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Domestic News
August 23, 1849
Vermont Watchman And State Journal
Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont
What is this article about?
The U.S. Administration promptly recalls Commissioner John W. B. Weller from the Mexico-U.S. boundary commission for making excessive drafts totaling over $33,000 on the $50,000 appropriation before reaching San Diego, including payments without vouchers, exhausting funds prematurely.
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From the Republic.
John W. B. Weller.
The prompt recall of Mr. Commissioner Weller is highly honorable to the Administration; and we hope sincerely that they will act with equal promptness in every other case of an abused public trust.
The fifth article of the treaty of Guadalupe provided that the Government of Mexico and the United States should each appoint a commissioner and a surveyor, who before the expiration of a year from the date of exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, should meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed to run and mark the boundary in its whole course to the mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte. The year was suffered to expire before Mr. Weller reached San Diego, and it was known that he could not arrive there in season when he was recalled.
Again, the law of Congress appropriated but $50,000 to defray all the expenses of the boundary commission. Before reaching his place of destination, Mr. Weller made drafts on the Secretary to an amount which we have not precisely ascertained, but on which there have been paid $33,325 by requisitions upon the treasury. Of this amount $24,849.32 were accompanied by vouchers; and contrary to the regular mode of doing business at the department drafts were paid to the amount of $8,475.68 without the production of any vouchers. But when new drafts came pouring in to swell this unvouched for balance, and the Department saw that if they continued to honor these drafts the whole fund would be exhausted before the Commissioner had reached the scene of his labors, it was very properly determined to cut short the whole business by calling Mr. Weller home.
This is all as it should be. The great laxity that has hitherto prevailed in the public service in regard to money matters must be corrected. We do not consider it a good plea in bar to these official abuses, to say that the offender has "served in Mexico." This may be said of a great many men of very small desert. The hen roost robber, who lampooned Gen. Taylor during the Presidential campaign, and furnished affidavits that were very much relied upon by the Democratic party, had also "served in Mexico."
John W. B. Weller.
The prompt recall of Mr. Commissioner Weller is highly honorable to the Administration; and we hope sincerely that they will act with equal promptness in every other case of an abused public trust.
The fifth article of the treaty of Guadalupe provided that the Government of Mexico and the United States should each appoint a commissioner and a surveyor, who before the expiration of a year from the date of exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, should meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed to run and mark the boundary in its whole course to the mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte. The year was suffered to expire before Mr. Weller reached San Diego, and it was known that he could not arrive there in season when he was recalled.
Again, the law of Congress appropriated but $50,000 to defray all the expenses of the boundary commission. Before reaching his place of destination, Mr. Weller made drafts on the Secretary to an amount which we have not precisely ascertained, but on which there have been paid $33,325 by requisitions upon the treasury. Of this amount $24,849.32 were accompanied by vouchers; and contrary to the regular mode of doing business at the department drafts were paid to the amount of $8,475.68 without the production of any vouchers. But when new drafts came pouring in to swell this unvouched for balance, and the Department saw that if they continued to honor these drafts the whole fund would be exhausted before the Commissioner had reached the scene of his labors, it was very properly determined to cut short the whole business by calling Mr. Weller home.
This is all as it should be. The great laxity that has hitherto prevailed in the public service in regard to money matters must be corrected. We do not consider it a good plea in bar to these official abuses, to say that the offender has "served in Mexico." This may be said of a great many men of very small desert. The hen roost robber, who lampooned Gen. Taylor during the Presidential campaign, and furnished affidavits that were very much relied upon by the Democratic party, had also "served in Mexico."
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Appointment
What keywords are associated?
Weller Recall
Boundary Commission
Treaty Of Guadalupe
Fund Misuse
San Diego
Mexico Boundary
What entities or persons were involved?
John W. B. Weller
Gen. Taylor
Domestic News Details
Key Persons
John W. B. Weller
Gen. Taylor
Outcome
mr. weller recalled; payments stopped to prevent exhaustion of $50,000 fund; $33,325 paid out, including $8,475.68 without vouchers.
Event Details
Commissioner Weller recalled for delaying arrival at San Diego past the treaty deadline and making excessive drafts on the boundary commission's appropriation before reaching destination.