The daily union., 1852-10-13

ment of interest Mr. Meculloch. first comptroller OF
the treasury. under Mr. Walker, who resigned or was
removed Q do not precisely remembered) after the
change OF administration and who bad reported against
any payment OF interest AS unauthorzed induced 10
moiiiy his opinion and TO say that he thought the United
States ought 10 pay interest from 1885, thirteen years
lhis was IN June, 549, three months after the ad
mnisratlon commenced But thirteen years interest
amounted only 10 about S34 900, (nol much in
terest as principal sum altogether unequal 20 the
expectations OF the claimant II was, however point
gained; and with this advantage, the case
ferred, IN August. 10 Mr. Whilllesey. Mr.. McCullochs
successor In office, who was a whig and an honest
man, and who reported adversely TO the payment
OF any interest whatever. His report is clear and
conclusive; and he closed it by saying that they
would give him time, he would enter into fuller
investigation and show by numerous reports and by the
action OF Congress, the general principle that interest
was not allowed in such cases Now this was precisely
what the claimants and member of the cabinet, at
least, did not wish Mr. Whiitlesey TO show, and he
troubled with no further reference or inquiries on the
subject. he was obviously not the man for the occa
sion and in September the referred TO Mr. At
orney General Johnson, Governor Crawiod's associate
in the cabinet. very accomplished lawyer but who il
is 10 be hoped has been successful in protecting the
interests OF his clients than those OF the United States
Mr. Johnson appears not to have been embarrassed by
any OF the difficulties encountered by the public officers
referred and he reported that the United States ought
10 pay interest for seventy three years, amounting TO
$l9l ,0o0-netng $lss,00O 10 the claimants; and
accordingly paid by Mr., Meredith, who endorsed Mr.
Johhson's opinion, against the uniavorable impress
sion OF Mr. Walker, and against The opinions Of two
successive comptrolers of the treasury Mr. Meredith
appears to have been from the beginning in the
dition OF Barkis, in David Copperdeld; be was will
ling" and he only required sufficient encouragement
to unlock the doors OF the treasury, and admit the
claimants into it. with The $l9i 900 warrant in
their hands Indeed, he seems to have been de-
termned procure an opinion in favor OF the claim
from somebody. In May he applied to Mr.. Comp
lroller McCulloch, who. after having gone out of office.
consented TO modify official opinion, given while in
Office, "a most unprecedented proceeding and have
seen with partial success In August he applied 10 MIR
Comptroller Whitesey, who turned out badly the claim
ants and reported against any payment OF interest In Sep
tember he applied to Mr. Attorney General Johnson aud
in February the desired opinion was obtained Governor
Crawford received his $94, ,O00 the other claimants
ceived their $94,OOO ($3 900 having been paid for
penses,) and the matter thus adjusted to the salts
faction OF all parties Unfortunately however, Congress
session, and the facts having become known, the
House OF Representatives. appointed committee 10 in
vestigate the case, and the result OF their deliberations
was that The majority of the committee pronounced the
payment OF interest unauthorized by the act OF Congress
under which II was made and violation both OF prece
dent and law-Sl9 900 OF n,eres, paid unlawfully
principal OF S43, 500!
Mr. Brooks, whig member Of Congress from the city
Of New York, denounced the whole ransaction and
especially the conduct Of Messrs. Meredith and
johnson, as monsrous" in principle and not TO
be maintained before the people MIR. Schenck, a
whg member OF Congress from Ohio, condemned the
conduct OF Governor Crawford, himself the head Of de-
parmeni, interested in and prosecuting claim before
another department OF The government OF which he was
a component part
quote the opinions Of these gentlemen BECAUSE when
prominent wings condemn an act OF wing admlnstra
tlon must be very ,ndetens lille indeed. and they de-
serve 70 nave credit Tor Their honesty and independence
think fellow cilizens, you will agree with them that
The transaction is not only lndecae and monsrous but
that dsyracefu 10 the country, and that deserves the
marked Iebake Of the American peo7e-a rebdke which1
have doubt will receive at the election IN Noyem
Der next.
But, fellow -czens there are oths ran,acons OF the
scrupuous character in the conduct oil the
ecuve departments Of The government. 10 the same year.
(s50) Mr.. Ewing, Secretary OF the Interior, allowed
other claims, inferior in amount, hut not, think
inferior in enormy 10 The one OF which have given you
the history.
The FIRST is known as the Barron case James Barron
was commodore in the navy al Virginia ~ the revou
wards, qSia,) his legal representatives applied to the
Commissioner Of Pensions at Washington Tor his con-
allowance in lieu of bali pay-wh'ch they
alleged TO be due 10 his estate The Commissioner. in
August OF that year, after full examination OF the
claim rejected H. In December, Mr.. Ewing, the Secre.
,ary OF the Interior, addressed communication TO him,
stating that the claim ought 10 be aowedi and accosd-
ingly the Commissioner paid H. amounting to $4,000,
putng record the fact ha, he did "under order"
OF the Secretary OF the Interior. On investigation be.
fore committee created for The purpose by the House o
it appeared-hrs that according TO the
clam OF the parties, the principal amounted only to |
81 900, q use round numbers,l and that lhe balance
(s2s ,oool was for Interest and second that the claim
lad been fully satisfied and paid twenty seven years be-
fore Let read 10 you the conclusions OF the majority
Of the committee IN their own words
~. he SecrsfY ,rtar later urd e Pay nenI
NJ ihc iurras, tie amount S2Al!2 IL ri s trgrut-
aves OF Commodore Bnron. or services ren1sred "a the
Virginia navy during the 81 The revolution, twenty
'eyen years and more after the principal had been luY
paid and discharged Secondly that large portion OF te
sum ordered be paid IN crest upon interest," o.
s aisIs, A@d sd s1 ,SSa aSmfNR NJ Es wa
II. Of Il lN session 3lst Congress, page
Now felow-citizens, think you viii agree with me
.E1usos from the speech Of Hon James Brooks. page
ga vol "a pa AppsndiK Globe, LET session 3lst Con-
gressi
When the comptrollsr OF the treasury, examining
and adj isng this Galphn claim under the enY OF lII3
refused interest aud Secretaries OF the Treasury had
1ecinea Ia iaae the responsibility OF allowing ~ no opinion
Of the Attorney General Ought 10 have oyefuled ana over
ridden is decision Of the accounting oceT anu TO nave
given nearly five time. in gieges the principal that was
decd TO be appropriated by law II an Attorney Cen
opinon is law and he is aw-maker-it bs oaa thus APP
pfopiiae aud dsburse the public money there Us no use u
a Congress, and tue Atasneg General ls the supreme
Court az the United States the Pfesident the Congress- the
in The treasury key is by construction and tnplica-
ton, in his hand.
There very In poftant questions invoveAu Ia his
matter which would come before e Lsuss and the oonn-
Secretary al War should be interesting himself In claims,
or 10 the collection Of ciams while holding the Office OF
Secretary and the second s whether the Secretary OF the
Treasury should pay uple-nay, nearly four tinesthe
is IN session, aud when by law Le has been called
upon 10 examins' aud 20 adjust hs claim itself II the
executive departments OF this government have any such
power, thefn Is necessity Tor this Housethefe Is no
cesy lor Congress- and In vain that the people elect
representatives here to hold their purse-sngs u the
counting ohcers OF the thus 10 be ovofVcd
by the Attorney General and TO dsbufse the public money
without appropriation "a tho part Of Congress Here
about Si0Wm principal which Is said have been ap
proprated by Congfsss though thus appropriated
Ihnk, and nearly s2oOOoO interest," which have been sp