James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 28 October 1809

From Albert Gallatin

Treasury Department Octer. 28th 1809

Sir.

I have the honor to enclose two letters from the district attorney of Georgia, respecting the misbehaviour of Benjamin Wall Marshal for that district.1 The business of the Savannah custom house had been transacted in so improper manner for a great length of time by the successive collectors, that unable to arrange & understand their respective accounts, I was obliged to send there last winter an intelligent clerk of this Department, for the purpose of making a thorough investigation of former transactions, and of giving such directions as might prevent a recurrence of similar irregularities.2 He staid there several months and returned last summer, when it was discovered that the Marshal was accountable for more than two hundred thousand dollars, being the amount of executions which he had either omitted to enforce, or which having collected he had not paid over. The district attorney was instructed to adopt every possible means to make him account; and as it was extremely desireable to ascertain what amount had been collected & what was still due by the persons against whom the executions had been issued, it was thought eligible (with the advice of the district attorney) that he should be permitted to hold the office some time longer. It will, however, be perceived by the enclosed letters, as well as by the memorandum marked A, that he will, on the 14th of next month, either have accounted, or be committed for contempt. As the object for which he was continued will therefore, by that time, be either accomplished or unattainable; and as it is important to put it immediately out of his power to encrease the amount of his delinquency by collecting more money as Marshal; I beg leave respectfully to submit the propriety and necessity of his removal. I think that perfect confidence may be placed in the fidelity and judgment of the district judge and district attorney, and that their joint recommendation in favor of John Eppinger as a proper person to succeed Mr Wall, may be fully relied on.

RC (DLC). Signature clipped. Enclosed memorandum not found.

1Gallatin probably enclosed William Bellinger Bullock’s letters to Gabriel Duvall dated 30 Sept. 1809 (2 pp.) and 13 Oct. 1809 (2 pp.) (DNA: RG 217, Letters Received from Marshals, District Attorneys, and Others). In his 30 Sept. letter Bullock, the district attorney for Georgia, enclosed extracts from the district court minutes of 20, 26, and 29 Sept., which granted successive extensions in the case against U.S. marshal Benjamin Wall. On 13 Oct. Bullock reported that “the Marshal has recd. upwards of twelve thousand Dollars, which he has not paid over to the collector or myself,” and he enclosed extracts from the district court minutes of 5 and 12 Oct., the latter of which “peremptorily ordered that … Benjamin Wall … make due return” by 14 Nov. 1809.

2Gallatin had sent William Parker, a clerk in the auditor’s office, to investigate and report on arrangements at the Savannah customhouse and to introduce accounting procedures that had been recommended but neglected. Parker reported irregularities in execution of bonds by Benjamin Wall, and Gallatin directed Bullock to try “to obtain a true account and to recover the money.” He asked Bullock to recommend a suitable successor for Wall, “Yet an immediate removal might encrease the difficulties.” JM nominated John Eppinger as Wall’s replacement on 18 Dec., and the Senate confirmed his appointment a week later (Gallatin to Bullock, 12 July 1809, Gallatin to Wall, 12 July 1809, reproduced in Carl E. Prince and Helene H. Fineman, eds., The Papers of Albert Gallatin [microfilm ed.; 46 reels; Philadelphia, 1969], reel 19; Senate Exec. Proceedings description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends , 2:130, 133).

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