The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-09

just, and about upon level with that eternal
demagogical clamor against the Secretary Of State
who, nevertheless, manages all our foreign affairs
with such signal ability, that know instance in
| which his compacts or correspondence has been
condemned by Senate largely in the majority
against him and the President-or perhaps should
say more properly upon level in morals with
the fashionable and new fan gled method, without
hearing trial by accusatory resolutions of con
demning any high functionary of the Government
But TO the point Mr.. Crawford was interested in
the Gaphin clami his legal rights were neither
| increased nor diminished by his going into the
Cabinet or staying out of it. There is no provi-
sion OF law forbidding him personally or official
~ to own claim pending before any other branch
| OF the Government; or forbidding him, because he
is or is not Secretary Of War, from prosecuting
| and having it passed upon. His interest in the
claim was disqualification to take office, or to
hold office; it not acquired after he came into
ONCE; he was not to pass upon it himself and did
| not pass upon it; from the evidence did he use
any improper appliance whatever, corrupt or other
wise, to have it passed upon favorably by Others
In this view Of the case the President may have
thought that he and the country were not to be de-
priyed of the services of his war minister for a
reason having no legal existence, and have no
| doubt felt it would be unjust to dsfranchise
or dismiss him for such cause. He could only
| have predicated such action upon fancied or
feared corruption and want Of integrity in his
| other ministers; and | am persuaded, that in
accordance with the strict integrity of his charac-
ter, and the unsuspectng honesty of his nature, he
felt that honestly they would discharge their sworn
duties without suspicion from any, even bad men.
Judging by the standard of their own hearts.
Nlistaking the proclivity of the times to scandal,
and the utter lack of high principle and high mo-
tive in ruthless partisan warfare, MIR. Crawford
probably thought and felt in the same vein. Cues
tons of taste, and imperfect obligation and duty
are not proper subjects of Legislative enactment
resolutions; they matters ofindividual conscience
would not, therefore, by any post facto resabl-
tion placed upon the records ofour legislation pro-
| nounce any censurc condemnation for what it
was lawful to do, and was lawfully done. would
as soon sign verdict Of guilty, or subscribe to a
conviction on articles of impeachment, when no
law had been violated, as to vote resolution of
| censure in this case.
But would In no way, in this matter, sane
| ton principle, or be considered as setting
a precedent, that hereafter a member of the
Cabinet to be interested in claims to be passed
upon by his colleagues. ! have too high an esti-
| nation of the probity of our public men to sup
| pose that there will be necessity very soon, il
| ever, for such law. But the public scandal, nju-
rious suspicious, stump demngoguery, and news
| paper calumnies, in this very instance show such
| should be the law. In fact, the very clamor now
makes me fear possibly under corrupt admins
tration, if evil men into power, such should
be the law. And such law embracing all like cases.
is the only practical benefit which can arise from this
matter, and ia for that reason not to be at
tended to- Were present and voting, should
vote these opinions. would not try any upon a
mean suspicion, could condemn him on a sus-
pcion of meanness and do not think in this matter
| the accidental conjuncture Of the facts-that one
! Cabinet milrter owned interest in a claim
| which another Cabinet minister, unconscious OF
that interest, passed upon-furnsbes foothold for
| even such suspicion. Whatever may be said or
thought of dclicacy, or forecaste, Judgment, or
| discretion, they nevertheless in this matter
things so entirely personal to Mr.. Crawford that ]
cannot persuade myself what has been done will
either inurc TO the benefit of the Democratic party
or Unexpectedly to him and undcservngly to the
| Wing party bring opprobrium and dctrimont
To all who are :" wise above what is written, -
and moro scrupuously nice and exacting than the
law, an occasion is furnished to bring forward and
secure the public treasury against the agents Of
claims by some law latitudinous as affected fas.
tidiousness or bascless suspicion can desire In
the principle and propriety Of such enactment,
doubt not, all Wings would concur; but as one OF
them, cannot reconcile it TO my sense of justice
pro re natd TO concoct into crime what was lawful
| when done, and after the act in the same breath
make it criminal and affix a condemnation.
| You're, &c, J. b. THOMPSON.