The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-11
W W80h Coxfeson0enees
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1850.

or WasAingssn Csrrssponde,ss.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1850.
Misrepresentation of the Cabisst Whitesoashrs Tn
Rtchardsow Communicable Barron Claim
Preston and the Benson Clains-Cowss of tn.
Claim Atto~sy's-Alarm of the Cabissf-Mere-
dih Ciossfed wtth ftco Letter Writers, toho assai
the JVhigs in Comgress-Ths Republics article.
Letter writers who wish to get credit for rela-
bility, should keep truth on their side. Some OF
them however, in, their zeal to defend and white
wash the misdeeds and blunders of the cabinet,
are in the habit of sending forth falsehood after
falsehood, manufactured out of whole cloth. One
Of these writes the Juvenal' letters for the New
York Express, and the " Patuxent" letters for the
Baltimore Patriot
One of his statements, in both papers allued to,
is that the Richardson investigating committee
have been hunting about for witnesses, among
those most busy in getting up charges against Mr.
Ewing, and, failing to find any who had any tes-
tmony to give, have abandoned the pursuit, and
turned to Mr. Ewing and called upon that func-
tiOnary to furnish them with the information they
sought .,.p,...-.
not called upon a single individual to testify. No
one has as yet been summoned before the COM
mttee.
OF the papers which Mr.. Ewing has sent to the
committee, agreeably to a resolution adopted by
Tie committee, are those relating to the allowance
and payment, for the second time, of the Barron
pension claim. If these papers alone do not nail
Mr.. Ewing to the counter, then will acknowledge
myself mistaken very much. If those papers do
not show that the claim settled and paid at the
treasury, years ago, anda receipt for the money, in
full, received in return, then am greatly mistaken.
II they do not also show that the claim was re-
opened and settled upon different principle from
the one first adhered to, then am | much mistaken
If they do not show that Mr.. Ewing decided to al
low and pay the claim upon the newly adopted
principle, full month before MIR. Attorney Gen.
eneral Johnssn (who gave three legal opinions, l
believe, the subecD decided that it ought to be
allowed, then am / greatly in error. If, finally,
they do not show that Mr.. Ewing allowed and
paid compound interest on the claim, then am
mistaken.
The claim, when first settled, was settled upon
the principle, and under the law, of half pay for
life. The sum received by the claimants and
recepted for, at the time, was little over ten
thousand doas.
The claim was re-opened by Mr.. Ewing, and
settled upon the principle of full pay for five years.
and the interest thereon. The sum Of ten thou
Quoted from the amount of the hive years full pay,
with the interest thereon, which left the sum OF
upwards of thirty-two thousand dollars, paid TO Mr.
James Lyons, the agent of the claim. The 60
venment, getting alarmed, has commenced suit,
as learn, to recover back from Mr.. Lyons the
amount of money overpaid in the shape of COM
pound interest.
It is ascertained that Mr. Secretary Preston is in
the same category with five of the other members
of the cabinet, in the matter of upsettng the usage
of the government, and paying claims previously
refused. The Benson claim, of some fourteen
thousand dollars, for alleged damages in the mat
ter of a contract made with the Tyler administra-
ton, and vetoed by Mr.. George Bancroft, while
Secretary of the Navy, has been allowed and paid
by Mr.. Secretary Preston, as is understood, upon
a legal decision Of MIR. Attorney General Johnson,
reversing the decision of his predecessor, Mr.
Toucy, who had decided against the claim.
1t is amusing to with what eagemess the
agents and attorneys of the claims allowed and
paid by members of the cabinet, are filling the
newspapers with such arguments and isolated pre-
cedents as they can invent and Gull, to justify the
conduct of the cabinet. The mind of one of these
attorneys who despises the whole cabinet in every
thing but their allowance of these old claims, is
seen in a labored defence, as a communication, in
the Baltimore Patriot and, also, with slight altera-
TOMS, in the New York Express. Is there any fear
that the moneys recently paid out on these old
claims will have to be returned to the treasury !
The moneys allowed to the Messrs. Ewing have
not all been paid as yet They are to be paid IN
instalments.
In your paper Of yesterday you gave an important
leader from the Republic of Monday last, and make
some very judicious remarks on the subject. Look
al the leader in the Republic of to-day, breathing
the same tone, and conveying the same pregnant
foreshadowing Of what is certain to come to pass.
I tell you now, for know the fact, that General
Taylor's sentiments are truly reflected in that ar
tce. And tell you, further that the cabinet will
speedily be changed. Ii cannot remain as II is.
The members of il alarmed, each and all OF
them. Mr.. Ewing is the most imperyious OF the
lot He consoles himself that he will be yet able
TO hold on. Messrs. Clayton and Meredith are the
most agitated.
A member Of Congress, of high standing, informs
me that Mr. Meredith gives frequent audiences to
two letter-wrters, who assailing Mr.. Clay, Mr..
Webster, and other whigsin Congress, in the Bos-
ton Courier, the Boston Journal, the Neto York
Courier aud Enquire, the Philadelphia North
American, &c. My informant told me that the
two pre- ss-men in question were closeted with Mr..
Meredith day before yesterday, for two hours,
while members Of Congress who called TO see the
Secretary, were turned away with the declaration
that theSecretary was engaged!
WASHINGTON, May 9, 1850.
The Noes from California and Orcgon-Reso'a-
fioms by the Senatc--Leftrs from Los Angeles o
a Movement TO Divide Caiifornia-EGeet on III,
Great Question.
The news from California contains matter Of the
deepest interest to Congress 1t appears that there
are certain revolutionary movements on foot in thai
young, unauthorized, and prosperous common
wealth. The two most important points are
IA scheme to set up an independent govern
ment in California.
g A scheme to divide the State, and to set up il
the southern section, separate territorial govern
ment.
With respect to the latter scheme, Gen. Foote
produced several letters from California, by the
last steamer, addressed to DIR. Gwin and himself
giving an account Of a certain convention lately
held at Cudad de los Angeles, or the City OF the
Angels, (where there are no angels) IN behalf OF
a separate territorial government for Southern Cali
fornia. There was such convention; but from
letter to Dr. Gwin, by Mr.. Chamberlain, at Sar
Diego, il appears that this meeting, or convention
was not participated in by the American settlers
but was exclusively confined to the the native Cali
foruians, or Mexican inhabitants. Thus much fo
the convention. II the thing, however, is permit
ted to 20 on, there is telling were II will stop.
The scheme Of an independent government covers
probably. n deeper stroke OF policy. IL certainly
has n had look about IL. The country Is rich, ant
there il no telling what hundred thousand able
bodied men might do, il they should determine thai
the gold lands Of California should not fall into the
hands Of Congress, for their disposal to set oil mo-
nopolizipg SPECTATORS. The revolutionary state o
affairs between Commodore Jones and the State