The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-28
PLUMBER OF THE CLAIMANTS OF THE
FRENCH INDEMNITY.

Our attention has been called to comm unication
published in Cincinnati paper, relative to the man
ner in which the French Indemnity was distributed
among the claimants II is well known that an act
of Congress was passed in 1882, authorizing the APP
pointment Of three Commissioners, with salary of
80 900 per annum for each; translator, a. salary
Of 81, goo, and clerk at 81 500. Two years were
allowed for the discharge of the duties Of their Com
mission viz to examine the claims Of the sufferers from
those spoIiaons, and TO ascertain and report the
amount due to them individually.
Mr. Woodbury., in the plenitude Of his wisdom,
without any shadow Of authority employed, in addi-
ton to the above Commissions individual in Bal
timore, a Mr. George Law, 10 ascertain who of the
claimants were indebted TO the Government and to
bring suit in all such cases. that the amount due the
Government might be retained from the amount Of
their respective awards. As compensation for this
service, Mr. George Law was to be allowed TWENTY
FIVE PER CENT upon the amount ascertained to be
due to the Government. The principal labor Of this
investigation was performed by clerk in the Treasury
Department, by direction of Mr. Woodbury., and Tie
information obtained from the records Of the De-
partment ITSELF so that all the labor performed by Mr.
George Law was merely to bring formal suit and OBJ
tain Judgment duty which might have been perform
The amount for which judgment rendered,
upwards Of one hundred thousand dollars, and the
share Of plumber allowed to Mr. George Law was
some THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, and this uas de-
Quoted from The money awarded 10 the unfortunate
sufferers! So far have stated the we'll proved and
established truth regard to this most nefarious trans
action But it is said and is undoubtedly true, that
political clectioneering services were rendered
by Mr.. George Law, for which this large amount was
allowed him. 1t is certain that other service
ttlng him than mere trifle was rendered
A call was mpde by resolution of the House of
offered by the amented Menefee, of
kentucky, in 1929, directing Mr.. Woodbury. TO com
municate the House full statement of the manner
in which this business had been transacted the
amount awarded by the Commissioners; the
ceved by each claimant the amount credited to each
and why they had not received the fuH benefit of the
award by payment credit, wherther such an agent
was employed by the Department; and if So on wha :.
terms; and what he paid, and how, and by wha
authority and whether all the facts necessary TO
able the Secretary to make these deductions did not
exist the files Of that Department, and were not
actually furnished by officer thereof under his d,
reclion. To this resolution, Mr.. Woodbury. never
condescended TO reply has he ever stated what be-
came of this enormous amount pundercd from these
claimants and allowed to Mr. George Law, aud ieho
shared icih him in the spois what electioneerng
services he rendered
We have been, for some tne in possession Of these
facts but have been in hopes that satisfactory
explanations would be found do away the nearous
| appearance Of the transaction. No such explanation
appears, and therefore left tho painful
vction that this high handed and cold booded robbery
has been committed upon these aged and widowed
claimants and their children. That to fill the ca
pacious Of the vultures who have lately been
driven away from the spoils" over which they secure
y tapped their foul wings the long hoped for ptance
reluctantly granted, after long long years Of almos
frutess solicitation at the doors of Congress by the
hcart-sick claimants many Of whom fell by the way
side and died in poverty and want leaving their chill
den just claims the country for their losses when
at last granted has been subjected the rapacity Of
these reckless plunderers of the country
/ Verify, this seems to us worse than the favorte
amusement of the agents of the late Administration
successfully practscd, of robbing and cheating The
Indians of him who stole coins from the eyelids
the dead.
Can such things be-
| and not excite our special wonder ~