Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-08-16

gentleman oil respectable abilities, has
been Attorney General but | think the
only monument to his memory, as Attor-
ney General, viii be, that after a few of
his speeches the Supreme Court were
compelled to adopt two hour rule. Now
compare his services with those of Reyer-
dy Johnson We have seen published
the opinion of the Supreme Court, in the
case of Fleming Us. Page, involving the
right to levy duties on goods importedint
certain ports in Mexico during the war.
This case had been decided in the court
below against the United States. By Mr..
Johnson's efforts the case was brought TO
the Supreme Court and after his mastery
argument even the Judge who had been of
different opinion, was convinced, the ludg
ment was reversed, and the United States
saved nearly seven millions Of dollars by
this decision. For his services he received
no compensation, and would receive none,
though some of his predecessors for ser
vices Of a like character had been com
pcnsated. In the case OF the Louisiana
land claims he saved 10 the Government
two millions of dollars.
And now. sir, this is the gentleman of
unsullied private character-of spotess
tegrlty-upon whom, as his colleague in
the Senate remarked, before he was Attor-
ney General, the mantle of Writ had fallen
this colleague, too, one Of the first men
in our country-ths is the distinguished
lawyer whose conduct and opinions GER
tain persons are disposed to make them
selves ridiculous by censuring
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Meredith having
passed through life with unstained repu!a-
lions, (of which their country will be
proud.) will smile at the impotent malice
that attempts 10 wound them, knowing that
all good men /" will not mistake The venom
of the shaft for the vigor Of the bow"
There is no patriotic gentleman of any
party, whose heart will not cordially ap-
prove the sentiment of Cicero, who, in one
of his orations, when speaking Of the duty
of good men 10 defend the fame of the
ilIusirious dead said, he thought himself
bound TO fight for their fame, glory, and
memory, with as much zeal as for the al
tars and temples of my country; and if it
were necessary TO take arms in defence Of
their praise, should take them as strenu-
ously as they themselves did for the de-
fence of our common safety" Surely,
then, il Is right to guard the reputation of
eminent public men, though still living.
regretted very much, Mr.. Speaker, TO
hear the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. CAR
TER depart from the proprlety which
ought TO mark our language here, and In
dulge in harsh epithets toward the members
of The Cabinet. The gentleman, am sat-
isicd, spoke under excitement, and IN his
calm moments will regret the violence of
his language, because 1t was unbecoming
in him, and unjust toward those whom he
denounced. But when | saw sniles of
appreciation IN the countenance of few
on the other side, while the gentleman from
Ohio was speaking, | was forcblv reminded
of a scene drawn by Catlin, during his
travels among the Indian tribes. 1t was, |
think, among the Sioux Indians. custom,
when they were preparing for war, 10 Kill
a dog, place his liver on stake four or FIVE
feet high and the barbarous ard beastlv
warriors then formed ring, and while they
danced around, each man would bite a
piece from the liver. thought those who
NilJpNtN ~ NIOlC4lL SpGtClA WIZ lilCll VI
taste congeniol 10 that of those uncivilized
barbarianS
Mr.. Speaker, will conclude. repeat,
do not justify the conduct of the Secre-
tary Of War, IN acting as a claim-agent
while he was a member of the Cabinet.
1t was IN bad taste, to say the least. 1t is
bad example, and apart from other CON
sderations, sense of public duty forbids
me 10 approve this conduct. If this act is
justified, auditors, comptrollers. and other
officers will act as claim-agents, and the
most enormous abuses be practiced; and
in saving this, feel, as think Mr.. Craw-
ford felt, when he was anxious that Mr..
Walker should act on this claim, before
Mr.. C.. came into the Cabinet.
| desire that the truth should be known
by the country, that it may see there are
as many Democrats as Wings responsible
for the payment of the Galphin claim that
some Of those now trying 10 use the pay
ment of this claim for party purposes, have
justified enormous abuses Oh the part of
pillars OF the Democratic party that some
Of them have been guilty of taking public
money for unjust claims. When the truth
can he known, the small orators of party
may cry - Galphin - until Galphin -
the hills, Galphn - the woods, " Gal
phiu - the rocks resound. They may buy
starlings, and teach them TO cry Galphin,
nothing bat Galphin 1t will be lesson
the birds will soon learn, for the startling
orators have learnt it in few weeks. But
when the people of this country know the
whole truth; when they see that the Dem
ocra.ic "pillars" have plundered the Treas
ury, and passed along unrebuked by their !
party friends; when they hear the facts !
have mentioned just now, they will tell /
each noisy drummer of party, Thou I