The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-16

will, without doubt. prove truly attractive.
From the Bunker HH aurora.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
About the middle Of September last, in a brief pa
ragraph upon the subject, we expressed the opinion
that the appointment Of Mr.. Henshaw, AS Secretary
of the Navy, was good appointment, aud one which
we thought ought to satisfy the Whgs-who had nc
right TO expect that MIR. Tyler would appoint Wing
TO that position. Since that time, we have not fel,
called upon to refer to the subject at all and for
some weeks past, We have been rather amused than
otherwise, to witness the conoint efforts Of our
brother of the Atlas and its brother Of the Bay State
Democrat very Grundy, or a very FalstgG 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 MIR. Henshaw by the Senate
of the United States To gain this object both jour
mails, as il seems to US, have descended degree Of
personal remark aud abuse, which has been alike I'M
called for and unjustfabe. We have not alluded to
these articles-some of them grossly libellous-be-
cause zoe have not felt 1t to be our duty to defend
Mr. Henshaw. Ii 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 u Q
matter of confirmation rejection Is now disposed 81,
we may be allowed, without prejudice, 10 say word
in defence of Mr. Henshaw, from charge which, -
w
it ia odious. In the Bay State Democrat Of the 23d
December, in an editorial article, MIR. Henshaw
(whose appointment 10 one OF The most honorable
places in our Government we had conmended) Is
shown up as having been ,nstruneDia IN de'raud'
inc the Government of 6 so 600 in what the editor
is pleased to call the "South Boston land fraud In
this article Mr. Henshaw is spoken ofin most shame
less and contempuous manner, as the following eI-
tracts will abundanily show
"Ifthe perpetrators of the South Boston land fraud
may hold up their heads in The community, and be
treated honorable men, while their pockets are
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 IN society," evident that consequences the
most ruinous to the interests of the Government are
thus directly cour,ed by neglect 10 visit his open
and audacious fraud upon those concerned in II.
"The land fraud presents the open and public spec
tacle of proving ts&se to their official duty, prac-
Using dishonesty towards the Government for their
private gain and advantage, and yet beng allow
ed TO enjoy ia peace the successful fruits OF their WI
lany, while their are held up as worthy OF
public honors and trusts.
1t upon these grounds that IT becomes the Senate
OF the United States weigh well he question of con
frming he nomination of David Hensbaw as Secre-
tary of the Navy. They should ref IT upon the evil
effect of such sanction of that upon the interests
Of the Government, and upon the public morals.
confirmation Of him is to that extent sanction the
part of the Senate Of The South Boston land fraud
direct encouragement TO enjoying public trusts TO
abuse The confidence placed in them, aud proclama-
ton tie world that honesty and fathfulness in pub
lie officers qualities of no account"
In these extracts, as in the whole article MI Hen
shaw is deliberately accused Of gross fraud and Of
open dishonesty, aud of having his pockets elied
out with the fruits of that dishonesty We do not
commend be it understood, any such man 4. that to
the Office of Secretary of the Navy. Ii this charge
is in any degree, founded in justice, we withdraw
our need of commendaliop, however small thai may
be- We wish not, in any manner, 10 be instrumcn-
tai to the advancement of such a man But IL Is not
tru<-ii is moi just. We aver IT from own know
ledge of the character of the man. and We have the
proof now before
We have been permitted TO examine the documents
and papers in the case of the " South Boston Land
Fraud has been called, and have collected from
them the following facts
On the failure OF the Commonwealth Bank, that
Institution was indebted the United States incluj-
ing interest up to the period of adjustment S3i5
To secure this debt and TO indemnify the Directors
against any supposed liability to the Government,
there were placed in the hands of two individuals,
certain prom,ssory notes and securities amounting,
nomnslly, 10 $500, OH. Among these notes were
those given by the &" Warren Association, "a land
company formed during the inflated period OF 35- g.
for the sun of tl66,OOO; and these included
among the secutes afterwards given in charge the
United States Marshal. 1t was mainly through MIR.
Henshas exerions, after several days If hesitation
that the Bank Directors finally consented place in
the hands of Mr.. Henshaw and another gentleman
the securities have ntioned 10 protect the Gov
eminent and the Directors, and we are assured by
gentleman, who 10 perfectly familiar with all the
transactions that bu, for MIR Hsnshaws perseserinp
eIsrions, Government would probably have received
only about $50, 100 of it, debt of S345, 5iT, all o.
which has since been paid This does not look much
like defraudinQ the Government.
Let us now see what became of these "securities'
which had been obtained Of the Bank by Mr.. H. anC
the gentleman associated with him. A part was paid
in money and a part In land the United States re
covered the whole amount Of their deposite, prnci
pal and interest, S345, 5i7 and with respect 10 tn,
notes Of The Warren citation, (of which Hon
John Pickering the Treasurer and Trustee the,
the subject Of long negotiation between on,
Of the counsel for he Bank, Hon. John r. Adam,
the u. 5. District Attorney Hon John Mills. Ar
agreement was finally concluded between Them tina
the u. $ M.rshJ should levy upon the lands Of th
company, AID that they should be appraised and tax
en- in payment for It's NOTES In this part Of the bus
ness II arywhere is where the fraud must lie and thu
appraisers doubt the men who pfrpetrii.d 1t, Il
"sweIl the pockets" OF Mr. Hcn-haw, although w
cannot see how u 10 be done bu', IL done, III
appraisers Of the land the only persons who ha
the opportunity of doing IL Who, then, we're the az
praisers and how were they selected Government
by It's Proper officers, selected Judge Merrill am
Hon. Nathan GJrney--ihc former judge Of one O
the Courts, snd the latter Senator OF the Common
wealth and Alderman of The CITY Of Boston, and bot
Wigs the Bank selected Amos Bnney, Y, re
preventative from Bystoo, and also Whg-sll wei
known intelligent and honorable msn-Periectl
d-nsrested in the result q the transaction-and Al
enjoying, morally and politically, IN large degree
the confidence of the community. Where was ther
an opportunity for Mr. Henstsw to perpetrate an
great fraud in these transsctiopsl Or IL the frau
was perpelrred by The District Attorney, the apprai'
ers, or any body clse-by honest men or 'thieyts,
how were Mr.. Henshaw's pockets to be swcled on
with the fruits Of their dishonesty ~ We do not 6n
by the documents and papers any evidence that Nh
Henshaw had any thing TO do with the South BOslo
land settlement, nor could he have bad from the ma
ture of the aud the manner in which " was cor