American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-06-22

The lntefigeheer, and other papers in the inter.
est Of Mr.. Crawford, have abored hard to shew
that there has been no Just foundation for the re-
port OF his severe and dangerous ndisposition and
that 1t has been rot up merely for political purposs
cs, to influence the election So far from ibis be-
ing The fact, on the part of ourselves and every
other editor, we believe, without exception. the
greatest possible delcacy has been observed towards
Mr.. Crawford on the score of bis indisposition,
which has been severe, and OF above nine months
continuance. We now feel ourselves, however,
justified, with view to repel the insnuations of
the inlellgencer, and its associates in speaking OF
II more openly. Mr.. Crawford has not only been
lndIsposed, but so much SO as to have been incapa
bile of attending to the ordinary duties of his Office,
during the greater part Of the time. since he was
attacked in Virginia last autumn; and we feel con-
WINGED that such has been his incompetence for
business, that nothing but the great decacy OF MIR.
Monroe (who has been badly requted by Mr.. Craw
ford's frends) has prevented him from filling his
place, by appointing an acting Secretary, under the
ACT oil Congress which gives him authority to do So
We can appeal TO Fifty members OF Congress, who
called upon him, and saw him during the winter,
10 establish the fact, that his vision was so much
injured, as 10 render him unable TO recognize his
intimate friends, and those whom he hes long
known. at a distance OF single yard: and that he
has been unable 10 read write. This state of his
health, which has been studiously kept from the
public, has been the cause of many an illegal act,
to get along in the Treasury. Those who know
the secrets Of these arrangements would do well to
explain to the public how the act of Congress, d.
recting that no money shall be drawn from the
Treasury, but under warrants from the Secretary,
has been euded, Or more sctricly speaking, Ui0
lated. That moneys have beendrawn, in hundreds
of instances, without the Secretary's warrants, at
the Treasury, or, which is the same thing, by ar
rangement through the Bank, we believe will not
be contradicted We put it to Messrs. Gale &
Seaton, who appear to be so much in the secret,
whether the Secretary's vision has been sufficiently
distinct for him to read an ordinary document, or
any other communication, or 10 sign his name, or
even to know where 10 sign it, unless pointed TO
him, during large portion of the winter and
spring and also to explain how the want Of his
signature has been supplied, whether by the illegal
use Of fac smile, or, what is still worse, by the
imitation Of his hand. We feel convinced that the
management has been such. in order TO delude the
people as TO the health of the Secretary, to de
mand an inquiry as it has rarely occurred, even
under monarchy, that the sickness or death of a
monarch has been sudiously concealed from the
people, for the purpose of imposition.
We make this statement in order to repel the in.
situation Of the lntegencer, that Mr.. Crawford's
illhealth has been exaggerated. The fact is, that
he has been treated with delcacy which can hardly
be reconciIed with public duty. u ash Rep.