The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

NEW-YORK, NOV. 11.

A correspondent observes, that a more frequent inquiry into the conduct of publick officers, especially those concerned in the management of the revenue of the United States, seems indispensably necessary; to regulate matters of finance so as to give universal satisfaction, cannot be expected, but fair accounts properly authenticated, of the receipts and expenditures of all publick money, is no more than every citizen of a republican government, such as ours, has a right to look for and demand; the large sums intrusted in the hands of different officers during the late war, and yet unaccounted for (as appears from a report of a committee of Congress) shew the necessity of keeping a watchful eye at all times over those who have the care of the publick treasure.—The lucrative peculations which very often present themselves to the heads of this department, are too powerful to be withstood by men of common integrity; the contracts they are authorised to make on behalf of the publick must be continual temptations to men of scheming and adventurous dispositions who easily satisfy their consciences with an assurance of secrecy, and are seldom at a loss for honourable friends to sanction their proceedings. That prevailing passion, self-interest, too frequently robs men of their fidelity, who have not the alluring prospect in view of enriching themselves privately on the spoils of the publick: We cannot wonder then if those who have it constantly before them, soon contrive to get rid of the disagreeable incumbrance—Our improvements in government will avail us but little, while notorious defaulters, and corrupt measures are suffered to pass without punishment or notice; nor can the people ever place confidence in their rulers while their interests are committed to the directions of those whose actions will not bear a scrutiny, and whose favourable report is easily obtained as a land contract.