The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-03
The GaIphin Claim.


Since our last article on this subject have heard
much relative to il Just now, TO be matter OF
great interest in Washington But for fear Of doing in
Justice, we will repeat what have heard because
we have not been able ascertain the truth Of all the
Items of information which have reached The case
is evidently bad one for Mr.. Crawford and, having
regard for justice well for the credit OF the govern
ment we do not desire even to run the risk Of making
worse than it is For twenty years the wing press has
seized upon the slightest preex charge the democratic
party with corrupt practces and without pretext il
has charged prominent democrats with every species OF
pecuaiion and fraud On no OCCASION that we remem-
ber has the wing party waited for proof before
demned 1t has carried This system of defamation and de-
nunciaon far that it has corrupted its MEMBERS
by inducing them to believe that the federal
fair subject OF robbery; and the result is shown in
the sixeen.mon deficit for the present and next fiscal
Years.
We have no disposition to retaiate for these things
Even remembering the eageess with which the special
organ of this administration has entered into the
work Of defamation, and n avdity in stgmatizng
democratic officers with false charges OF deiacaon
and corruption, we cannot allow any feeling OF re-
sentiment TO lead us in the present instance. We
cannot find il in hearts to cherish animosy against
the feeble cabal which rules the country II that
lcabal strong and powerful the might peradven
3ure, be different But il is weak and without strength
The people, from Maine to the Rio Grande, have repud
lated its laundering inecency and its blind vndctive-
mess In neither House OF Congress can il command
majority; and nothing but some strange revolution,
which but prophet forete will prevent its
srengh from growing small by degrees and beautifully
less" II may drag a miserable existence, without
respect honor, from those whom it has bought
with the funds OF the government but il is PROSTATE in
the dust; and to all ntents and purposes its end-its
bitter end-was consummated when the vote by which
Howell Cobb was elected Speaker announced I'm
der these circumstances assa the administration only
deter others from its evil courses, and hold up
Ia warning TO those who may come after We feel that
can do full Justice the members Of the csbal on any
charge which may be brought against Them and prove
that we are not disposed to do injustice to Mr. Craw-
ford in the present instance, we publish below letter
from Colonel Montague and the report drawn up by
him while in the First Auditors Office for the then acting
First Auditor We thus present all the authentic nioma-
on in our possession touching this natter which is "a
|vorable to Mr. Crawford. We have done Justice as far
Jas we can but in order that full justice may be DONE
I've call upon the organs Of the administration for the
other information relative 10 the Gaphn claim TO which
they have access and to which have not access We
wish the report Of the late Comptroller adverse to
the allowance Of interest on the Gaphin claim. We
wish know what action taken by the present Comp
troer and what by the late Secretary Of the Treasury
We desire authentic information those points; and il
liz is withheld, must conclude that the street umors
are not worse than the truth, and win feel further
hesitation in laying them before the public
Our readers will that have not only done justice
to Mr. Crawford by publishing the report Of the acting
First Auditor, but that we have done than mere
justice required by publishing Col. Montagues letter.
Col Montague, although he dismissed from Office by
the present caba gentleman whose statements be
implicitly relied on But yet his opinions but the opn
ions Of individual In the present instance, are
compelled to differ with him, although we cannot but
admire the lberslity and magnanimity which he mani