The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-19

eide The question Of interest and though his impressions
wefs against lis allowance be lett the matter open
ioi ne successor TO decide The piAclpal was
paid. and Mr, CtaafoIi received his share Such wac
the position oil the matter when Nh Crawford entered
the cabinet as Secretary 81 Mar Desiring his relations
10 DC larry UNDERSTOOD he awaited himself OF early
moment 10 advise The President OF the facts He informed
him that he was connected with claim then pending
before one OF the departments for decision and solicited
member OF the cabinet The President replied thai he
did not know that he had forfeited any Of his rights by
becoming member Of his administration. This he felt
10 BE- SANCTION and MIR. Crawford al ones employed
counsel prosecute the claim He however assisted
revising and in the preparation OF the Arguments, and
several occasions spoke 70 Toe SseIeaiy y s hleasa
He spoke also the Attorney General 10 The same pnr
pose but he declares that be apprzed either OF
these gentlemen OF his interest IN the matter nor did nc
authorize any other person TO give them the iniorma-
ton The general power OF attorney IN the case exc
cuted by Mlledge Gaphin. executor to Mr. Crawford,
as well as similar power to receive and receipt ioi me
money, among the papers on the file, as well as
several letters, showing that Mr. Crawford was acting
in the affair All these papers before the Secretary
Comptroller but the two former deny that they had any
knowledge OF MIR. Crawfords interest The Secretary
OF the Treasury admits that. at time, he heard
that Mr. Crawford had been connected with the claim,
but the remark left impression his mind and the
Attorney General says that he examined paperS moi
necessary for him to understand its merits The opinion
OF The Attorney General given and the Secretary of
the Treasury ordered thai, iaasmuoh the Attorney
Generals opinion decided the principle that, in point OF
law, interest ought to be allowed. il should be done
The matter referred TO the First Auditor for state
ment OF the account This passed to the office OF the
FIRST Comptroller who appended his approval, with the
pthy remark that the signing OF this certificate - an
administrative act" The money was paid and after
abang the paid for expenses incident TO the prosecu
ton OF the case Mr. Crawford received IN conformity
with his agreement with the heirs the onehalf Of the
amount, his proper share. Theinerest amounted
one hundred and ninety thousand three hundred
and fty-two dollars and eghty-nine cents from this
three thousand dollars were paid as fees to counsel His
receipts twentyone thousand and four hundred and
dollars and niney-eght cents, from the principal and
nineyfour thousand hundred and seventy dol
ors and oriy-four cents from The interest allowed in
all, hundred and fifteen thousand five hundred and
seven ty EIGHT dollars and foriy-two cents.
Such the facts connected with Mr. Crawiords con-
duct in relation to the affair; and submit them without
comment to the judgment OF the House. ses
The matter involved was not debt due from the
United States The payment OF the principal was mat
ter Of grace the part OF Congress- and the exent 70
which Il carried its bounty was liked by the act of ls4s
The duty of the Attorney General in such cases limited
10 the construction of the law. Whatever may have
been liberal iberal not within his province to
determine He is not the almoner of the public bounty
has he right TO superadd to his daiy OF determining
the obligations OF the law; the kinder office OF dispensing
the berality of the government The administration e
the legal custodian OF the public treasure As the guar
dian OF it, the people have right TO look for its protec
ton but II the members of the cabinet TO become
feed counsel against the treasury il requires but little
Knowledge OF human nature anticipate what must be
the inevitable result The instructive notions OF every
and the common judgment OF the public VIII con-
denim position OF the kind but il becomes doubly dan-
gerous when is deliberately sanctioned by the Pres-
dent OF the United States. ISL
The representatives of Gaphin had rights as against
the general government. and had right to ex
tend its bounty beyond the limits fixed by the act OF Con-
gress That act did not direct interest to be paid and We
feel compelled TO say that in our opinion, its payment
unsanconed by either the law the usages OF the
government The supplemental reasons oil the Attorney
General bring different conviction TO minds (See
cited appended TO this repo In the history OF our
government, many cases OF gneyous hardship have
arisen, where interest has been denied The Stern rgor
OF the law has refused to yield to their appeals, and they
stand in rigid contrast TO this case. In our judy
men under the phraseoogy OF the act this stands with
out precedent to sustain IT. Such Is most mature
OF its truth.
We recommend the adoption Of the following resolu
tons:
l. ResoIred, That the claim of George Gaphin
that the United States under obligations
10 the passage Of The act Of 1885, which authorized and
required the payment Of the principal Only.
Resofcsd. TAa the interest thereon WAS paid without
authority Of law usage.
Rssopsd. That Congress ,hosld pass law prohibiting
the OF by ofcer OF the
government, unless expressly directed by law.
Rssorea, That Congress should law prohibiting
any of the cabinet from deciding any claim
demand sgainst the In which any other
be thus together the administration Of the gov
eminent
8. Reso,rsd That recommend the passage Ct law
making the decisions made head. OF the differ
emf departments, and regulating the right Of aPPe al &C.
d. t. DISNEY,
W. s. FEATHERST0N,
JOB MANN.