The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-08-29
CITY OF WASHINGTON.

CITY OF WASHINGTON.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING AUGUST 20, isAs.
TAs Dsaby DsGHlsssasa.--C.lamniss OF ths Republic
me late sserstary MAssa.-A candid statens"t.
Our readers and the candid and honorable portion OF
the public generally cannot have failed to observe win
surprise il not with establishment. the extraordinary at
tacks which have Of late been made upon the Hon JOHN
Y MASON late Secretary OF the Navy in the columns OF
the Republic the accredited organ OF the administration
We have repeatedly called upon the conductors of that
print and the high personages behind the scenes who
have instgated the assaults Of their organ, for spec6ca
tons Of the charges which they have by and fur
tive nsnuaon and nauendo made against the late Sec
rery and for the facts and proofs upon which they were
founded But sDs haze reeerved The calumnators
Of The late Secretary although challenged to do So have
not dared to make direct full explicit and manly charges
against him. but have continued their course OF unmany
shameful and lbeous insnuation. We cannot pursue
these revlers further. and address ourselves
tothe candor and justice Of the American people There
fire. with that view, proceed to sate in as brief
manner as possible, all the circumstances connected
with the DENLY which have any relation TO the late
Secretary Of the Navy, and shall submit them to the
judgment Of an impartial and truthloving public II we
have not succeeded in making out full complete, and
triumphant vndicaon Of the late Secretary from the
wicked and atrocious calumnes Of which he has been
the victim not because the facts do not exist which
would render such vindcation triumphant and concu
sive but because, readers well know, we have not
access to them. They in the hands of the enemy
who can give or withhold them, he pleases We are,
however, willing to submit the to the Judgment OF
the public such evidence we have, confident that
the popular verdict will be complete vindicaton OF the
late Secretary and the disgaceful and gnomnious
victon OF his calumniaors OF Of the basest offences
which can be committed against individuals society
unscrupulous and malignant warfare upon private repu
tatioA.
We have observed with some SURPRISE that while the
caumnaiors Of Judge Mason dealt in the most deroga
tory suspicious and nnuendoes they have publish
ed those documents which alone enable the public to
form Judgment on the official misconduct imputed to
the late Secretary of the Navy We have carefully ex-
amined the publications on the subject and referred TO
such public documents accessible to u.s. and do
not hesitate to say that seeusatons
never made PsblSe man. more wantonness
zullnl a sccompanying them by insnuations against
his private character. ....
When Mr. Mason became Secretary Of the Navy in
1884, the Navy Department had temporary agencies at
London Marseilles, Lima, ST. Thomas, and Mazatlan.
The object Of these agencies to provide the means
for the convenient supply Of squadrons on foreign
service of funds for the payment of officers and men, and
other legal expenses of the ships of employed
In the Mediterranean sea- other stations, Ameri-
can coin has passed current at its nominal value
and il was the Acknowledged right Of those in the public
service to receive the pay allowed by law at the place
where the service is performed To fulfil this public
obligation, these agencies established They had
existed for long time; and whatever might have been
the legal authority for their establishment the qusstio"
put at by the 4h section Of the act Of June i7h
1914. That section is in these words:
"z.l Be IL further enacted, That person shall be
the use Of the foreign stations whether
der so.tra or otherwise or 70 perform the duties usually
Be- appointed BY and with the advice and Of the
Senate.
This section Of the law was adopted in consequence Of
petition Of the former agents at Marseies; and the ma
tue Of the agency the Of the contract and the pol
icy Of the Department fully understood by Congress
The President nominated the Senate at the same
sion suitable persons in his judgment to be temporary
navy agents at the several places named; and Messrs
Barring Brothers & Co. at London Messrs Furniss &
Co, at 81 Thomas; and Messrs Mccall & Co., at Lima,
were confirmed The other nominations were not acted
At the next session OF Congress Mr.. DENLY nomi.
mated by President Tyler and confirmed by the Senate
The Navy Department employed him by contract That
contract has been published by the papers assang
the late Secretary Of the Navy for his conduct in
ting it. We annex il at the end Of this article. Withou,
reference TO s provisions is impossible TO form cor.
rect opinion on the subject