George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-20-02-0105

To George Washington from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 14 May 1796

From Oliver Wolcott, Jr.

Treasury Department May 14th 1796.

The Secretary of the Treasury has the honour most respectfully to submit to the President of the United States, certain documents in respect to Sylvanus Walker, Inspector of the revenue for the third survey of the District of South Carolina;1 by which it appears,

1st. That the said Inspector wants the capacity so necessary to insure a due and correct discharge of the duties attached to his office.

2d. That the said Inspector has subjected the United States to considerable loss by omitting to enforce the execution of the Laws for creating internal Revenue.

3d. That the said Inspector has neglected to render his accounts at the time and in the mode prescribed, although frequently required so to do by the Supervisor of the District of So. Carolina.

For all which reasons, the Secretary of the Treasury is of opinion that the public Interest indispensably requires, that the said Inspector be displaced from office.

If the President should see cause to remove Sylvanus Walker from the office he now holds, the Secretary would beg leave to mention William Benson as his successor; he being recommended as a person well qualified to discharge the duties of Inspector, by three of the Representatives of South Carolina, whose letter to the Commissioner of the revenue on that subject accompanies the other documents.2 All which is most respectfully submitted to the Consideration of the President of the United States.

Oliv: Wolcott Jr
Secy of the Treasy

LB, DLC:GW; ADf, CtHi: Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Papers.

1Sylvanus Walker probably was the man who served in the South Carolina General Assembly, 1785–86, and Senate, 1789–90. He became inspector for the third survey (Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenville, Laurens, Newberry, Pendleton, Spartanburg, and Union counties) in 1791.

The enclosed documents included Walker’s letter to Commissioner of the Revenue Tench Coxe written on 2 Jan. and a letter from Daniel Stevens, superintendent of the revenue for South Carolina, to Coxe dated 5 March (both, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Papers). Responding to concerns about delinquencies in his accounts, Walker blamed poor guidance from Stevens, problems with a subordinate, local opposition to enforcement of the laws, and his own “incapability in business.” Stevens forwarded Walker’s letter to Coxe and added: “It is truly painful to me to call in question any Man’s veracity, particularly an Officer under me, or to complain of his inattention and highly criminal errors constantly committed in his Accounts, but sir, as there are several parts of his letter to you, which are palpable falsities, tending to exculpate himself in some measure from the charge of having committed errors in his Accounts and Returns, and to sanction or cloke his neglect, of duties of his Office, by avering it was by my consent or acquiescence, I think it necessarry in the first instance, positively to deny such unjust insinuation.” Stevens then detailed Walker’s shortcomings and requested resolution of the contentions.

2William Benson (c.1743–1796) held local offices and represented Spartanburg in the South Carolina General Assembly in 1791.

Congressmen Robert Goodloe Harper, Samuel Earle, and Wade Hampton wrote Coxe on 8 April 1796 to express “a hope that no change may be found Necessary in the appointment” for the third survey, but they agreed that Benson “unites in an eminent degree the qualities that appear to be necessary for the office” (DLC:GW). GW removed Walker and nominated Benson on 17 May. The Senate confirmed that nomination on 18 May (Senate Executive Journal, description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America: From the commencement of the First, to the termination of the Nineteenth Congress. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C., 1828. description ends 208). Benson died in July.

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