Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-25
CHARGES AGAINST MR.. EWING


CHARGES AGAINST MR., EWING.
Col. Richardson at Illinois, who we suppose, wishes
to make atonement his Democratic constituents
for showing some beraly towards the South, has
made furious onslaught upon the Secretary of the In
terror. few days ago, he offered the following reso-
utons:
pointed, with power to send for persons and papers to
inquire and report to the House whether Thomas Ew-
ing Secretary OF the INTERIOR re-opened and paid TO g.
w and w &. Ewing claim against the Treasury of
the United States OF ST. 0O0 after the same had been
adudcaed and rejected by the proper officer of the Co.
vernment before said Ewing indicted into the said
office OF the Interior; who were the agents and aor-
neys for said claim; what clerk in the office of said
Department Of the Interior had interest in said claim,
and how said interest, if any, was acquired
2 Whether said Ewing re-opened and paid interest to
the amount of $3l 600 the pension granted Com
modore James Barron Tor services rendered in the Vir-
gnia navy during the revolutionary war, after the prn-
cpal had been fully paid and dscharged and said in
teres was paid, was it simple or compound; who was
the agent or attorney for said claim and the authority
OF law for such PAYMENT any.
3. Whether said Ewing, re-opened and. paid claim
to person persons behalf OF the Chickasaw In
dans of $l0SO00, after the had been adudicated
and rejected by the proper officer of the government be-
fore said Ewing was indicted into the office OF the In
terror who the agent agents. attorney or attor
neys, and who the party parties in interest, and
whether either of said agents, attorneys or parties III
interest," held at the time of such payment any office
so what office.
4. Whether said Ewing usurped the power of ap-
pointment in the Pension and General Land Ohlce;
whether the same was in violation Of law; also, whe-
Their any clerk OF said Ewings appointment reviews the
opinions and decisions of the Commissioner of Pensions,
by order and under direction Of said Ewing and if so,
the authority for such order and direction.
5. What persons in office by appointment from said
Ewing correspondents for newspapers their sala-
ries, and what papers they edit or write for
There being no objection from any quarter the reso-
luton was introduced.
Mr. GENTRY Immediately offered substitute for it,
with view arrive at the facts by different process.
Instead ola select committee of nine, he proposed to
call upon the Secretary of the Interior to furnish the
House with the information, and omitted from the in
qury the last clause, to what persons in the office
correspond with newspapers. This would be courteous
towards the Secretary.
The SPEAKER remarked that the substitute would not
be in order amendment, unless entertained by the
unanimous consent OF the House, accepted by the
gentleman from Illinois.
Mr.. RICHARDSON said that he could not accept it in
lieu OF his resolution.
On Monday these resolutions were taken up by the
House. Mr. Gentry and other Wing members objected
them on the proper grounds that whilst the friends OF
the administration had sort of objection to any in
vestigation, the language of resolutions seemed
the cupableness of Mr.. Ewing's conduct, and,
moreover their charges did not proceed from any
sponsble source not being brought forward by men,
Der on his own authority, upon that of any person
whose was given Col. Richardson first declared
that che did not know whether the reports in relation
Mr. Ewing true not" and afterwards, told the
House that "unless he greatly deceived the char
ges put forth in the resolution will be supported by proof
which can controvert and deny his information
was derived from responsible gentlemen, who if they
summon ned before committee, will support it by
testimony which is on record. Mr.. Stanton, of Ten
nessee, regarded the member asrsng in his place. and
preerrng charges, and thought that sufficient
rant Investigation; and he remarked, that although
the gentleman disclaims any personal knowledge, no
would envy him his position, if they turned out to
be untrue"
AT Mr.. Meade's suggestion, the resolutions were mo-
dified to substitute exercised the power for
usurped the power, and whether any person per-
sons' for what persons"
Mr. Evans, of Maryland, offered a substitute, TO in
struc the Select Committee to inquire into the DENLY
Collins Wetmore and other defacations under the late
Administration, and also into other facts similar to those
imputed to the Department Of the Interior by Mr. Rich
ardsons resolutions. But this ruled out as irele
uant Mr.. Stanly offered the following, hoping, vanly
that it would be thought more to the purpose.
"Also, what person holding Office under the last adj
mnistration clerks in any OF the public offices, audi
tors, heads OF bureaus commissioner OF patents,
sistant postmasers general, were correspondents OF
newspapers wrote for edited newspapers their sala
res and compensation for the same and who, in parti-
cuar, the author OF certain party essays signed
Bundlecund and what office he then held and also
whether during the last canvass for the Presidency any
OF the above named officers abSented tn emseves from
their Offices and official duties make speeches and
public addresses against the election OF General Taylor
Also whether the above named officers, any OF them,
during the said canvass called upon required
subscribe pay money for electoneerng fund against
General Taylor, and at whose instance this DONE"
The amendment was received with cries OF Good"
and laughter, on the part OF some OF the members.
We have not room for the whole debate but there was
one little passage between Mr. Bayly, of this State and
Mr. Conrad of louisiana which too good to be omit
ted. -
Mr. BAYLY said that it the duty of the House to
investigate the charges 1t due to the Secretary,
and to the character of the Government itself He had
known Mr.. Ewing for a long time. His impression Of
the Secretary as private gentleman was favorable
one. His impression Of Mr.. Ewing as public was
different If he (Mr. e. was innocent, as he tMr b.
thought he was it was the duty OF the House to acqut
him.
Mr.. CONRAD. OF what can the committee acquit him2
Does the gentleman say that it is criminal to allow
claims disalowed by Mr. Ewings predecessors! Does
he consider il dshonorable for the committee of the
House to allow claims disalowed by a previous COM
mitteel
Mr. BAYLY said that the crimnality OF the allow
ance OF claim depended on circumstances Some
judges the decisions Of their predecessors but
never unless there is clear OF He did
say that the allowance OF claims by Mr.. Ewing was
criminal In case his decision was right but it does
follow that others there should be an invest
CATION.
Mr.. CONRAD. What was the claim the decision in
relation to which was righ2
Mr.. BAyLY did not acknowledge the right ofthe gen.
eman to interrupt him. If he desired to know for his
private information, and would come over, he would tell
him.
Mr. Bayly's distinction between an upright man in
private, and corrupt public functonaly, is rather |
hard for unsophsticated understandings but it may
be of the lessons of political philosophy which he
J,s.. # l.o.:.
The House finally adopted Mr.. Richardson's resou-
lions by a vote of95 to 70. Mr.. Sanly then endea
voured to introduce Mr.. Genrys resolution, calling
upon the Secretary of the Interior to furnish to- the
House, the information which the resolutions adopte
placed in the hands OF committee, but vote of two
thirds could not be obtained suspend the rules for the
nuruose although MI Richardson's resolutiona were