From the (Phil. ) American Centinel.,
To the Citizens of Penn-
sylvania.
When Mr. William Findlay, the State
Treasurer, was first charged with having
made an exchange of § 10,000 of public
money in Philadelphia paper for depreciated
western money, with Mr. Acheson of
Washington, it was supposed to have al-
lusion to myself. The committee of cor-
respondence, for the county of Washington,
called on me tor an explanation. Without
hesitation, I gave a statement, which has
been published.
Although my partnership with my bro-l oid aud Silver
Chambersburg Notes
Carlisle and Harrisburg, &c.
ther terminated on the first of January,
1815, yet we did not arrange our business
so as to make a settlement until the 25th
of that month. We had two establish-
ments in Washington county, one in Wash-
ington, and the other in West Alexandria,
both of which I sold ‘out to my brother.
Most of the cash he took with him, had
been the property, and in possession of
the former firm. It had been counted
and the amount ascertained, onthe 25th of
January, the day we settled. Knowing then
the kind of money, that my brother had
collected, inorder to take with him to the
city, I was satisfied that no such exchange
as had been stated ever took place. In
addition to my own recollections on this
subject 1 can produce testimony, which, I
apprehend, will not be questioned, in the
hand writing of the deceased. It is a
statement of cash, a copy of which is
annexed, made out, a few days before his
departure for the city; and given to his
then partner, James Cummins. Between
the date of the memorandum and the
time of his departu:e, itis probable he
received other funds ; but of this I have
no knowledge. Gen. Acheson had also
some orders on the treasury besides sev-
eral sums of money collected on the way
from Washington to Harrisburg, which
were not included in the statement of cash.
Part of the Washington notes I under-
stand, he exchanged for eastern -money
betore he left home, and on the road over
the mountains. He passed through
Chambersburg, with a view to effect fur-
ther exchange, whether he succeeded or
not 1 do'not know
T have also been informed by some
gentleman in Pitt ong that the n es of
the Pittsburg bank were exchanged by
him for eastern money. I appeal to all
men of business if it is not customary,
when going on jouneys, to make purchases
to make a memorandum of their funds;
Philadelphia, will find by examining their
books for the months of April and May jand especially during the scssion of the
1815 which will be freely shown, that con. legislatureto transport some of tue state
siderable cums of western money belong funds in cash, from thc city banks to
ing to Acheson and Cummins were dis Harrisburg, and this must be either done
posed of, from ‘time to time, by Mr, Wil-|tbrougha branch bank or individuals, o!
son, at from two and an half to three and|by a special messenger from the treasury
This proves [office ; which of course is done with
that the rate of discount has been great-{some trouble to the treasurer and at the
ly exaggerated,
an half per cent discount.
DAVID ACHESON.
Philadelphia, August 23, 1817.
Cask on hand January 26, 1817.
Philadelphia, Reading and Jersey
drawn without corruption.
was publicly made
Western Register,
denied, as
aroun ade
expence of the state.
“ Now it must be evident that at atime
when the cash funds ol the state at the
treasury are low, it is a benefit to the state,
it a merchant or any other person depos:
its ip the state treasury a sum of money
in Philadelphia notes or notes at par in
Philadelphia, and receives a check on a
city bank in exchange. This has some-
times been done by every state treasurer,
because the state is not injured but ben
cfited by saving the expence ofa special
messenger; and it is a convenience to
the person receiving the check, for it is
easier and safer to carry a check payable
to order, than to carry a quantity of money
In specie or notes.
Among the many efforts which have “ This, although sometimes, is not often
been made to injure the character of Mr.
Findlay the democratic candidate for the
office of governor of Pennsylvania, is the
charge of corrupt exchange with general | >. ! :
The Aurora teems with argu- of a confidential person to the city to bring
ment to prove that a check was drawn on :
the bank of Pennsylvania, and charitably {known that last winter a sufficient sumto
concludes, that no check could have been Pay the legislature ‘could not be procured
Checks have either through the bank at Harrisburg or
been drawn by evely state treasurer since | from individuals, and that a special mes-
the removel of the government from |Phil- | SENger wassent to Philadelphia for the
adelphia, or the banks in this city, for de- purpose.
posits of money at par in the treasury.
We have waited until we have
done; for if it were to be common, it
would consume the time of the clerks
in the treasury department and be morc
expensive to the state than the sending
up money from the banks. It is well
« But we again distinctly aver, that
ccome |i NO case was a check ever given by
possessed of the full charge,and w wijl [the present state treasurer except for
now show how a plain, dispassionate man {legal demands upon the treasury, OF the
may view the wonderful affair of the 10,000 Previous deposite in the treasury of Phil-
converting into fiends, adelphia bank notes or notes at par in
citizens who have ever supported |char- Philadelphia equal to the amount of the
acters of the highest honour and hones- check. Itis therefore evident, that no
possible advantage could occur to the
time, we believe, this ghargejtreasurer, or any injury to the public, by
in'the newspapers, was|any checks of any kind that have ever
shortly after Mr. Findlay was neminated, been delivered.”
on the 4th of March, It appeared in the : 4
an old-school paper, correct, and plain statement of the case
published at Washington, Pa. on the 15th of Acheson’s check if any such check
March last in the following words: !
« Not long; since, he (Mr Findlay) ac- that we can neither affirm nor deny, as the
« commodated a merchant of the western {books of the bank of Pennsylvania are not
« country with 10,000 dolls. in Philadelphia jopen for our inspection. However be
«paper inexchange for western notes, this as it may, the existence of sucha
at a time when they were 10 or 15 per [check is altogether immaterial. It proves
“ cent, below par.
The charge
soon as it was rea
Republican of the 25:h of the same month; {money at par In this city, for the accom-
In this passage will be seen the true,
were ever given, whichis a circumstance
nothing. At the commencement of this
affair, jt was stated shat checks on Phil.
1p 12 ‘were drawn on a deposite of
such a memorandum was made out by the
deceased a few days before his depar-
ture rom hame; the hand writing can
be proved by an hundred persons in Wash:
ington county and by many in Philadel-
phia if necessary. © The fact however is
not denied.
He arrived in Philadelphia in February
1815, and left that place in the begining of
April. Three or four weeks after his
return home he became sick, and contin
we extract the words of that paper.
« To the people of Pennsylvania, where
« Mr Findlay is known, it must be need-
« less for us to mention that we are en-
« abled to state, not only that the charge
« is utterly false as it is/ wicked, but that
« no circumstance of any kind occured ni
« the slightest degree to give any colour to
« any suspicion of impropricty relative to
« the exchange or disposal of money.”
On the 29th of April will be found, in
of the treasury.
corruption:
modation of the public business, snd for the
interest of the state. We will therefore
suppose that the assertion mn the Aurora is
so far true, that a check of Mr. Findlay,
in favor of general Acheson, for § 8000,
does appear on the books of the bank and
Now for the proof of
The editor of the Western Register
boasts, that he first promulgated this affair
and Thomas Morgan an attorney at Wash
ned so until he died on the 2d of August.
From what I have stated it will appear
that whatever exchange may have been
made at Harrisburg, there could be noth-
ing improper in the transaction, nor could
the commonwealth sustain’d any loss. It
is probable the transaction was a mutual
accommodation to both parties. I never
received any communication from my bro-
ther nor had I ever any conversation with
him upon this subject, and knowing the
kind of money he had with him I took
it for granted there could have been no
such exchange at Harrisburg. That no
dishonerable or dishonest advantage could
have becn taken of the state must be evi-
dent from the known character of the de-
ceased, as well as that of Mr. Findlay.
During the late war, few men did
more than Gen. Acheson. He was ready
and active on all occasions, both with his
purse, and by his example, to encourage
the youth of the country to turn out in
support of what he considered a just and
necessary war. In drafting and organiz-
ing the different detachments of troops
ordered out from time to time, in Wash-
ington county, it is known to the officers
who commanded the troops, that his con-
duct was zcalous and patriotic. Atone
time I know he made considerable ‘advan-
ces for the public service out of his own
pocket. When news arrived that the
federal city was taken and burned; that
the British was in full march for Balti.
more or Philadelphia, an excellant vol-
unteer corps was raised in the town of
Washingtou, inthe course of a fely days.
principally by his exertions and in order
to expediate their equipment, he gave
a considersble sum out of his own private
purse — When this corps had arrived at
some place in the mountains, their march
was counterma nded, in consequence of
the failure of the atack on Boltimore, and
of Philadelphia being considered out of
danger.
Any person who will take the trouble
0 call at the store of Messrs. William
account of the
sons in money at par in Philadelphia.
in the city banks.
the same paper; 3 plain and simple state-linoton county and son in-law of Mr. Duane
ment, which was republished in the |; his letter, which is the great foundation
Centinel of the 7th of May last, to which|,f the charge, appears to consider his
we refer our readers for a satisfactorylinformation to that editor to be the foun-
_ state of the treasury! dation of the publication. Mr. Morgan
and of the practic of drawing checks on fgiates that he was attending the legisla-
the Philadelphia banks, by the state trea- type as a member in February 1815, when
It will be recolleeted, on persuingioeneral Acheson arrived at Harrisburg
that paper that general Acheson’s namelang before his departare, «he mentioned
was not mentioned at the time, and it|is me, that Mr. Findlay « had given him
was supposed from the vague expresioni a farge sum, $10,001 think of Philadel-
« not long since,” and the high discount {« phia paper, in exchange for other notes
« 10 or 15 per cent,” that the transaction {« | remarked that it was a great accomoda-
alluded to, must hsve been within a year. |i tjon—he said, it was. I asked what
As the writers in the Auror seem to think | was the difference in value—he told we;
that the mere fact of an exchang is suf-l« 1 cannot however, undertake to state
ficient to overwhelm the treasurer with{. positively, but my belief is, that he said,
infamy, and that no exchange could havel: ji was 6 or 8—or 10 per cent.”
been made without coruption, or a viola-| "hese are the words of Mr. Morgan:
tion of the law, because they contend.if, the first place the Aurora now as-
that a transfer of money from one part ol}certs that the amount was only
the state to another, is a violation of the}g gooo—here is one mistake Mr. M.
which says, « No money| Links it was in February 1815—he thinks
shall be drawn from the treasury, & butfit was $ 10,000—he cannot undertake to
i consequence of appropriations made by} state positively, but his belief is, that he
aw,” we extract onc part of the paper\iiqid him the difference in value Was 6 or
which 1s particularly applicable to thelg__or 8 or 10 per cent. A, positive
case under consideration.
« Only one other thing requires explina | tively exchange with Mr. Acheson $ 10-
tion. It sometimes has occurred under |060 in Philadelphia paper for paper posi-
every state treasurer since the remova|tively 10 or 15 per cent, below par. Not
of the seat of goveonment from Phila jonly has uncertainty been made the foun-
delphia, that checks on city banks have dation of a positive charge by the Re
been given to persons on account of de
posits made at the treasury by such per-fed to 10,000 by Mr. Morgan, whose
It| memory proving treacherous in this great
is evident thatby doing so the treasurer |lcature ofthe cause cannot be relied on
cannot be benefitted, although the interest [in the others. The zeal of the editor
of the commonwealth may be promoted—|is proved to have made him the account
The reason for occasionally giving such |he received from his friend and Mr. Mor-
checks for such deposits is thisi-=A con- [gan represents him as having magnified
siderable part of the state funds are receiv-|the 6 or 8—or 8 or 10 per cent. to twice
ed at Philadelphia principally from auc-}the amount of his highest discount, and in
tion duties and devidends on bank stock
which are credited to the commonwealtl. | im the exchange was from 6 to 10 per
The greater part offccnf. “you then observe, that you had
the payments made by the common-j been setting in type an account of the ex
wealth in the year, are made in cash from}« change, and thinking that western was
the treasury at Harrisburg, and not checks « twenty per cent. below eastern paper, you
charge is made, that Mr. Findley did pos-
gister, but 8000 dollars has been increas-
his letter to him he says, when he told
. %
Wiisot, & Co. No. 325, Market sticet, of city panies 18 uthercfors becomes had so composed it. but wauid aker StF
necessary once or Vice in every yeabji¥ow then how did Lely ciior olter it
when Mr. Morgon tid lim, it was from
6 to 10 per cent! He pubuslies the charge
and posiively asserts twas al « ten to fib
teen per cent. below par” Ye these
conjectures of Mv. Morgon, wad mise
representations of the cdior of i: ve
gister are to desitoy the character of
William Findlay, snd convict pegepal
Acheson of being bribed. ty
Mr. Morgan states that the knowledge
of the exchange was possessed by himm
legislature. Why did not Morgan institute
an inquiry into the conduct of the treasu.
rer, as an honest representative of the
people should have done! At the follow.
mg session, when the annual report of
the treasurer was made accordiog to law,
as it was on the 18h December, 1815; and
the accounts were belore the house, why
did not Mr. Morgan, then oppose it?.
Because he knew there was no hmpro.
priety in the transaction; or, take the al.
ternative, because he was himself guily
of a breach of his trust, by suffering a
man who is now charged with miscon«
duct upon his testimoney, of this knowl.
edge, to remain in undisturbed pos-
session of the treasures of his country.
But perhaps Mr Morgan may be said to
be an indolent man, and was afraid, or
had no energy of character sufficient for
such anattempt. This cannot exudate him
from the dilemma, for tho’ he might have
declined opposing Mr. Findlay, bow can
he account for his vote to continue that
gentleman in his office nearly ome year
after he knew of this matter. In the
Journals of the house of representatives,
for tue session of 8815. 16, prge 125,
Thomas Murgon is vecorded as voting in
favor of William Findlay, for the office
of state treasurer, on the 9th of January,
1816, neerly a yearalter he now says, he
knew of this affair. Does this not prove,
that there was nothing in the matter but
an ordinary transfer of money?
If additional evidence be necessary to
prove that Mr. Morgan cannot, even at
this time, think there is an impropriety
in this affair, it will appear from the [ol
lowing extract from his letter : “As to the
« anonymous 1nsinuation in the ¢Exami.
« per,” that I am an enemy to Mr. indlay
—sand that therefore, general Acheson
«being his friend, he would not tell me
¢ of the exchange if made, it is untrue,
« that I was then, or that I am now, bis
« enemy itis certain that 1am not in fa-
« yor of his election-=but it 1s well known
« that my _obpgsition is pot because Iam
wuniriendly to him personally but an ace
«¢ count of the manner of his nomination,”
Mr. Morgan therefore opposes. Mr. Fin.
dlay not on account of an impropriety in
his conduct, Lut because he disapproves
of % the mode of his nomination.”
The next authority for the charge is an
extract from the same Western Register,
in which it is said, that Mr. Sample the
editor of the Reporter, (a democratic pas
per published in Washington) admitted
that an exchange was made by Gen. Ache-
son with the treasury. This we have al.
ready taken for granted, on the authority
of the Aurora. [fit ever took place, it
would be madness in Mr Findlay to de.
ny it, because his books which are as o-
pen to Dr. Leib, and all the opposition
members of the legislature, as to himsel!
will prove the fact; if it be so. Mr. Sam
ple states nothing of6 or 8—or 8 or 10
10 or 15~or 20 per cent. discount Mr.
Sample makes no charge of coreuption
inthe treasurer. On the contrary Mr Sam»
ple, who knows as much of the matter as
Mr. Morgan, and also from (zen. Acheson
himself, believes and contends that the af
fair was perfectly honorable.
We next bave Mr, Joho Ms Glinscy's
letter. Mr M¢ Glinsey states that he went
to New York in February, 1815, to pure
chase dry goods at the public sales, whe
he became acquainted with Gen. Acheson,
On speaking of his loss in exchange o
Philadelphia bank notes, he observed. «if
my loss is great, what will be your’s with
your western pauper? Oh! said Gen. A I
have no cause to complain; as T come
down through Harrisburg, a irierid there
exchanged for me (to the best of my
recollection the sum mentioned was) ten
thousand dollars or about 10,000.” The
writers in the Aurora admits this assertion
to bes incorrect; they say the amount was
8000 instead of $ 10,000 Mr. M¢ Glinsey’s
recollection appears to be very imperfect,
and all that can be gathered forom him
was, that general A told him, he had ex.
changed some money, of his wav to Phile
adelphia, but with whom he cannot say,
and in the amount he is mistaken, Messrs
Jhhn Thoburn and John Steel, who were
present when the conversation took place,
state, that neither the amount, time nor
place was mentioned. Mr. M:Glinsey
must have confused the conversation of
Gen. A. with the accounts he bas since
heard, and those he has seen in the pa-
pers Surely nothing can be drawn from
his statement which can be a feather
the scale against the character of Mr.
Findlay.
w February 1815,” while he was in the
-
ww
* =
RR RE. contrat