Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-09-03
Mr.. Corwin.-where he stands.

We think the Washington Union
has placed Mr.. Secretary Corwin, in
the following article in the proper po-
sition before the country. The rea-
der, whig or democrat, will agree with
us, we think:
Mr.. Corwin, it is well known, was
a member of the Senate when the Of
fee of Secretary of the Treasury was
rendered to him by Mr.. Fillmore.
At that time, as subsequent develop
ments show, he was largely interested
in claims before the commissioners
appointed to adjudicate the claims Of
American citizens against the repub-
lie of Mexico, which. our g0ver~0HL
- - s.ss..s' Z.
dalgO, assumed q the amount OfNnee
and quarter millions Of dollars.
This fact leaked out after Mr.. Corwin
went into the treasury. When it did
leak out, his friends stated, truly no
doubt, that he would not go into the
cabinet, or could not afford to go into
the cabinet and relinquish his inte-
rests in the claims before the board of
commissioners. 1t appears that his
interest in those claims was apprais-
ed by Mr. John Young and a Mr..
Robert Corwin (if our memory is not
at fault at 100000. The defenders
Of Mr.. Corwin state that he did not
receive this amount, but that fifteen
per cent. was deducted for contingent
cies, and seven per cent. for cash
leaving to Mr.. Corwin about $50, 900.
Report now says that this amount
was for his interest in the Gardiner
claim. But that is of no consequence.
The true point at issue is this: A
Senator of the United States, SER
want of the people-and paid for his
services by the people-receives a
contingent fee, valued at one hundred
thousand dollars, pending before a
board Of commissioners appointed by
the chief Of his own party, and com
posed, Of course, of his own party
friends. We need not comment on
the S per cent. deduction. We throw
in the seven per cent. deduction also,
and state the cash value of Mr.. Cor
wins interest at about eighty thou
sand dollars-the sum which he actu-
ally received according to whig ac-
counts. Now, be it remembered that
no great legal ability was required
before the board. 1t did not sit like
an open court to hear arguments.
The parties had to present theirclaims
and furnishpevidence to support them.
That evidence must, from.the neces-
sity of the case, come chiefly from
Mexico. wThen we ask what was Mr..
Corwin paid for? What services
could he render here in Washington
"a member of the Senate? He could
properly do nothing more than exam
inc the papers furnished him, and
suggest any deficiency in the proof
they set forth of a just demand under
the treaty. That was all he could
rightfully do. And now we submit it
to the country to say whether eighty or
seventy or sixty,or even ten thousand
dollars is an extravagant fee for such
service?
Mr.. Corwin has a reputation as a
speech-maker and as an advoc ate !:
but we have never heard that he was
ever esteemed as an eminent lawyer
in any other respect. There are law
yers in this city of equal learning with
Mr.. Corwin. We meet one almost
daily of ten times the research ability,
and legal fame of Mr.. Corwin. Yet
any one of these men would, we have
no doubt, have given advice as to the
sufficiency or insufficiency of the evil
dence of any claim pending before
the Mexican board for a thousand
dollars in cash, demanding highersum
as a contingent fee-the increase be-
ing commensurate with the uncer-
tainty of the case. Why then, let us
ask, were these men passed over?
And why were political whig lawyers
employed at such enormous outly !?
ltwas not for superior ability-fnr the
superior ability did not exist. It was
not forensic talent-for there was no
forum in which it could be heard.
Why, then, and for what purpose.
were wing senators employed and
paid fortune in fees? There II but
one answer 70 these questions: Holi-
'ticai influence over political friends
was the thing bought and the thing
sold. A whig commission was the
court of last resort, and whig politi-
clans were paid high prices. Ablind
man can see and deaf man can
hear, the secret purposes of the con-
spirators. Political position and po-
litical influence were the things paid
for-political position and political
influence were the things sold. Dis
g lise is useless--evasion is without
avail.
The manner in which Mr.. Corwin
has been brought forward in this be-
half has induced us to speak of him
alone. But, if there be any truth in
the rumors afoat, he is not the only
member of the cabinet who was at
first, If not to the end, interested in
claims before the Mexican commits
sion. But of this point we are not
sure, and therefore we pause for more
direct information, For the present
we have accomplished our purpose,
which Is to attract the public atten-
ton to the enormous abuses and un-
equaled corruptions which must flow
from system which permits officers