The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-19

<Ctsu Dy tpdt DOuy LII inc ec6blOu VI lczC-CO tuun
in that Of 1880. IL is very easy thing TO
charge either prescription or improper Partially
Few are willing to admit that their own peculiar
merits do not entitle them TO preference; and the
accusation of injustice is too often a tribute due
from an unsuccessful applicant to his own wounded
vanity. Another difficulty which presented itself
al the outset of General Taylor's admin istraton,
CONSISTED IN The number OF private claims against
the government, which ought to have been de-
cided by the preceding administration, but were
lett so many leeaces OF trouble To their successors
The decisions made by the appropriate heads Of
departments upon these claims, whether for or
against the claimants were, OF course, seized upon
as subjects OF complaint. decided in favor of one
of these claims, after fully investigating all the
facts myself, and after taking the precauon to as
certain the opinion Of the Attorney General On the
subject, which concurred with my own. Backed
also by the opinion of the former Secretary of the
Treasury, Mr.. Walker, and of Hon. Joseph r.. In-
gersoll, former chairman OF tae Judiciary commit
lee in the House, as well as of several commit
tees OF both Houses, and following long list
of precedents in reference TO the subject, deceased
in favor of the claimants for part of their -
mand, and rejected the other part. The columns
of The party press were forthwith opened against
the claim, which was as palpably just, to the ex-
tent to which had allowed il, as any claim that
ever existed. This was the De la Frdncia claim
was assailed with sill greater ferocI,y for disal
lowing the tobacco claim of M Porte. II soon
became apparent that no decision could possibly be
made by any head of department., whether for or
against the government, which would not become
the topic OF malignant censure. One OF these old
CLAIMS, which had been referred 10 a previous Sc
cretary Of the Treasury, came before MIR Mere.
diih He referred il to the proper law officer of the
government, the Attorney General, who, after a
full review Of The whole subject, decided the ques
ton in favor OF The claimant The Justice at his
decision would never have been impeached but for
The unfortunate fact, il turned after the
pey had been paid that the St cretary of War, Mr..
Crawford, Of Georgia, was interested in IL cir
cumstance which was entirely unknown TO any
other member of the cabinet at the time of the
decision. | did not know that there such u
claim in existence until many weeks after the
money bad been paid suppose the motive which
induce The Secretary of War to conceal his iute-
resi- in The claim was one Of deicacy but have a
perfect conviction, without entertaining doubt OF
the justice OF the demand, that, had The fact OF his
personal interest been known or men tioned at any
cabinet meeting before the payment OF the money,
no settle ment of that claim would have been made
while MIR. Crawford remained memser of the
administration His conduct in offering, as he did,
10 Congress To abide the judgement of the Supreme
Court OF the United States upon the legality of the
Claim--to waive every advantage of defence ex-
cep that arising out OF The law itself, and to return
the money In The event OF n decision against hun
by The court, should have exempted him from that
abuse which has been proiusely and unjustly
lavlshed upon him. Indeed, my fellow-ctizens, so
constantly was my attention occupied with the
proper duties of my own department, that very lit
lie time was left me TO look after those of others.
But must in justice add, that so far as my obser-
walton extended, the business OF every other de-
pafimeni, during the administration OF General Tay-
Tor, was conducted, notwithstanding The unexam-
pied embarrassment which surrounded him and
them, with a degree OF energy, and industry, end
int gritty, which has never BEEN surpassed. This
tnbu is Justly due from me 10 my associates in
that cabinet, whose kindness and courtesy 10 me,
Tn I'll occasions, merited my waimest ackn owledg-
mems. There has never existed an administration
ID this government in which there was greater
harmony and concert OF action In the gentlemen
who composed il The President entertained ua-
. 1 lup1sd contI1pnpp and they retuinpd that
iiceEce 10 the last moment of his life Falsehood
end calumDy, directed against IN ,m, Is it was,
from SO many quarters, failed to make any impress
sion on his mind; and he adhered To them with Il
tenaciiy which was increased by his perfect know
ledge OF Inc Injustice with which they were assailed
Conciding in sentiment with him on ali important
subjects. hswish was their law; and when he heard
so often the ptifu asperson that his cabinet ruled
him, knowing, as be did, how faithfully they car
ried out his own will, while they were often made
TO bear the whole responsibility OF his decisions
and actions, he scorned the attempts to alienale
him from those whom he had selected as his I'D
visers. IL would be difficult 10 any man to know,
standing outside OF that cabinet, the extent Of the
injustice done TO ITS respective members by the de-
wee, which was as cunnir2ly conceived as IL was
mdusrously propagated, that the appointments,
and even the actions, Of the executive government
were dictated by the cabinet, and not by the
President himself. / have repeatedly known n
cabinet minister abused for months b. the whole
opposition press Of the county, on account of an
appointment which he had never suggested or
recommended, but which had been ordered by the
Pre- sident alone. The unsuccessful applicant for
Office often found balm for his wounded feelings
in The belief, which he chose fondly TO cherish,
that he was the victim of some secretary, though
he was a favofi'e OF the President. Those and
similar ISLANDERS on the members Of the admins
uaiion were suffered too generally 10 pass without
contradiction. They were too laboriously en-
gsgtd in the discharge Of their respective du-
ues 10 take upon themselves the task of re-
fuing The thousand false hoods which either party
nr rnp NJ haf
them; conscious that, when the passions and pre-
JUDGES OF the hour should have pa sed away JUS
lice would be done TO them for the fidelity and
firing zeal with which they discharged their duties
amid greater obstacles than ever DISTRACTED the
course OF any previous administration. The foreign
policy OF President Tay loT was marked by an adhe-
nnee 10 the principles invulcaied in the farewell
azores OF The Talbtf Of his country. He sought
no wars OF agcrundizement OF conquest. Peace
and commerce with foreign nations, on fair aud
honorable terms, were the objects he aimed ut.
lie regarded war, with the horrors and dangers Of
which no man was more Intimately acquainted,
az measure never 10 be resorted to until every
tilen Of honorable diplomacy should be exhausted
In the hont Of his whole system of policy, IN this
f-spcct, he manifested scrupuous anxiety TO
D'aiEtain or neutral obligations and the faith of
treaties and his principles fully illustr ate ia
The course lac pursue d towards Denmark and Spain
On The other hand, no maa was more sensitive on
points Of national honor and the promputude and
energy with which he demanded and recover
~ thc ioit igHtr WIZ, httr having sought an
esylrm On our shores, was kidnapped and car.
ned 10 Havana, az the very moment when he was
maintaining, IN their true spirit, our treaty stipu.
l8uons with spain, by the suppression of the Cuban
expedition, was an evidence Of that stern deter
minaton, which never abandoned him, to maia.
IAN, under oil circumstances, and at all hazards,
The honor OF his own country. While abst aiming
rom all interference with the domestic concerns OF
foreign nations, aud all entangling alliances he did
rot withhold from such as maintained the repuhli-
can ~ stem, or Struggled TO throw of the shackles
of Gespoism, the full and free expressio OF his gn
generous sympaihies. For he was a republican
not merely in name, but in heart. He reioiced in
the happiness OF his fellow men throughout the
world, and his bosom throbbcd with hope for the
success Of every effort. mide in either hemisphere
fcrihe spread ofthCse liberal rrincipes upon which
he profoundly believe their happiness ds--,lsI
Atthe Iist dawn OF Ibe Ieyoluii"- IN Hungary. Ne
wes Isedy 70 feecen's.. ner independence, II nc
shou,u w mi able to maintain IL; and al the
'u moment when an upprinciped press was en-
roced in deDounciog him most friendly to the
despotic powers Of Europe, he was directing a mis-
81.