The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-26

We have been struck with the pursued by the
wings in Congress with regard proposed Investigations
touching the conduct Of certain officers connected with
the present administration During the present session
several resolutions have been offered. proposing raise
committees to investigate charges Of grave character
which have been alleged against certain members Of the
cabinet involving serious malieasances in Office, they
have any foundation in fact Under such circumstances
we had to suppose that opposition TO these
proposed investigations would be made by the friends Of
the administration but to our SURPRISE as il determined
keep all knowledge Of the conduct Of the present cab
from the people. in every instance opposition has
been made and many resolutions Of inquiry. and PROPOSE
tons for committees Of investigation have been defeated
by objections from the friends Of the administration
Such was not the course OF the friends Of demo-
cratic administrations So far from attempting to stihe
and suppress inquiry, they offered every facility those
who desired to make il, conscious that they had
nothing fear from the most rigid and searching inves
gation which could be made into the conduct of admin
strations composed Of their political friends. Or,
if there reason to suppose that anything wrong or
improper had been done by their political friends in the
executive department Of the government. they ever
ready and willing to have it brought to light and exposed
for they neither countenanced wnked at any dishonest
or illegal conduct the part Of the administrations to
which they gave their support.
We have been induced to make these remarks by the
pursued by the wings in the House Of Representa-
tves in relation to the resolutions of inquiry into the
conduct Of Mr.. Ewing. the Secretary Of the Interior
moved by Mr. Richardson, Of Illinois. AT first they were
objected to- as the friends Of the administration feared,
and therefore desired to suppress inquiry Them finding
that they could not very well prevent investigation, and
certainly not evade the suspicious which would be
to cluster around the head of the Department Of the In
terior if the proposed investigation should be denied they
attempted to obtain for him the privilege Of being heard
on the several matters Of accusation in advance, in order
that he might be able put before the public defence
against the charges preferred against him before the facts
were made known Failing in this purpose, they desired Mr.
Richardson endorse the charges contained in his
oluton thus endeavong to place him in the attitude of
public accuser instead Of being member Of the grand
inquest Of the nation, whose duty il is inquire into all
real or suspected malfeasances the part Of the
tive officers of the government Such has been the
duct Of the friends of Mr. Ewing in relation to the in
vesigation finally ordered by the House into his official
conduct
Now what would have been the conduct of his friends
il they were really conscious OF his innocence, and If
they believed that he had done nothing in his Office
which would not bear the rigid and searching
tny Would they have courted and solicited inves
tgatons Would they not have offered every facility
for making it, instead OF opposing it. and endeavorng to
defeat il by capous bubbles and false issues Itstrikes
US that such would have been the course OF the friends
Of the Secretary Of the Interior, they had been
scous that be could meet the ordeal proposed and
out Of it unscathed.
Finally. il seems. they came to the conclusion no
longer to oppose the investigation. Whether this deter
minaton resulted from fear that il would damage the
reputation OF the Secretary to oppose than per-
nit il TO be made or from the conviction that he had
arfuy and adroiy covered up his tracks utterly to
eude all search for illegality. corruption. improperly,
We do not Of know but certain il is. that the
wing press il anticipating disclosures that may prove
to be preudca the Secretary and his party. and thus
to parry the effects Of such disclosures have commenced
in advance system OF defence Of the conduct Of the
Secretary thus attempting enlist the sympahies Of the
public in his favor, and foresal the public judgment
Now, a for ourselves. we desire only that fair and
full inquiry into his conduct shall be made and its re-
suits published to the world II he is innocent Of the
matters charged against him. let appear il he is not,
and those charges are well founded let that also appear
But sure we are, that man who stands before the
world proved by the authentic records Of the
with which he il connected 10 have been psrticipator
in immense specuations in Virginia land scrip. the org
nal property Of widows and Orphans, and Of having made
large fortune ont Of themhe At the same time being
senator Of the United States, at the head Of the Com
mee on Public Lands, preparing and getting through
Congress bills to give such scrip the value Of moneywe
say that such man. under such circumstances Of sus-
picion with regard to the ranactions alluded TO- should
be the last man in the world to present himself before
the public permi, himself to be thus presented BY
his friends az suppicant for sympathy. in anticipation
Of an investigation which may result in proving his inno
cence or his culpablity. II he is innocent he should
meet all inquiry into his conduct with bold and deter
mined 'front.' counting investigation and dsfyng its re-
suits.
i The committee however, has been appointed. and ID
members have arduous duty to perform We husttha
they viii make their investigation thorough and searching
Such course is due TO the country well a. TO Mr.
Ewing They should send for persons and papers; they
should call before them the heads Of the department.
and bureaus Of The last administration. who had charge
Of the matters out OF which the charges against him
originated they should take ample time, and do up The
work faithfully Justly. and impanially, a. We have no
doubt they will
We trust they win not fail to inquire into the follow.
ing matters:
l. The expeditions sent out TO California. Deseret, and