The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-20

Illinois, has offered series of resolutions
in the House Of Representatives, purport-
ing to be resolutions of inquiry. They
embody number Of gross and scandalous
libels, leveled at the Secretary Of the In
terror. In consequence of the language
in which they were couched, Mr.. TooMBs
objected to their reception. Mr.. STANLY
moved suspension of the rules, that
these resolutions, and all others of like
character, might be received. The Speaker
said that motion to suspend the rules
was not in order, and Mr.. Richardson's
resolutions were not received. This, it
is fair to presume, was precisely what
Mr.. RICHARDSON desired. He had placed
his insinuations and innuendoes before the
public; and his purpose was answered
They were in the way of producing their
impression. He wishes for no committee /;
he desires no investigation. He knows
that the suggestions of his resolutions are
false suggestions. He intimates what he
cannot know to be true, because it is not
true. He stabs at character in the dark.
He wells his accusations under the fimsy
disguise of resolutions of inquiry, and
relies upon the rules of the House and
the tricks of party to save him from the
ignominy of exposure. These differences
are deducible from the tone Of Mr.. RICH
ARDsoN's resolutions, and the manner in
which they were presented.
If the calumnies and SANDERS embodied
in Mr.. RICHARDSON'S resolutions came to
us in less imposing shape; if they were
the mere illusions of letter-writers, or of
unofficial partisans, we should suffer them
to pass uncontradicted and unnoticed, as
we have permitted thousand other fabri-
cations to pass that have been intended
to injure the Administration. But Mr..
RICHARDSON is a member of the House
he was member, we believe, of the last
Congress. He has therefore some legis-
latve experience. He was spoken of,
unless we are mistaken, as a Locofoco
candidate for the Chair, at the time that
the famous coalition of the chvalry and
the Abolitionists undertook to elevate
WILLIAM J. BRowN to that distinguished
position. He is therefore man of some
consideration, and in the ranks Of his
party only second to the celebrated and
'favorite candidate of the Democratic
party" by whom he was supplanted.
What such man puts upon the record
cannot be overlooked. II must be met
and answered-if not for its intrinsic i'm
portance, out of consideration to the posi-
ton he enjoys in his party, and the infu-
ence which he possesses among his polti-
cal associates.
We therefore deny each and every of
the imputations which are contained in his
resolutions. They are, in the form in
which they appear, merely libels. The
assertion that Mr.. Ewing has re-opened
any claim, decided by his predecessors,
except upon congressional action, is un-
true. The insinuation that Mr.. EWING
was in any way implicated or interested in
what the agents or attorneys for any
claim, or the clerks in his office, did or
omitted TO do in regard to any claim,
is a gratuitous insult. The charge that
he has usurped any power of appoint
ment in the Pension or Land Office, in vi
olstion Of law, is entirely unsupported by
fact. The insinuation that he has con-
verted the Offices in his appointment to
sinecures for correspondents or editors, is
an entire fabrication. All and each OF
these allegations, as far as they are de-
signed TO cast the slightest imputation
upon the official integrity Of Mr.. Ew-
ING - and all other insinuations that
may be evoked from them-are with.
out foundation in fact. When we
say this we do not mean to say that
there are not men in the Department Of
the Interior who correspond for the public
press. We know nothing upon this point.
If they do, we are not aware that Mr..
EWING has any right to deprive his clerks
Of the privilege of saying and writing
what they please. He can establish nc
system Of espionage that would enable
him to prevent this, if he considered il
his duty to do so. What we mean to say
I is simply this: that Mr.. EWING has in nc
way authorized, encouraged, or counte.
nanced any such connection; and that i
any improperly has been committed in
this respect, Mr.: EWING is in nowise re.
sponsible for il.
We protest against this system Of at.
tack by resolutions which are not designed
to be acted upon, but which are thrown
out merely to poison the public mind, and