Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-08-28
loan Y. MASON, ESQ

Of the Presid ents Cabinet, Tor Pei.eu ,ha
five years, returned to his naive S'A h..smc =
49, 80 AR POLK, administration pecauie
resident of our City and announc.u ",' ir p,o.
s'--.:. h;,,self 10 the practice OF MS p'o
$3.50 While at Washington, in The dischaise
;,,nor,ant official duties, he had ga'neu
dial esteem and affection OF those con-
nsc,ed with The branch CT the service unoei IL,
management, had commanded The respect a'u
confidence of men OF both political parncS' anu
hak been singularly fortunate IN escaP'Hs We
NJ Hialion or cen.ure even, from any quar'ef'
RI retremen, from Office was graceful and De-
coming. Assiduous in attention 10 BUSINESS,
urbane 10 all who approached him, 'mPa'''",
and ;u,r in the exercise OF official power, anu
Hind and copsiderate to all under his auinotl'y'
he wa. beloved, while he was respected Iae ie"
the nnhlc councils with the bss, wishes OF the
officers and men OF the Navy, with large snare
of The public confidence and The regret OF very
many OF hi. political opponents he came 10
reside amongs, u.s. ard brought win MN my"
r,nu,a,ion for administrative talent HIS long
career in The service Of Virginia and his ac'ive
enoaeemenls in extensive private business WIN
ont slain or reproach, had inspired un'Ve'Sa'
confidence in his honor and integrity. onie'y
and unos.enlaliously engaging in the p'ae"ce VI
,av he mad been here blu. few weeks, "aen' d.
a sp.cial meeting OF The s!ocRnoideis oi Tue
lanes River and Kanawha Company, he was
elected President Of The Company by very de'
cisive vote, and was then. on motion Of eehne-
man who had voted against him, unanimously
requested 10 accept the appointment we nap
pen 10 know aud feel bound 10 state, that Judge
Mason was not aware of The meeting OF Inc
stockholders, and did no! solicit The situation;
bu, that the suggestion OF his came was hrsl
made BY political opponents without MS know
ledge and with view to the bet interests oil the
company, according TO their judgment.
Judge Mason acceded TO the wishes OF the
stockholders, expressed with such unan'mry,
and his appointment: was very sonn maze me
obiect of attack in the Richmond Wbig- with
the motives of the auack The public are iamiiar
This was followed by 1eiamaloTy assaults and
the most uneenerous insinua'ions, on The SUD-
ice, of The failure OF Mr.. Denty, temporary ma
Wy agent, resident a. Narcotics We viii net
repeat the scardalous language employed in
Gen. Taylor's organ, the Republic, and IN The
Whis.
9th, however, retreats l;om some Of lis positions
and thus speaks of Judge Mason:
HE is man 10 ieel an impulaiion upon his
houor-ahhough i, Involves no intracion Of the
criminal law-as keeny as though bis lie was
Ia peril. we will 60 further and say, although
The Union seems SO DESTROYS 10 have him al
raigned as teon, that We GO no! bsieVc mat
his hands were ever solied by one cent o. he
Sl55,00 defalcaiion. We most chsehu!iy &C
ouit him of that crime. From what We know,
and from what we have heard OF him, We re-
gard him as wholly Incapable Of any act ot HE
Kind. But his vigilance as an officer, a'n hls
capacity as business mai, arc ocyoIu al!
question deeply implicated"
Nov, thus divesled of all impnta;ion On his
moral character, ard confined TO his capacity foI
business, ard his vigilance in The performance d
6t may be placed, The public may rest ASSURED
that their confidence in Judge Mason will b.
nnabaled when The iaciS in regard - his oih,iai
conduct come 10 be knCwa, as HEY assa'ediy
will be. Il was not 10 be expec;o,! ;hai he Wal.
would commend him for business qualifications
The Republic mas not The grace 20 be ov.n ST
candid as the Wing.
We annex the two powerful articles from The
Union, referred TO By The Wing. by which cur
readers will see with what proplie,y The absurd
and ridiculous allegation is made, tha, the
Union desires to see Judge Mason "arraisned as
q felon." Wien his accusers can brought 10 make
specific charges, they will all be met-and wc
know enough OF the facts and the law, 10 assert
with confidence, that no exhibition has ever been
made, OF such wanton Misrepresentation and
such reckless and unfounded d'nunciaton OF
character, as The course pursued towards this
gentleman will present:
From IL: Washington Union. August 81.
INSlNUATED LIE S-DEFALCaTIONS
In The absence OF anything to commend IN the
administration, and in o der 10 divert public al.
.entiou from ATS imbecility and lis mi.d.eds, lie
organ, with a crunins peculiar To itself, and
very Tar reaching, Keeps harpins upon the DENLY
case, and endcavtrs to induce tie Democratic
press 10 enter into defence OF MIR. d., and also
oil The lale Secretaries Mason ard Walker. So
far as Mr. DENLY is concerned We have No
defence 10 make Tor him, except to slate the facis
aud leave justice 10 take its course. IL he is in
default 10 the government ard that default has
been occasion BY his Own misconduct, and in
violation OF law, wtich To- DO not gu 6eH re. and
no, through misfortune, which he could not pre-
vent, we have no defence 10 MAKE ci his conduct
II he is guilty, we again repeat, let The law lake
ills course, and lci HIM suffer The penalty which i,
imposes for Inc offence OF which h has been
guilty, if il shall appear b. The verdict OF jury
that be has been guilty OF criminal eff ace or
misdemeanor. We do no, dele nd srliry men;
nor do We pursue men like barbarians, before /,
appears in due course Of legal procedure tha,
they are guilty o! offences against The laws Gi
:heir county. We have som. respect icr inna-
cence and some sympathy With misfortune. we
with regard 10 Mr. Denbys case, con-
tent ourselves with mere statement oil sHch
facts, as have comc TO our knc Wedge, which al
proper lime we shall maze, leaving The law 10
lake lis due course.
Bul what has there heen alleged against Judge
Mason or Mr.. Walker 10 de!cud or even 10 ex-
plaiu3 Although The organ Of The cabiae, has
been base enough to insnuae charges against
Them, Il has not YET exhibited the maEiiness aud
courage 10 state specifically the rnalers Of which
il has the meanness and audacity 10 intimate, by
way Of innuendo lha. those Two gentlemen have
been guilty.
Does The Republic dare 10 charge taat Judge
Mason is a fraudulent par;cipaor in VIVA! II ale
ges 10 be the dciaicaion u DcnbY2 Does II
dare TO charge that he is in any way suueptiiious-
y profled by the transactions OF lne govefnmeE,
with Mr.. Dchby and his agcnls2 Docs i Care
10 charge iha, he knew or connived at an lmnrop-
er use oil the public money which was placed IN
he hands Of DENLY Tor The support OF the squad |
ron 10 The Mediterranean Does |, care 10 charge
lha, Judge Mason knowingly aud Intentionally |
look bond as security for The moneys advanced |
10 Denly which was not sufficient Tor Inc res.
possibilities assumtd7 Does it dare TO chang |
That Denby's bond was not taken in the usual
course, and approved by lhe United States al
orney, o. judge Tor the district in which The par
lies giving it resided2
And does ], dare 10 charge that Mr. Walker
,as had any fraudulent or lmcr per understand
pg with Denby or his aseais2 VIII II assume
he responsibility vi charging him VITA parIic,pa
log In the irui,s OF fraud upon the Govern.
nenl1 Will il undertake 10 charge that he per.
,r{u~d ,he y,,onav IN ho f,rp wa from SuTy