Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-23


calumnes like hundreds of others Of similar character
served the purposes Of the hour when they originated and
will soon sink into merited oblivion. [Applause. 4
Next in magnitude to the question of slavery among the
causes Of embarrassment which surrounded the Adminsra
ton Of General Taylor, which have ALREADY
briefly sdverted, arising out Of appointments to Office He
charged by the opposition press with prescription of his
opponents and many of the disappointed
his party Of COURSE joined in the clamor against him
will b. found, upon examination Of the facts that dur
ing the whole period of his administration he did not remove
sufficient number to give his friends equal share OF
the offices of the Governments and the propey Of the
nominations 10 office made by him. single fact Is sucien,
put rest forever the ISLANDERS Of his enemies Although
he necessarily made nominations the Senate than any
other President Of the United States did in an equal
period OF time yet fwe were by that body than on
any former occasion after political revolution [Appause
When Gen. Jackson into Office in 1922 he was sus-
tanned by large party majority in the Senate Twenty
years a when Gen. Taylor into power there was as
large party majority in the Senate opposed to him. Yet
appointments rejected by that body in the session
Of ls2930 than in that of ls4960 very easy thing
to charge either prescription improper Partially. Few are
willing admit that their peculiar merits do not ente
them preference and the accusation Of injustice is too
often tribute due from unsuccessful applicant to his own
wounded vanity TAT this point Mr. Wales n,erposed to say
that among other difficulties connected with President Tay-
ors appointments, the fact that under an arbitrary rule
of the Senate their consideration had been deferred from time
to time, until the session almost entirely wasted Mr.
CLARION then continued Yes, my citizens your
Senator has just informed you, appointments kept be-
fore the Senate for months until the close Of the
session. Every e1erion made that could possibly be
made by enemies bitter and unreenng. Accusations most
vile and infamous were made against the gentlemen who
nominated No means left unred to get Democratic
Senate, already predsposed condemn them they could
be condemned TO reject them But the Senate of the United
States except in one two instances, where injustice
done, true to their own dignity and honor refused to pros
ate the characters Of the who had been nominated by
Gen. Taylor Applause And Of the greatest Of these
tan aof
the sons OF Delaware, William D. Lewis At the mention
of Mr. Lewiss name, the whole company rose gave him
three enthusiastic cheers, and drank his health
Mr.. CLAYTON resumed. Another difficulty which pre-
sened itself at the Of Gen. Taylors Administration
consisted in the number Of private claims against the Govern
men which ought have been decided by the preceding Ad
mnistraon but were left many egacies of trouble
their successors The decisions made by the appropriate
heads of departments upon these claims whether against
the claimants were Of course seized upon subjects Of
plant decided in favor Of one Of these claims after fully
investigating all the facts myself and after taking the pecau
ton to ascertain the opinion Of the Attorney General the
subject which concurred with my own Backed also By the
opinion Of the former Secretary Of the Treasury
and of the Hon. Joseph Ingerso former chairman Of the
Judiciary Committee in the House, well as Of several
ees Of both Houses and following long list Of precedents
in reference to the subject decided in favor Of the claimants
for part of their demand and rejected the other part The
columns Of the party press forthwith opened against the
claim, which papabIy just the extent which
had allowed any that existed This the De la
Frahca claim assailed with still greater erocty for
dsaNo,ing the tobacco claim of M Porte Il soon became
apparent decision could possibly be made any head of
department. whether for against the Government, which
would not become the topic of malignant cepsue One Of
these old claims which had been referred previous Sece
ary Of the Treasury before my friend, Mr. Meredith.
he referred TO the proper law officer Of the Government,
the Attorney General who, after full review Of the whole
subject decided the question 10 favor of the claimant The
justice of his decision would have been mpeached but
for the unfortunate fact turned out after the money had
haa, xkcs
ga. was interested in ia circumstance which entirely
unknown any other member Of the Cabinet at the time of
the decision did not know that there such claim in
existence until many weeks after the money had been paid
suppose the motive which induced the Secretary Of War to
conceal his interest n the claim of decacy but
have perfect conviction without entertaining doubt of the
justice Of the demand that had the fact of his ne
rest been Known mentioned at any Cabinet meeting before
the payment Of the money settlement Of that claim would
have been made while Mr. Crawford remained member of
the Administration. [Applause His conduct in offering,
he did, to Congress abide the judgment of the Supreme
Court of the United States upon the legality Of the camo
waive every advantage Of defence except that arising out of
the law ITSELF and to the money in the event of de-
cson agant him by the Cour-should have exempted him
from that abuse which has been prousey and unusy
lavished upon him.
Indeed, my feowcitizens, constantly my own at
tention occupied with the proper duties Of my own
that very little time left to to look after those Of others
But must in justice add that, far my observation ex
tended the business Of every other department. during the
Administration of General Taylor, conducted notwth
standing the unexamped endorsements which surrounded
him and hem with degree Of energy and industry and
integrity which has been surpassed Applause This
tribute is Justly due from me 10 my associates in that Cabinet
whose kindness and courtesy all occasions deserve
warmest acknowledgements There has existed an
Administration in this Government in which there greater
harmony and concert Of action. In the gentlemen who COM
posed the President entertained unboupded confidence and
they retained that confidence the last moment of bis e
Applause Falsehood and caumny directed against them
as it was, from many quarters failed to make any i'm
preston bis mind and be adhered to them with enac.y
which increased by bis perfect knowledge Of the injustice
with which they assailed Concidng In sentiment
with him on all important subjects his wieh their law
and when he heard often the pu aspersion that his
Cabinet ruled him, knowing, he did, how faithfully they
carried out his will while they often made to bear
the whole responsibility Of his decisions and actions he
I'd the attempts to ALLEVIATE him from those whom he had
ected his advisers 1t would be difficult for any man to
know, standing outside Of that Cabinet the extent Of the
injustice done to its respective members by the Device which
was cunningy conceived it indusousy propagat
3D. that the appointments and the actions Of the Exc
cuve Government dictated by the Cabinet and not by
The President himself [Laughte have repeatedly known
Cabinet Minister abused for months by the whole oppos
lion press OF the country of appointment which
he had suggested recommended but which had been
ordered BY the President alone The unsuccessful applicant
for office often found balm for his wounded feelings in the
belief which he chose ondy to CHERISH that he the vic
tim OF some Secretary, though he avoe of the Pre-
sident. Laughter These and similar ISLANDERS the
members Of the Administration suffered generally TO
pass without contradiction They too aboriously
gagged In tho discharge Of their respective duties take upon
themselves the task Of refung the thousand asehoods which
either party personal malice constantly Matching against
them conscious that when the passions and pudces Of the
hour should have passed away justice would be dcne them
for the fidelity and unirns zeal with which they discharged