The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-22
THE UNION.



would not have been said by the honest and candid has
been said against the individual whose heads this
communication, in relation 10 his connexion with the
Mexican boundary commission, propose, with your per-
mission, to offer few words upon this subject and TO
exhibit TO the public the other side OF the picture For
dong this, trust have sufficient justification in the
TACT That John b. Weller not only absent during the
time certain transacons-of which intend to speak
took place. but 10 still absentin California and is this
day ignorant o. portion of the facts which now wish
10 divulge Having been officially connected with the
boundary commission, shall perhaps, IN order to give
all the facts, which the public should OF right possess,
Dc Obliged 70 say much Of myself and an excuse for
this, can but hope, will be found in the facts stated
II may be said that am only endeayorng to write
down two already defunct Secretaries and their corps OF
pespo , d,ry psanyaae,s out only desire 70
brother from malicious and endish stab at his private
as well az public character
Long before Mr. Weller, as commissioner TO run and
mark the boundary line, got the field OF his la
bors, the cry OF unnecessary exravagance was raised
against him by hired letter writer's and this, too. in my
opinion. The instance OF those who knew full well the
fasity OF the charge Regarding this CHARGE will only
say that every single voucher presented by Mr. Weller
in support OF these expenditures said 10 be so ertrapd
CANT was passed by the proper officers OF the govern
ment without the least ntmation from them OF extraya
gance. Mr.. Weller may safey-and doubt not will
challenge comparison OF the expenses OF getting bis
party out TO the field with similar expenses incurred by
the new commissioner II was thought OF Mr.. Weller 10
be very exravagant Indeed to take with him so large
et organizes commission eas an informed he hasS Of
about hundred PERSONS II Is all right, and nothing Is
said BY these formerly protesting economists in oppos
ton to increase OF force the work becomes less and
the greater difficulties already surmounted is one
thing to prefer charge, but another to sustain it, 1t is
notorious fact among the members OF the old commits.
sion, at least, that Mr. Weller, by his uniform rigid
economy in all his disbursements OF the public money,
gained the reputation Of being niggardy economical
The charge OF being defauller was next gotten up
against him, and every wire was pulled 10 make this
charge appear true. Mr. Ewing Secretary Of the Int
rior,) to force an appearance OF truth in thus charge,
strained every nerveand he has more nerve Than con
| huG ItplIh a nh tn ahn
had paid particular attention 10 this parsonage in his la
borous campaign, in Ohio, Of ls4s; and therefore he
determines to pursue Mr. Weller with the knife Of mid.
night ASSASSIN, TO the destruction possible OF that
which is dearer than fe-at least to an honorable man
Mr. Ewing acted wilfully and maliciously in the face
OF the facts OF the case, and because believe can
clearly show that he was endeavoring to put such
defaulter, when the lights afforded him could not
but convince him that such not the case. How
far he was assisted in this matter by Mr. Clayton
(Secretary OF Sate.l ] will not now take the time
to demonstrate. Suffice il 10 say OF that gentleman
that he stood ready to afford every possible assistance
But TO the point, On page l6 Of Senate Document No
3d. part lst 3st Cong Isl session. there letter. I'M
der date 2sth December 1s49, addressed by Mr. Ew
ing, in which, in stating Mr.. Weers account he says
Vouchers in support Of he disbursements had been re-
ceved (ony part OF which have been passed by the Fifth
Auditory &c Mark how careful he is to the insinuat
ing expression only part o. a,eh have been passed oy
sion Had por,ion been passed, and another portion
reeced True, this is the natural inference, and is pre-
csey the impression Mr. Ewing desired to force upon the
public mind But the fact is, that at that time no action
had been taken upon these vouchers by the Auditor OF
any other officer of the government further than their
mere reception. No voucher had been passed. No
voucher had been rejected. On the next page Q7l OF
this document, there is letter addressed by Mr.
Ewing TO Mr.. PIeasanton, Fifth Auditor, as follows
have 10 request that you will at your earliest con.
venience, furnish with a statement OF the amount OF
money paid to Commissioner Weller, the whole amount
Of vonc hers filed in support Of his disbursements, and the
amount OF those vouchers which have been rejected with
the for their rejection" Here again is the in
situation that vouchers had been rejected Very WELL
t may be sad) il the insinuation is groundess and
Just, the Auditors letter in reply will show the fact
True indeed but suppose that letter should not suit Mr.
Ewng's purpose, what Them Why. OF course honest
Tom Ewing would, at all events give il 10 the Senate
sir nothing of the kind appears in said document And
yet venture to assert that this letter of Mr. Ewings
replied to by Mr. Peasonton the Auditor and was, or at
least should have been in all honesty, file in the In
Department, when the said document sent in
to the Senate Yea, and will go further, and venture
the assertion that the auditors tors reply informed ns M Ew
mot that any pod be rjeeed" And TO test the
truth Of this, challenge examination of the record
Gallon his letter. which affords information any sub
ject without Mr. Plessonton's accompanying it, and not
give the reply aso Because this document was intended
make Mr. Weller appear defaulter, and TO sustain the
charge OF extravaganza by making appear that his
vouchers had been rejected on account OF exavagance
Mr. Corwin proposed the resolution passed by the Senate
my mind that he did this al the instance OF Mr. Ewing
And yet, with all the desire that Mr. Ewing felt himself
capable Of covering up, he could not succeed in making
the showing he desired
On page 40 Of this document there is statement show
ing that Mr.. Weller bad received and drawn
And tina, his vouchers in the Fifth Auditors Il
Office amounted 10 1887 IS
Leaving balance against him of S3,4S7 50
Il is also there stated that his vouchers en-
hrar mr. nj
oath January, ls49, and up TO the date oil
this document (27h February, 1851 there
due him year and one months sal.
airy, at $1,000 per annum, which amounts
Making him defaulter for S237 50
Yes the immense sum OF Two HUNDRED AND THIRTY.
counted Tor by him. according to Mr. Ewings showing
Now, not this most signal and dsgacefu failure Of
Mr. Ewing TO make out an appearance oil ietalcauonf
But another opportunity was afforded MIR Ewing by
the Senate the I'd May 1850, to make another attempt
TO show deiacauon on the pan OF Mr. Weller. Senate
promptly from Mr. Ewing. and IN u the account is again
stated, aud shows apparent balance against Mr. Wei
Ter, of S2,253 OF.
But in postscript TO this statement acknowledg
that be bad yet drawn salary. Mr.. Weller only
claimed pay up 3ls March, $780, date anterior TO the
date OF this document, which amounted To S3,55S 30
From which, IL we deduct The balance shown
above against him, OF 2,253 o.
We have left as due Mr.. Weller Si,30a GO
Mr. Ewing missed his mark again. and comes still fur.
iher of than before.
And now TO make the matter look sll more glarng. |
will here state Mr. Wellets account IN general terms as