The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-28
March, ls4e.
from the Springfield, Mass, Republican and Gazette.
MR. WARREN AND MIR. BEACH.

The ferocious attack which, both at Wash
ington and here, has been made upon Mr..
Warren, the Second Assistant Postmaster
General, seems to have been fomented by
f. D. Beach, Esq, late a Locofoco Master
in Chancery in this town. This functionary
was one OF batch Of officers created by
Governor Morton during his memorable
short reign He was, with the rest, egis-
lated out Of Office in ls4s, when the abuses
practised made them no longer bearable by
the people. While Mr.. Beach held this Of
flee the Warren case came before him and
was finished. All the records and papers
connected with it have been retained in his
hands; and what use he is making Of them
may be seen from the letters which he has
been lately writing to the Washington
Union, giving partial extracts, and state
ments OF his own; and his publications in
the Hampden Postal for the purpose Of
attempting to destroy Mr.. Warren's charac-
ter and usefulness as public officer.
The instruments Of attack are all drawn
from Mr.. Beach's secret armory. He puts
forth just so much as will answer his pur-
pose Of injuring Mr. Warren, and accom-
panies it with his own insinuations and i'm
plcations This, he, who was by brief au-
thority, made Judge-whose whole duty
with reference to the case, and the records
in his possession, should have been marked,
at least, with the appearance Of delicacy--
this he has not hesitated to do! And when
we have complained that he has done this
he, with great complacency, writes another
note, (and publishes il in the Post Of the
21st,) graciously offering us the rest Of the
records on condition that we will publish
them! We thank him for no such Lids
guised and pretended liberality. He is not
the man, nor his private Office the place, to
which we desire to 60 and examine public
records, to see what abuses he may have
practised. He IS no longer Master in
Chancery, nor has he been since the act Of
ls4s; and il he were, he has no right to the
possession Of those records or papers. His
possession Of them is unlawful; and it is not
for him to dole out to the public such por-
tons as may suit his partisan purposes, and
then affect liberality in offering to let us
see others. When we desire to examine
public records we choose to go to public ar
chves, and there exercise free and uncon-
trolled liberty The laws have given us this
right; and but for the unlawful conduct Of
Mr. Beach we should have had an opportunity
to exercise it The law Of 1888, under
which be acted, and to which he was bound
by his oath to conform, contains, among
other things, the following sections:
sEc, l4.--The Judge, at the commencement Of
the proceedings in each case under this act, shall
appoint clerk who shall be sworn 10 the faithful
discharge Of his duty; and the clerk shall keep q
record Of all the regular meetings Of the creditors
and Of oil the proceedings therest, and shall pre-
serve all papers duly filed in the course Of the
proce edngs, apd perform such other duties apper-
tanning 10 bis Office, as shall be prescribed BY the
! Judge And the record Of the proceedings in each
case, with all the papers filed therein, shall be en-
closed together and at the termination of the pro-
ceedings. shall be disposited in the probate Office
care Of the register Of probate. And the Judge
may remove the clerk for any cause that he shall
deem sufficient; and. upon such removal, or upon
the death, resignation, or absence OF the clerk,
may appoint another in his place. sAnd the certf-
cate Of dischsr when granted by the judge, shall
be recorded al length by the clerk, with the other
proceedings, and copies Of all parts OF the said
record. duly certified by the register Of probate,
shall in all cases be admissible ~ evidence prina
taeis, Of the facts therein stated end contained.
Sac. livery Master in Chancsry In the
county for which he 10 appointed, shall have and
exercise ali the Jurisdiction, and every authority
herein before given 70 the several judges ofpro-