The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-23
Hon. SAMUEL w. INGE.
For the Union.

| Tho Ewing committee about TO cast their Crawford
brethren completely in shade, in the and charac
ss.%oay iasni.ssd ,ss% y MI Ewing h%.si prove.
a@in on he ' u ha, Cor
that formerly there had been II the Treasury De-
the agent collecting claim Surely the payee
s s s Of e
| ment
The above, from the correspondent of the Pennsylva
Man, being OF the same tenor with the many misrepIe-
sensations with which it is attempted to preoccupy the
public mind, plain and unvarnished history OF this $50
often rejected chickasaw claim" may not be unaccepta-
BILE to those seeking after truth.
In the first place. the Chickasaw claim was never re-
eed by the last any other administration; on the con-
rary was allowed and passed by every proper account
the Second Comproller-and approved by the First
Comptroller, and only not paid, by covering warrant
from the Secretary Of War by reason Of doubts not as
rect transfer Of the appropriation.
In the letter of Secretary Marcy to the Second Auditor
he says:
spession Of my individual views only say that II
the accounting officers of the treasury satisfied that
there legal prohibison against opening and reconside
Ing the matter Whether such prohibition is imposed by
which belongs exclusively accounting officers of the
treasury TO decide In regard to this question: is not
day, nor am prepared to express an ooinion.
Now. il will be perceived from the above that Secre
tary Marcy clearly OF opinion that, if there
in the accounts OF the Chickasaws, il should be
corrected not by him. but by "he accounting officers OF
the treasury unless prohibited by the 4th section of the
act Of March 3, ls45, which subsequently repealed
by Congress- the recorded documents show with the
express view Of removing this prohibition.
the regular agent and attorney OF the Chickasaw Indians
recovering from the government the interest improperly
withheld from them under stipulated compensation OF
one hall he recovered He had paid TO these In
dams considerable amount, and had due him near hf-
teen thousand dollars when he ascertaned that the Uni-
ted States had Improperly charged 70 these Indians one
subsistence. in plain and unequivoca violation OF the
provisions of the treaty with the Chckassws-
TINS information he promptly communicated 70 the In.
dams proposing TO relnqnish his unsatsed claims for
the contingent recovery OF this claim This proposition
though acceptable to the Indians, he induced by Ma
half the amosat recovered and which Major Armstrong
subsequently characterized liberal and mGgndnious.
The claim was then presented, Tin ls45,) and the
errors and improper charges clearly pointed out II was
investigated, and the admitted, but met with
the objection that the fourth section of the civil and
diplomatic bill, approved March 3, 1915, inhibited the
eopenng oil accounts previously settled Here II rested
until the section repealed by the 5h section Of the
civil and diplomatic bill, approved August 10, 1915.
The claim was again presented examined and dio,oed BY
all the proper accounting officers OF the government and
certificates OF allowance issued and failed receive the
covering warrant OF the Secretary Of War; for the
son before stated
From him, in this opinion differed the late learned law.
officer OF the treasury, MIR. McCuoh, whose opinion,
Astounding in authorities and precedents, may be found
among the papers.
There will also be found among the papers an opinion
OF the late Attorney General and the late Secretary OF the
Treasury from which il s obvious that the only objec.
lion entertained by either Of them to the payment OF
the claim the prohibition OF the 4h section Of the act
OF the ID March, i545, subsequently, repealed. Thus
stood the account when the present administration
in-aowed, and passed, and certified, but not paid.
Upon reference, by the proper department to the At
torney Genealtha officer concurrng in opinion with the
late First Comptroller and Second Comptroller. and late
Second Auditor OF the Treasury--it directed to be
paid in the mode and out OF the fund pointed out by the
late Comptroller, Mr. McCulloh.
So much for the claim 80 often rejected"
The interest OF DR.. Gwn (halD hss been purchased
by Messs Corcoran& Riggs, and duly assigned to them
The power OF attorney and contract with the Indians
had been previously deposited with the government and
been recognised by the payment OF $500 Is under it
BY the last administration The power OF attorney had
never been questioned. or the consideration disputed
When this account however, came to be settled, the
original power left with The papers in the treasury could
not be found. The Second Comptroller though aware
that the copy presented must be and OF the
tenor with the original deposited with him, required that
the copy should be atested and authenticated by the aft.
davit OF the party constitute legal voucher
This affidavit, doubt, he could have made himself
he had before passed upon IT, and upon il directed the
IS 100 is to be paid
Indeed in that case the power OF attorney or contract
with Gwn distinctly recognised and acted upon,
only by the late Second Auditor, General McCala
and the present Second Comptroller, Governor PARIS
but by the late Secretary OF War, Governor Marcy and
the late Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, Colonel Medll
under date u the nth August. ls46, as also by Mr..
Walker, the late Secretary OF the Treasury.
So much for the claim being paid upon the declaration
OF the p0yee II Is not the purpose OF this communica.
tion 10 mi argument. but slmplv 10 aubmit tba