The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-16

placed. There does not appear to be any
ground to imagine that he will be dealt
with more leniently than the facts will
warrant. Might he not, therefore, ex-
pect, from the Wing journals, at least, a
forbearance of adverse judgment until a
Jury thus constituted shall find verdict
upon the evidence The Locofoco pa
pers, North and South, are in full cry
against him, and we must be permitted to
say that a Wing voice is ill-attuned to
such chorus.
The writer in the Express demands to
know "why Mr.. CLAYTON allowed and
paid the old De la Francia claim, which
Mr.. BUCHANAN, his predecessor, did not
allowlo
Is the author of this letter assured of
his facts to the extent Of the differences
deducible from the tenor of his inquiry
Or does he ask the question to be an
swered by the winds! 1t seems to us
that WING DESTROYS Of receiving infor-
nation on this subject would apply to Mr..
CLAYTON in person, and not PROFOUND an
interrogatory in way to be answered by
the prejudices and suspicious which the
manner of the question excites. Is this
well donel is it just! is it fair'
Again, the letter asks: "Why did Mr..
EWING allow and pay the old Chickasaw
claim, so often rejected by his predeces-
sorsl Did Mr.. REvERDY JOHNSON give
the requisite legal decision on the sub
jecti''
The second inquiry suggests sufficient
answer for Locofoco Secretary to give
to Wing inquiry; but it should scarcely
have been made in tone to imply fa-
cility and improvidence in public officer
Of the highest legal reputation. The ques-
tons Of the correspondent of the Express
will be answered in the form in which
they are presented, as that concerning
Mr.. CLAYTON will be, or not at all.
Again: the letter in the Express asks of
that immaterial but dangerous witne SIS,
Suspicion-tWhatr right has Mr.. REvERDY
JOHNSON to give SO many legal opinions,
as Attorney General, against the long
established usage of the departments and
the opinions Of his predecessors in the
Attorney Generals Office, whereby the
Secretaries may reopen old, rejected, or
settled and adjusted claims, and pay out
principal and interest upon them, until the
life-blood of the treasury is exhaustedp'
Here we have number Of accusations
in the form of simple interrogatory. The
Attorney General, we presume, is obliged
to give his legal opinion whenever it is
sought. He is man of unblemished
name and Of the highest professional fame.
If such character cannot withstand in
situations SO covertly, and yet so distinct
ly made, we may despair Of ever seeing
public officer retire from responsible
trust with any reputation left him. Does
the writer expect reply from the suspi-
cions his question excites' Are his in
nuendoes facts, in the broad and disparag-
ing sense in which they are assumed, or
in any sense prejudicial to the reputation
of Mr.. JoHNsoNi This is a sorry mode
of assailing Wing by Wing. 1t is in
all respects ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in
its assumptions, and blind in its condem-
nations.
Appearing in Wing paper, these
charges, though adroitly made, obtain a
weight and force from the medium of their
circulation. They are seized upon as
proofs of holy writ. The supposed friend
ly relations of the paper to the parties i'm
plicated invest them with the power Of
doing harm. 1t will be said that the short
comings of Wing Cabinet must be great
indeed when a Wing journal condemns
them. And yet the writer in the Err
press has produced no facts to give color
to the indictment he has drawn up. He
does not profess to know more of what he
speaks than the enemies of the Cabinet
and the Wing party have promulgated in
accusing rumors. None Of the Cabinet
ministers have been consulted for infor-
nation. From the sources of these ru-
mors there could be garnered libels enough
to overwhelm an empire with obloquy.
These things demand an investigation,
says the correspondent of the Express
an investigation by committee of Con-
gress. They do. One of the cases is now
before such committee upon the requisi
ton of the gentleman accused. Others
are welcome. We know that neither the
President nor any Of his Cabinet would
object to such committees. They would
be welcome; they would meet with no
factious distractions in their search. The
Opposition is in the majority in both
branches Of Congress. Indeed the CORE
snondent of The Errrees informs us that