Honatn case or Fuaud — Ausov — Suicide!
—One of the most awful narratives we have
read, is that given in the Oswego Advertiser, of
the developments which succeeded to the late de
structive fi re in that town. It will be recollected
the fire broke out in the store of a Mr. John Bas
sett. In a day or two, some of the goods were
found under the ice in the river. This, at first,
seemed to confirm the opinion that the store had
been robbed and fired, and the goods concealed,
there by the incendiaries. Shortly cinders of
burnt cloth wore seen to come from the chimney
of the room of the house where Mr. B. and wife 1
boarded. This led to suspicion and further tin-1
quiry. It was found Bassett had sent his clerk j
off some days before, with silver ware to sell, in 1
order to have him out of the way—that #3OOO j
worth of goods were sold—that #5OOO was in
sured—and that he owed for the whole $6OOO.
That night of the fire, he and his clerk left the ;
store half an hour before it broke out, and that i
the building was almost instantly wrapped in ,
flames. Finally, it was determined to search his
room. Dr. Phelps, the owner of the house, cn- 1
tcred to sec if the chimney was on fire. He. saw
fine cloths in the fireplace burning to cinders. |
Bassett was appalled—said he had the toothache— I
asked for /creosote, and accompanied the Doctor to ■
his own room to procure it—returned, and shortly 1
after the Doctor, consulting some triends was re-
solved to continue the search. Coining buck, he !
found Basiett had escaped. His wife in an agony j
ot grief implored him to look for him, as he had
torn himself from her, carrying oft' u razor, which
she vainly struggled to wrest from him. In a
day or two Bassett’s body was found—his throat
cut to the spine, every artery severed! He was :
from Connecticut, only 24 years of age, and of
pleasing manners, and highly esteemed. His
wile, only 18, was of Pennsylvania. A great
portion of the finest goods was found near his bed.
Here, in one week, this youth seduced into crime,
has covered his name with eternal reproach, and
left an innocent wife a prey to utter misery and
despondency.— N, Y. Star.
The North Eastern Buunhahy.—The fol
lowing is the North Eastern Boundary line, as
described in the treaty of 1783 :
“ From the N. W. angle of Nova Scotia, viz:
that angle which is formed by a line drawn due
North from (lie source, of the St. Croix river to
the highlands; along the said highlands which di
vide those rivers that empty themselves into the
river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the
Atlantic Ocean, to the Northwesternmost head of
Connecticut river.”
In 1784, Nova Scotia was divided into New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia. New Brunswick
is hounded ou the West by a line running due
North from the main source of the St. Croix riv
er, in Fassamaquoddy, to the highlands which
divide the streams which full into the river St.
Lawrence and Bay of Fundy.— ,V. Y. Herald.
From the. National Intelligencer, 2sth nit.
The Investigating Committee.
Yesterday, the Investigating Committee of the
House of Representatives on Defalcations, to
whose labors the country has been looking with
deep anxiety for some weeks past, made a report
to the House, through their chairman, Mr. Hah
la.v. The report is voluminous, but so reduced
to system in its composition and arrangement of
facts as will render it most convenient for use, as
well as easy of comprehension. We have the
pleasure of presenting to our readers, in the sub
joined extracts, the prefatory remarks of the re
port, and the conclusions which (he committee
deduced from the testimony taken by them. These
speak in terms of alarming reprehension in re
gard to the manner in which have been, of late,
executed tire duties of several of the primary offi
ces of the Government, upon the efficiency of
whose administration the security of the national
treasure must ever depend. But, not having had
time to read attentively the body of the report, we
cannot attempt to say how far, if at all, the con
clusions exceed the strength of their premises.
We consequently cannot do more now than pro
mise a recurrence to the subject at an early day.
The Minority of the committee also submitted
a report, the leading features of which, so far as
they fall short of a clear implication of officers of
Government, embody, we understand, some sin
gular positions, well worthy of notice hereafter
in our columns.
nuevATORY REMARKS OF THE COMMIT-
I TEE’S KPURT.
The Select Committee, chosen by the House
of Representatives on the 17th and 19th ultimo,
to investigate the defalcations, late collector of the
customs at the port of New York, and of other
officers, have devoted to the faithful discharge of
the duties assigned them lire limited time allowed
fertile purpose by the shortness of the present
session of Congress.
It was most obvious, however, that the whole
field of inquiry presented by the resolution ap
pointing the Committees, could not be properly
traversed to report thereon, either satisfactorily
to the country or to the Committee, during the
short remainder of the present Congress. This
impressed upon the Committee at once a resolu
tion, which has been rigidly adhered to, of limit
ing the investigation to such branches of the sub
jects referred to them as had most deeply excited
public anxiety and alarm, and to undertake only
so much of these as might be thoroughly exhaus
ted within the allotted period of the Committee’s
researches. But the important results which have
been attained, notwithstanding the disadvantages
adverted to, cannot fail to inspire the country with
a confident hope, that the high obligation which
will rest upon the successors of the present Con
gress in the Legislature of the nation, to resume
and complete the great work of investigation and
reform of the alarming condition and abuses of
the Executive departments of the Government,
from the highest to the lowest, and from the near
est to the remotest functionaries, will engage the
prompt and efficient attention which its magni
tude demands.
Guided solely by the character of the develop
ments which the investigation imposed upon them
by the House has elucidated, the Committee can
not resist the conviction, that at no period in the
history of the Federal Government has there been
deeper or better founded cause than exists at the
present moment, for every patriot heart to desire
a prompt eonsumalion of that signal “ link of re
form" which public sentiment ninny years since
inscribed on the list if Executive duties, in char
acters too legible to be overlooked, requiring,
“ particularly, the correction of those abuses that
have brought the patronage of the Federal Gov
ernment into conflict with the freedom of elec
tions, and the counteraction of those causes which,
have disturbed the rightful course, of appoint
ment, and have placed our continued power in
UNFAITHFUL OH INCOMPETENT HANDS,”*
The first procedure of the Committee, after or
ganizing itself for business, was to visit the city
of New York, to inspect there, in person, the ori
ginal records and papers of the custom-house, in
conjunction with the examination of such wit
nesses as might be supposed capable of shedding
light upon the inquiry involved by the defalcations
of Mr. Swartwout. Thenceforward this branch
of the investigation was conducted pursuant to
the resolution of the House, viz: to ascertain
“the causes and extent” of these defalcations;
the length of time they have existed; the correct
ness of the returns which have been made by
Mr. Swartwout, and by the naval officer at New
York, and by other officers connected with the
adjustment of his accounts.
Concurrently with the investigation of Mr. |
ftwartwout’s defalcations, those of William M. I
Price, late district attorney in New York, wore |
likewise kept in view; and the fullest practicable j
extent of information respecting them has been ;
obtained, and will be adverted to in the sequel '
of this report.
The correctness of the returns which have been i
made by the present collector of customs anil the
naval officer at the port of New York, was also
sought to be examined by the Committee while
in that city. “ Considering that the customs col
lected at New York equal nearly two thirds of (he
whole amount in all the United States,” us stated
in the special report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury on Mr. Swartwout’s defalcations, (House doc, !
i
* Inaugural address of President Jackson, March 1
t, IS?9.
; 13, |>. f>, of the present session,) the Committee
j did not suppose that they should faithfully dis
| charge their duty to the House, or pay u proper
deference to that patriotic disgust which pervades
the country at the present time in regard to the
affairs ot the custom-houso at New York, were
they to limit their inquiries to the returns of the
late collector and naval officer, and neglect entire
ly those of their successors, which must, at all
times, he to the country of equal interest with
the former, and, at the present state, of even more
immediate importance to the security of the na
tional Treasury. Hut, in the execution of so
much of this part of their inquiries as related to
the present collector of New York, they were
compelled to encounter most unexpected obsta
cles, interposed by the collector himself, and set
ting at defiance the authority delegated to the
Committee by the House. The facts connected
with the ballled endeavors of the Committee to
obtain information for the House and country
from this officer of the executive, branch of the
Government, who is in immediate charge of, and
control over public moneys that “ equal marly
two-thirds of the whole amount" collected from
customs “ in all the United Stales,” will be more
specially detailed in a subsequent portion of this
report.
The. Committee will remark here, that, in the
onset of the investigation they have made, they
supposed it both proper and safe to place them
selves somewhat confidingly under the guidance
of the several special reports which have been
made to the House upon the subject ol’Mr. Swart
wout’s defalcations, by the Treasury officers, pre
vious to the appointment of the Committee—
combining, in this view, reports from the Secreta
ry of the Treasury, the Frst Comptroller, the So
licitor, and First Auditor of the Treasury, as ex
hibited in House document 13. It, however,
very soon became evident that those reports were
not to bn implicitly relied on as auxiliaries in fin
ding out either the law -or the facts of the case ;
and that, on the contrary', they furnished but an
oblique view of both the causes and duration of
Mr. Swartwoul’s defalcations, as also of the law
and many material facts which develop the true
character of those defalcations. Os necessity,
therefore, these reports, although emanating from
the highest orders of official functionaries employ
ed in the collection and disbursement of the pub
lic revenues, became the subjects of us cautious
and critical examination as any other portions of
evidence which the case presented, and as such,
it will be obligatory upon the Committee to treat
them is this report.
In reviewing the details of (heir labors, so that
the progress and results of them may be presented
in the simplest form, the Committee propose to
consider—
Part 1. The defalcations of Mr. Swarlwout.
Part 11. The defalcations of Mr. Price.
Part HI. The correctness of the returns
which have been made by the present collector
and naval officer of the port of New York, re
spectively.
Part. IV. The defalcations among receivers
of the public money.
Part V. The facts connected with the fore
going defalcations, and deemed material to develop
their true character.
Each of the divisions thus proposed will pro
perly involve the law appertaining to it, as the
appropriate adjunct of its facts. And as the lan
guage of the law itself wid in each instance be
• cited in detail, that its authority and injunction
may be correctly understood by every one, so the
language of the individual testimony relied on in
each instance will be adduced, that its import and
force may be left neither to uncertain construction
or doubtful inference. The increased fidelity of
their report, in the estimation of the Committee,
will be, by this mode, an ample offset to its con
sequent enlargement.
Before proceeding to the general topics of this
report, as already laid down, it may be proper here
to express the deep sense of disappointment and
regret which the Committee feel, in not being able
to communicate to the House one document that
was called for at an early day, regarded ns having
an important and interesting influence ,upon the
judgment which the House might form on the
subject of defalcations among public officers, and
the causes which have led to their multiplication.
It will be perceived from the following letter, that
the Committee availed itself of the earliest period
after their organization to make a call upon the
President to furnish a list of the defalcations that
have taken place among collectors, receivers, and
disbursing officers of public money, and other
public officers, since the 4th of March 1829,
showing the amount of each, &c.
More than four weeks have now elapsed since
that call was made upon the President, and the
only information which the Committee has ob
tained to rejmrt upon to the House is contained in
! the following letter; the distinguishing feature of
which information is, that still more time than |
even the whole remainder of the session will be !
requisite to answer the call. From this the Com- ■
mittce arc compelled reluctantly to ink r, either— |
Ist. That the accounts and records of the neve- 1
ral Departments, in general, arc so incomplete and
defective as not to exhibit, without great labor |
and delay, the (rue relations of collectors, recoiv- !
ers, and disbursers of the public money, and of !
other officers of the Government, as to distin- I
guish debtors from defaulters, and creditors from 1
both.'
2dly. That the number of the defaulters have i
■ multiplied so rapidly since 1829, under the system
of accountability pursued towards collectors, re- ;
ccivers, and disbursers of the public money, and 1
other officers, as to preclude the practicability of i
receiving an account current of their defalcations '
with all the clerical force at the command of those |
Departments, under existing laws and appropria
tions.
If cither inference Ire just, (and none other of
equal weight seems to bo fairly dcdueible from I
the letter of the Secretary of the Treasury,) it
manifests a laxity of administration which de- I
mauds the earliest application of suitable reme- -
dies within the reach of Congress and of the |
country.
For the papers Nos. 1 and 2, referred to in the •
subjoined letter, reference is respectfully made to
the journal of the committee, p. 470 and onward.
Treasury Department, Feb. 18, 1839.
Sir—The President, on the 23d ultimo, refer
j red to this Department the following resolution,
' passed bv the Investigating committee ;
i “ Resolved, That the President of (he United
! Stales be requested to cause this committee to be
' furnished by the proper Executive Department
I with a table showing the defalcations which have
occurred among the collectors, recci -ers, and dis
burses of public money, and other public offi
cers, since the 4th day of March, 1829; the
names of the defaulters; the amount of each de
falcation ; w hen each case occurred ; the length
of time each case has existed ; what steps have
I icon taken by the proper departments or officer*
to prosecute the defaulters and to secure the IJ. j
States, in each case; and what defaulters are re- ;
lained in the same offices in which they became j
defaulters, nr have been appointed to other offi- I
CCS,” J
i
lie accompanied if. with a request that all the
information desired should be procured early as
practicable, and submitted by me to the commit
tee. Accordingly, on the same day, 1 enclosed
copies ol it to the other Departments, and also to
the proper bureaus in the Treasnry Department,
and desired that replies ought be furnished, so far
as in their power, and soon as in their power, to
the several inquiries made. 1 further requested
the bureaus connected with this Dcpanmcnt to
employ any extra assistance that could bo advan
tageously applied in hastening their answers.
I would now inform the committee that great
progress has been made in respect to those parts
of the answers connected with the Register's of
fice, and all which could be made, consistent
with the difficulty and extent of the labor, in the
Third’s Auditor’s office. But it is feared that,
on account of this labor, and the great mass of
previous calls by committers and by the two
Houses of Congress, which are also to be answer
ed, besides transacting the current business in the
different bureaus, the whole details and the tabu
lar statement required cannot be completed du
ing the session. Every effort, however, which,
under all the circumstances, can lie made, is be
lieved to be exerted to meet the call at the earliest
day practicable.
In respect to the last branch of the resolution,
asking “ what defaulters are retained in the same
offices in which they became defaulters, or have
been appointed to other offices,” I am able to
present the report of the Register, from his office,
which exhibits such names as arc on his books
connected with the State and Treasury Depart
ments. It is annexed, and contains no name ns
to this, and hut one as to the Plate Department.
That one is Commodore D. Porter; and by the
correspondence annexed, it will be seen that he
does not consider himself a defaulter, though he
stands charged on the Register’s books for a con
siderable sum on account of prize monev, as ex
plained in the papers (Nos. 1 and S.j
Respectfully,
LEVI WOODBURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon. Jamls Harlan,
Chairman of Investigating Committee.
PAST I.—THE DEFALCATIONS OF MR. SWARTWOUT
1. THE EXTENT OF MR. SWART WOUT’s DEFALCATIONS'
Conclusions of the Committee.
Ist. That Mr. Swartwout is a defaulter to Gov
ernment, as appears by his own returns, us adjust
ed from time to time at the Treasury Department,
in the sum of one million two hundred and twen
ty-five thousand seven hundred and five dollars
and sixty-nine cents.
fid. That this amount of indebtedness has ac
cumulated upon the face of the quarterly accounts
regularly returned by him for adjustment at the
Treasury Department, without the omission of
any of either items, debit or credit thereon, until
it became an absolute defalcation.
2. THE nuKATION OF MR. SWARTWOVT’s
DEFALCATIONS.
Conclusions of the. Committee.
lot. T't»> -U ;—a Ly vi.. c:
wont as collected prior to 18157, were regularly ac
counted for by him in his quarterly returns to the
Trcasuary Department.
2d. That so much ofall moneys received by Mr.
Swartwout prior to 1837, and accounted for to the
Treasury Department in his quarterly returns, as
were not paid by him into the Treasury, were re
tained by him under the tacit acquiescence of the
accounting officers of the Treasury; and regular
ly carried forward, debited to himself, in the bal
ance ofeach subsequent quarterly account render
ed by him to the Treasury Department to the close
of the term of his office.
3d. That his omission to carry a debit to him
self of the moneys received by him from the Trea
sury, or from other sources, prior to 1837, to the
close of accounts kept only at the custom-house,
called his rash accounts, ami his carrying a debit
to himself of any such items to any other class of
accounts kept only at the custom-house called
suspense andumettleil accounts, or by any other
name, would not operate us a concealment, inno
cent or fraudulent, from the Treasury Department,
of the true cash balance in his hands. I'irst, be
cause neither his cash account, nor Iris suspense
and unsettled account, nor any other subordinate
account, kept at the custom-house, was ever ex
hibited to, or formed the basis of any quarterly
settlement made by him with the accounting offi
cers of the Treasury. Secondly , because, in his
quarterly accounts settled at the Treasury Depart
ment. the aggregate and true balance of all his
subordinate accounts kept at the custom-house, in
cluding both bis cash account and suspense ac
count, was uniformly, prior to 1837, carried into
his quarterly account under the item of "cash,
| and unsettled accounts.''
4th. That the defalcations of Mr. Swartwout,
| by names of fraud and false returns, commenced
in 1837, and not sooner, and have existence since
1 that period ; and the daliilcations thus accruing,
added to the moneys previously retained by him,
| according to his returns to the Treasury Depart
ment, and by the silent acquiescence of the offi
cers of that Department until the close of his
term of office, constitute the aggregate of his de
falcations at the present period.
(Conclusion on second page.J
i
M A R R I E I),
i In this city, on the 4th hist., by the Rev Mr.
Ford, Mr. Edward P. Clayton, of Athens, to Miss
Mary Ei.iZAnr.TH Bradford, daughter of Fielding
i Bradford, Esq., of Gainesville.
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
i Charleston, March 7.
Arrived yesterday. —Br. ship Andromache, Hime
ter, London ; hr. ship Fanny,Sloan, Liverpool; lin,
ship Calhoun, O’Neill, New York ; barque Nautilus.
Dyer, Portland ; U. L. brig Sun, Brown, New York
line schr. Randolph,Goldsmith, Philadelphia ; sebr.
Banker, Rider, Baltimore.
In the ojfinir. —Hr. barque Trinidad, and C. L.
brig Buenos Ayres, Stuart, from New York.
Cleared. —Line ship Congarec, Doane, Boston;
schr. Columbia, Gray, Elizabeth City; schr. Oregon,
Metdrurn, Wilmington ; schr. Columbia, Stctt, Sa
vannah.
Savannah, March b.
Cleared. —Brig Cameo, Payne, Boston.
Arrived yesterday.—Hr. ship Ruby, Prescott.
Liverpool; steamboat Oglethorpe, William*. Au
gusta.
\\T ANTED.—Two Journeymen Tailors of
» w sober and industrious characters, for which
liberal wages will'be given. Those who. may
wish employment will apply to the subscriber at
Elbcrtnu. Georgia, who will give employment by
the month or (ear.
march 8 ‘wlm EUVV UU) L. FLOOD-
The Charleston Mercury will please copy the
above weekly for one mouth and charge this office.
SERVANT’S. — I’wo Females to hire, bv
mar 1 tvwjt .1. MEIGS’,