The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-01
Our Washington COrresponden nee.
WAsauncros March "a lax

WASHINGTON, March 30, 1850.
Move Big CLaisas-Arfal Suction upon the Urea.
smy- Wsbster's Fres Fayms- Beaton's Nutional
Cewtra! High,cay. &c, &C.
There was recently paid out Of the Treasury. ou
the opinion Of the Attorney General that the To-
terest for tho whole time ough, to be paid, an old
colonial claim OF e4S 900, the interest upon which,
for seventy.seven years, amounts to $l93 900 more.
Half the money, we believe, goes into the pocket
OF the Secretary at War. Mere recently, Mr.
Ewing, it appears, has allowed, on the sam
opinion OF the Attorney General, an old CLAN,
with halt q century's Interest. running up
10 The handsome contribution OF StOe OOJ. haif OF
which, we believe, goes To Corcoran " Riggs. the
Other halt being distributed round, according to
agreement.
Now, all we have to say is, that this opinion of
the Attorney General upsets the practice Of the
government, and opens the doors OF the treasury
10 suction which would drain It dry IN six
months, il all the gold dust and gold wrre
poured into IL. from all the gold dIggers OF the
whole OF California. Millions upon millions Will
be required to pay the interest upon claims already
settle or still unseted and the door will be
opened TO system Of bribery, corruption, and
pundenDg OF lthe treasury, uaexdupled Ia tile
history OF any government on thus continrnt
IL would really seem as II this cab,pet are de-
ternined 10 make their short time as merry pos
sbe. In three months, land we ALLOW Ih-m that
l.bgth OF time as the longest day to be allowed
INT M every man OF them. unutr tnls o,inlOl Ot
The Attorney General, might, IT so disposed pock-t
his commissions amounting To SlOOOW on claims
against The government Ii We Did not happen 70
know that they wouldn't do IL, We should r-ally
fear that the treasury would be cleaned out before
the adournmf nj, by an Aslalc cholera Of drainage,
OPERATING al both ends.
And yet II Is a matter into which II becomes
Congress 70 inquire. The instincts ot the ~h -
when in power are all for spending mouey they
seem 10 have taken n for granted that tour wears 10
their extreme limitation, and they aIe not slow
10 tuIn their time 10 the best advantage. Thy
must be locked after, or when the time TOR lne
annual appropriation bills comes round. the
treasury will be as dry bone-there will be
nobpe left to appropriate.
TwOwetks fro,s Monday next, Mr.. Wehster's
Proposition foi giving TO everybody Tree farm at
quarter section of land, comes up Ii we n I'D
the slightest idea of the slightest probability at the
success OF such a policy, il might be discussed.
But Congress is in no humor tor such liberty. la
all Iacucal prospects, the thing is hunbug
The sch.rne oil Mr.. Benton, at n great central
national highway, as dew, oped Ia his bill. which
he wil Introduce on Monday, Is substantially his
old scheme Of a roadway a mile wide for rail-
road and COMMON roads, and line at teIrgra pho
wires, all alongside Of each other. from ST. LOUIS
10 the Pocihc; branching off somewhere near the
GTtai Salt Lake, In two great hnes-oae north
wesi 10 the mouth Of the Columbia, aud the other
southwest, 10 the bay Of san Francisco
o. course III all perfectly Idle TO talk of the pro-
Jsct Tor the present. Before we have The rail-
road, We must make some Arrangement about the
nlggeTs.
In this matter, the only proposition which has an
ovefw helmIpg majority Ia both houses. Is the pro
position 10 acmit the State Of California acd IN Il
will be carried through the Senate by Itself what
ever may be It's fate Ia the House.
The cabinet, IN the meantime, ia the ancuagr OF
tyirg statesman, are " only Kept together by the
cohesive power oil the public plund.r."