The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-17
From the Bunker Hill aurora.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.


About the middle of September last in brief pa
ragraph upon the subject, we expressed the opinion
that the appointment Of Mr. Henshaw, as Secretary
of the Navy, was good appointment ana one when
we thought ought to satisfy the w nigs-wno nad no
right 20 expect that MIR. Tyler would appoint Wing
to that position Since that time, we have not felt
called upon to refer to the subject at all; and for
some weeks past, we have been rather amused than
otherwise, to witness the conjont efforts OF " our
brother of the Atlas and its brother Of the Bay State
Democrat very Grundy, or a very Falsfet IN the
Democratic ranks-we say we have been amused at
the efforts Of these two opposite political leaders
against Mr.. Henshaw. The object OF the Wing At
las and the Loco Foco Bay State, has been to pre-
vent the confirmation of Mr. Henshaw by the Senate
of the United States To gain this object, both jour-
nals as it seems us, have descended to degree OF
personal remark and abuse, which has been alike UNI
called for and unustifable. We have not alluded to
these articles--some of them grossly libelous--be-
cause zoe have not felt it to be duty to defend
Mr.. Hensbaw. If we had volunteered to do so, we
might have been charged with some sinister motive
for our pains.
At the present time, however, as We suppose tie
matter of confirmation or rejection now disposed oil
may be allowed, without pre- udce, to say word
in defence Of Mr.. Henshaw, from charge which,
if we rely upon human testimeny,-is as false as
it is odious. In the Bay State Democrat of the 23d
December, in editorial article, Mr.. Henshaw
(whose appointment to one OF the most honorable
places in our Government we had commended) is
shown up" as having been instrumental in deraud.
ing the Government Of $3.50 600 in what the editor
is pleased to call the "Souh Boston land fraud" In
this article Mr.. Henshaw is spoken ofn most shame
less and contempiuous manner, as the following ex-
tracts will abundanily show
"Ifthe perpetrators of the South Boston land FRAUD
may hold up their heads in The community, and be
treated as honorable men, while their pockets
sweed out with the fruits of their dishonesty, why
may not every Government agent, down to the lowest
official steal everything that lies within his reach
and be received with open hand and smiling counte
nance society 1t evident that consequences the
most ruinous TO the interests of the Government are
thus directly courted by neglect to visit this open
and audacious fraud upon those concerned in 1t.
"The land fraud presents the open and public spec
tacle of men proving false to their official duty, prac
Using dishonesty towards the Government, for their
own private gain and advantage, and yet being allow
ed to enjoy in peace the successful fruits of their vii
lany, while their names held up worthy OF
public honors and trusts.
1t is upon these grounds that it becomes the Senate
Of the United States weigh well the question of con-
firming the nomination of David Henshaw as Secre-
tary of the Navy. They should reflect upon the evil
effect of such sanction of that upon the interests
of the Government, and upon the public morals A
confirmation of him s to that extent sanction the
part of the Senate Of The South Boston land fraud
direct encouragement to men enjoying public trusts
abuse the confidence placed in them, and procama
ton to tie world that honesty and fathnlness in pub.
lie officers qualities of account"
In these extracts, in the whole article MI. Hen
shaw is deliberately accused of gross fraud and of
open dishonesty, and of having his pockets sweed
out with the fruits of that dishonesty We do not
commend, be it understood, any such that
The office of Secretary of the Navy. Ii this charge
is, in any degree, founded in Justice, we withdraw
our need Of commentator, however small that may
be. We wish not in any manner, to be instrument
tai to the advancement of such But II is not
frtle-it is not just. We it from our own know
ledge of the character of the man, and we have the
proof now before US.
We have been permitted to examine the documents
and papers in the case Of the South Boston Land
Fraud it has been called and have collected from
them the following facts
On tho failure Of the Commonwealth Bank that
Insii aton indebted to the United States incul-
ing interest, up the period of adjustment S3i5 T.
To this debt, and to indemnify the Directors
against any supposed liability to the Government
there were placed in the hands of two individuals
certain promissory notes and securities amounting,
nominaly, 10 1854, oil, Among these notes were
those given by the "Warren Association "a land
company formed during the inflated period of 1856
for the SUN of sl66,OoO; and these were included
among the securities afterwards given in charge TO the
United States Marshal 1t mainly through Mr..
Henshaws exer'ions, after several daysuf hesitation
that the Bank Directors finally consented to place in
the hands Of Mr.. Henshaw and another gentleman
the securities have me noned TO protect the Gov
eminent and the Directors, and we assured by a
gentleman, who is perfectly familiar with all the
transactions that but for Mr. Henshaws persevering
exertions, Government would probably have received
only abou, S39, 100 of its debt of S345 5l7 all of
which has since been paid. This does not look much
like defrauding the Government
Let us now see what became of these securities
which had been obtained Of the Bank by Mr. II. and
the gentleman associated with him. A part was paid
in money and part in land; the United States re-
covered the whole amount of their depositc priDci-
pal and interest, S345, SAL and with respect TO the
notes Of the Warren Association, (of which Hon.
John Pickering the Treasurer and Trustee they
were the subject of long negotiation between one
of the counsel for The Bank, Hon. John r. Adam and
the u. s. District Attorney, Hon. John Mills An
agreement was finally concluded between them that
the u. s. Marshal should levy upon the lands of the
company, and that they should be appraised and taxi
en- in payment for It's notes In this part of the bus
ness If anywhere where the fraud must lis and The
appraisers doubt the who perperated it, to
''swel the pockets of Mr.. Henshaw, although we
cannot how it to be done; but, If done, the
appraisers of the land the only persons who had
the opportunity Of doing It, Who, then, were the APP
prasers and how were they selected Government,
by Its proper officers, selected Judge Merrill and
Hon. Nathan Gurney--the former Judge of one of
the Courts, and the latter Senator of the Common
wealth. and Alderman Of The CITY of Boston, and both
Wigs the Bank selected Amos Binney, E>q, re-
preventative from Boston, and also a Whig--all well
known as intelligent and honorable unexpectedly
dsinterested in the result Of the ransacton-spd all
enjoying, morally and politically, in large degree,
the confidence of the community. Where was there
an opportunity for Mr.. Hensbaw TO perperate any
great fraud in these transactions Or if the fraud
perpeirslcd by the District Attorney the appras
ors, or any body else--by honest or "tbIeves,"
how were Mr.. Henshaws pockets to be swelled out
with the fruits of their dishonesty We do not find
by the documents and papers any evidence that MIR.
Henshaw had any thing to do with the South Boston
land settlement, could he have had from the ma
ture of the and the manner in which it con-
Quoted.
In the further adjustment of the maiter-s second
setlement-Mr Henshaw took no part; il was made
w ash'ng'on by the gentleman associated with him
~ ,ne original appointment, but who was afterwards
,us'se he Bpnks securities for the pur.
and hon John Mills, District Attorney ~
we may add that the Hon. Ruff. Cboo,s wos ON.
p'oyed by the Government to eram;n. III ~a .u
on the subject of the South Roa,a ""o report up