467
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR •
told Mr. ·Welschmeyer to assist the late Secretary, as he desired his presence. A few days before I was to leave, The Gov. came to my office, and said The 2nd Auditor would not aid him, and that he kept out of his way; I then, wrote to him to be at my office, at a given time, and had the letter delivered by one of my clerks. He did not come. After this, I asked the late Secretary, if one 9f my clerks could not help him in the settlement of his accounts. He said, he thought he could not do so, very well. I told him, if you have the money and the reports of the collectors of duties and taxes, that I thought it could be done. He then said, that he feared things were wrong, and manifested much solicitude, about the matter. I asked him, if any facts existed, by which he could fix the supposed deficit on the 2nd Auditod He seemed to think, that, perhaps, he could not. He stated that the 2nd Auditor had acted, last summer, as the Secretary of The Treasury, and that he was afraid, from his unwillingness to do any- thing, that The Treasury had suffered an injury; but to what extent, he thoµght it doubtful, whether it would ever be' ascertained. I have not seen The 2nd Auditor, since I wrote him to appear at my office on public business. I then asked the late Secretary of The Treasury, if it was true, as I had recently heard, that Mr. Welschmeyer had taken one or more of the revenue bonds from the office, during the late administration, and gambled them off? He replied that it was, and further, that The 2nd Auditor had made such fair promises, that he had over- looked this, but was afraid that his confidence had been abused. Soon after I entered on the duties of my office, Mr. Welschmeyer being a very competent officer, I felt it due to him, as well as your administration, that you should be informed of the fact. After my report of his fitness, you retained him. With the same spirit, for both your administration and the conn- i,ry, that then actuated me, I am now compelled to say, with regret, what I have, that you may place such a guard over the public interest, as alone belongs to the integrity of character. This, I know to be one of the rules, by which you are governed in making your appointments. I am progressing with the settlement, with The late Secretary of the Treasury, and so soon as I finish, I shall give you a full report of The whole matter- such as may· be warranted by 'fhe means within my power.
I am,
with the highest regard your very humble & obt. svt. R. G. Dunlap Secty Treay
[Endorsed] Official
[Addressed]' His Excellency
R G Dunlap Se [cty] of the Treasury recd 26th Feb 1839
Mirabeau B Lamar Present
Treasury Dept.
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