Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-07-05

~ AttoIiey '0eneTaI Ill TeSdru 10 Sdld &C
counts and allowances" The resolution
was answered in full on the 22d Of Janua
ry, 1889, as will be seen by printed docu
ment No. II ofthe House Of Represent
atives, Sd session 25th Congress. This doc
ument afforded a complete and triumphan
refutation of the calumny. Not a singh
allusion was made to the subject after tn
answer to the resolution had been examin
ed, AS this document is not accessible t
the most of our readers, we append, with
few preliminary remarks, a brief stateme1
of the fasts shown bysit in regard to iHe
ln1atteH ID hafids q, {
With that almost superhuman knowl.
edge of character, and that noble apprecia
ton of moral worth, for which Gen. Jack
son was SO greatly distinguished, he, on the
dissolution of his first cabinet, selected Gen
eral Cass, solely on account Of his convic
tions of his ability, good judgment, and in
tegrity, to take charge Of the War Depart.
meat, and of one of his advisers and coun.
sellors in administering the difficult and ar.
duous duties Of the executive department OIL
the government Well and safely was this
responsible trust reposed; and well satisff.
ed was Gen. Jackson with the choice he
had made, as is evinced in the beautiful and
friendly letter which he wrote 10 Gen. Cass
in July, 1a43, and which is contained in
the sketch ofthe life and services of the
latter, which we recently published. This
sudden call to high and distinguished po-
sition in the government Of his country
took General Cass completely by surprise;
but, ever ready 10 meet the requirements
public duty, whether in the field of bat
tie against his country's foes, in the cabi.
net, or in the Senate chamber, he prompt.
y repaired to Washington, and entered up.
on his new career of service This he did
before his accounts as superintendent ol
Indian affairs could be finally settled and
closed. These accounts embraced the sum
of S135,624 O9, of which he had paid out
4 to the various agents and sub-agents within
his superintendency, and disbursed on pub
lie account, $l3I,749 90, for which he
produced the requisite and proper receipts
and vouchers, and received credit on the
books Of the accounting officers of the
Treasury. The balance he claimed ssfor
extra services in experimenting Indian a.
gencies not in the Territory of Michigan,
(and not belonging to his su superintendency,)
in the years 1929 and 1880, and for the
seven first months of the year 1881, at the
rate of 81, 500 per annum; amounting to
$780, This was the whole amount un-
settled in ony way connected with any
claim fof services as superintendent; and
instead of allowing and causing it to be
paid 10 him, he endorsed OIL the account
thus: "In thepeculiar position in which |
now stand with relation to the department,
although the charge is not only unexcep-
tionabe in itself, but supported by previ-
Gus decision of the War Department, yet l
am willing it should remain suspended, and
not acted on till it can with propriety be
decided" The same allowance had been
made to him in previous years, not only on
the decision of the Secretary of War, but
on an opinion Of the Attorney General,
(Mr. Writ, that be was entitled to large
amount. 1t might, therefore, according to
the practice in such cases, have been prop
erly allowed by the accounting officers
themselves, without the action Of any 9TH
er or higher authority; but, from scrupu-
lous delicacy, and punctilious regard e.
ven to appearances, Gen. Cass preferred
that the claim should remain unsettled, and
to do without the amount so long as he re-
mained in the War Department; and. so it
did remain till allowed by the Secretary of
War, and the accounting officers in 1887,
a0hem he had been nearly gear out Of
the country. s---..-z
AS is usual in such cases, he was ex Of
.fcao superintendent of Indian affairs by
virtue of his office as governor of the Ter
ritory. His superintendency embraced a
certain district of country, for which he
received no compensation or allowance
whatever, except his salary as governor,
and his actual expenses. But, from the
necessity of the times, and his grea. eff
cheney, numerous other and far-distant
tribes of lndiads beyond his superintendent
cy were assigned to his charge-a charge
he was not compelled to take, bat which,
from his regard for the service Of the gov.
ernment, and for the welfare of the Indi-
ans, he cheerfully assumed in obedience to
the wishes Of the department. 1t greatly
added to his duties, responsibilities, and
personal xpenses-sometimes sublecting
| hiiAi " AoiiS aiiu toilSolIo jOuIHeyS VI lllou-
sands Of miles, in an open canoe, or on foot
and on horseback, through trackless will
dernesses, exposed not only to the inclem.
ency of the elements, but to attacks from
willy and treacherous Indians, who, being
attached to the British government by the
system of bribery, by presents and other
wise, practised by her authorities on the
northwestern frontiers during and long af-
ter the last war, were hostile to the Ameri-
cans, and were ever ready, on the slight
est pretext, or without any, to spill their
blood. For this arduous and onerous ex-
ira service beyond his legitimate duties,
he claimed a just measure of compensation;
and it was allowed to him, as stated, by
the Secretary of War and the Attorney
General at the rate of 800 per annum,
though the last-mentioned officer was of O..
pinion that he was entitled to more. In
that opinion he says: "His (Gen. Cass')
salary as governor is compensation for
his services as governor; but the services
for which he claims do not belong to his
duty as governor of the Michigan Terrific
nv; he has fair claim to them on the prin-
ciple of quantum maerust. The facts
oonceded. his RIGHT [ Thinks undeniable.' -