Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-14
The Secretary Of the Treasury.

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Au,,,st IL. 1851 EDWARDS & BROApwELL.
The Secretary Of the Treasury.
The locofoco press have occupied OF late, a
large portion Of their space, in abuse and detrac
ton Of the Hon. Thomas Corwin, Secretary OF
the Treasury. The Gazette Of last week, follow
ing in the wake Of the organs OF its party, takes
Mr. Corwin, to task after the following fashion:
ssIhe Secretary has been sick or absent at least
one half Of the time he has had charge OF the
Treasury Department. Yet he takes hls salary
regularly, notwithstanding his enormous dividends
rs attorney for Mexican claimants"
This paragraph is made up partly Of assertion,
and partly Of insinuation; yet il combines more
Of error and Of folly than any thing we have seen
on the same subject, and is entitled to passing
notice, in order to show how effectually a plain
Statement. Of facts win dissipate all this expressed
and implied censure upon the Secretary of the
Treasury.
Mr. Corwin went TO Washington and took his
seat as Senator in December, 1919 he was APP
pointed Secretary Of the Treasury, in July, 1850,
and until his recent visit TO Ohio, he had been
steadily at Washington for nineteen months, with
the exception of visit to New York, in October
last, on urgent official business, when he was alb
sent from the Treasury exactly six days.
In reply to the ungenerous remarks Of the Ga
zette, with reference to his sickness, it may be
stated, that whilst Mr. Corwin was confined last
spring, to his house, and most of the time to his
chamber, by painful disease, for areriod of six
weeks, there was not one day in which all the
important business Of the Treasury was not
brought before him, and considered and regula-
ted BY him, the same as if he had been in the
Treasury building. The effect of that sickness,
and his close and constant attention TO his ardu-
Gus duties, rendered some relaxation absolutely
necessary, after SO long sojourn in Washington.
and it is ungenerous that he cannot be allowed to
enjoy it, without having such captioas and IN
founded charges made against him, as these put
forth BY the Gazette.
Mr. Corwin has been Secretary more than a
year, and the Gazette asserts that he has been alb
sent or sick at least one half that time. Will the
Gazette give its authority for such statement?
We have shown how long Mr. Corwin has been
sick-he has been absent from his post on visl.
to Ohio perhaps about month; and this accord
ing to the Gazette amounts 10 one half the time he
has been Secretary. Rather strange arithmetic.
this!
With the Gazette it is matter Of serious CON-
plant that the Secretary should be sick, even
though he attends 10 his business as usual But
II sa still more serious matter, that he should
draw his salary for the time he is sick and absent.
That Mr. Corwin has drawn or will receive any
pay for the time he was absent on his own bust
ness, is entirely conjecture on the part of the Ca
zette. II knows nothing about it, and knowing
nothing, Il should have said nothing. But upon
what principle it is that the Gazette would de-
prive the Secretary of his salary during his sick
ness, We are at an utter loss TO imagine. Upon
the same principle the Gazette would, Of course,
stop the pay and rations Of the soldier wounded
in battle, in defence Of his country, turn him ou
Of camp, and bid him dress his own wounds ant
find his own food and shelter. What democratic
administration ever administered the government
on such principle as this?
But s'he takes his salary,' says the Gazette,
notwithstanding his enormous dividends as at
torney FOR Mexican claimants' Here something
Is intended to be nsinuated against the Secretary
and the editor leaves il 10 the imagination Of
his readers, TO make the charge as aggravated as
they please. lie docs not say that the impropri.
city consists in his acting as attorney for Mexican
claimants and Secretary of the Treasury at thu
same time, but such is obviously left to be infer.
redas the grievance complained of. There would
be no improperly in the Secretary receiving hi.
salary, nor in an attorney for Mexican claimant.
being paid for his services; the Gazette does no
intimate that either would be wrong by ITSELF
The public are left 10 infer, however, that NJ
Ccrwin as Secretary Of the Treasury acted as at
torney for the prosecution Of Mexican claims be
fore the government commissioners, and receive,
enormous dividends from the successful claim
ants Tor 50 doing, in addition 10 his regular sala
ry As Secretary.
Now this charge, or insnuation, or whateve
else the Gazette may choose to call it, is who'll,
without foundation in fact or probability it ha
nothing to sustain it. Mr. Corwin has not acte,
As attorney for any Mexican claimant or claim
ants, since his appointment as Secretary Of III
Treasury. He has received no dividends as al
torney OF otherwise from any claimants. He ha
had no interest, immediate or remote, certain Q
contingent, in any claims, since his appointment
ioa seat in the Cabinet of Mr. Fillmore.
While Senator from Ohio, he was employed a
counsel by certain claimants; he gave a writte
opinion, as lawyer. on the validity Of certa
Claims before the Board Of Commissioners o
Mexican claims. He agreed TO receive for hi
Tee, a certain portion Of the amount allowed o.
the claim, 4 successful. In all this the G.zet,
xau mol say there was any impsopriety, or an,
thing different from what is done everv a,v \,
gentlemen Of the legal profession, prosecu,;n.
claims before judicial tribunals.
MIR Corwin when offered scat IN N, I'll,
more's Cabinet, objected 10 acceptins II. ON n
ground OF his contingent interest in ,h;, Mex;c,,
claim. His clients, for some time, refused 10 70
hase him from his duty to them under his r.,.; :
cr. Before he accepted the position otfer,,, hin
by the President, however, Mr. Corwin. with y
consent of all interested, sold out his inter.., !;
the claim to some gentlemen in New York. for
sum Of money paid him BY them, and was r
leased by his clients from all obligation turtle
10 serve them as attorney in the prosecution q
their claim. This is the sum total Of his conner
ron with Mexican claims. He went into IN
Treasury Department totally free from intere.
or connexion with them. The claim in which h
had sold out his interest, was successful, and tn
claimants paid to the persons to whom Mr. {
sold out his interest, large amount of money