Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-14

The defence which Mr. RRo,vs has offered TO the inn.
parchment of his conduct by the Senatcs Committee is
submitted to the public From MIR Browns statement
twoud seem, that he scarcely deserves horrible exc
Grafton been visited upon his official conduct by
Inc orators OF the Senate We condemn his Investment Of
money, whether on his own account for others 10
whom he stands in the relation of guardian in post Office
contracts We condemn his borrowing FROM or lending
To contractors without considering how far sch denI
ings with them may have been justified by law or were
iniincnccd by GOOD motives. Ii was wrong i'm MIR
Brown TO enter into these arrangements because by
possibility, his connection with the contractors MIGHT
have operated on his official conduct and say the least
was certainly calculated bring suspicion upon it. even
when directed solely to subscrve the public interest As
soon as the facts became known to the President and
Postmaster General, MIR. Brown was made sensible of
tins, and promptly resigned his Office.
But, we ask, is there any thing monstrous in all
mus taking the worst aspect of authorize MIR
Calhouns dreadful picture? Is the Government so rot
ten ready to fall to pieces? Suppose the worst
suppose that MIR Brown did profit the amount ofsomc
tnree or four thousand by participating in contracts of
the department. does it follow that nothing can save the
country but revolution; The President has never al
lowed any officer to hold any station in the Government
Tor moment, where Just cause of suspcion could
reach hun; and is the Government To be abandoned
whenever subordinate officer of Department may be-
come obnoxious to censures Will it suffice that the
oiccr acknowledges his error and quits his employ
anc that other agents. and guards are thrown around
ie department to control discretionary power which
may nave bcen abused' Certainly man 1.-THE arch
nuliher who wishes TO discover the Union and dissolve
the government would think that revolution" was he
rghtiul remedy TO such mischics as are cbor,cd
IN the committees report, and explained i'm MIR
Browns address, which is presented in our columns
but we Ike the drguinenfnm ad homincm sometimes,
and although we would not follow we will quote Mr.
Caihouns own precedent against himself Does he
remember the Nandevcntcr case; The word Rim Rops
VIII awaken his recoleetons. He will iccolcct that
ne was strongly suspected of being dormant part
ner IN the contract for building the fortress. on which
probably million has been sunk at the Rip-Rans
ana at ms hrst clerk, Vandcveuter was clearly con-
Vlced OF holding an important interest in it, aud dis
missed rom Office by Mr. Barbour. Did Mr. Calhoun
consider that the participation of his first clerk i'm this
immense contract, made under his auspices rendered
the whole War Department rotten and that NOTHING
could retrieve the Government but revolution: No MIR
Calhoun thought it all right that his confidential accent
and trend should avail himself of his position i'm the
War oihce to grow rich by contracts. He gave proof
OF TINS by making 1T his first and most pressing suit to
'eeral Jackson coming to the Presidency that Van
deven;er should be restored TO his place in the War of
nee ics the man who convicted of parcipatin,y
In the greatest and most lucrative contracts of the De-
partment, was pressed the President bv Mr. Calhoun
as inc most fitting person in the country 10 fill the trust
winch he had abuscd-and il was because the President
and Major Eaton repealed this solicitation that Mr. Cal
noun took umbrage at the Administration in lis infancy
and directed his first assaults the Secretary of War
Bat now what do see? The same man who iusti
ned the Illicit gains of his first clerk as partner
In the contract made with this Department is SO ont
ragged that Mr. Barrys first clerk has invested in CON
tracts the money of orphan children committed TO his
care that he Is not content with the ruin of the man
but lac would pull down the Governmen,