The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-15

being created by the law, while the former is
practice Of General JACKSON and Mr.. Polk
sustained General TAYLOR in this interpreta-
ton. But further: Mr.. KING was not de flcto
a member of the House, and did not, as Mr.
GwIN suggested, enjoy the receipt Of two fold
pay as member and agent. The superstition
that Mr.. KING possessed entire control over
the army, navy, and treasury of the United
States, is contradicted by his instructions
and by the conduct of the officers in command
of the California station at the time. The
employment by MIR. KING Of the steamer Edith
TO convey members of the Stale Convention
then about to assemble at Monterey-in which
service the Edith was lost--was cited by Mr.
GwlN as proof Of the charge against him.
but In reality the use Of the steamer was Of
fered by the de facto government in compliance
with request of the members, Of whom Mr.
GwlN was one. The loss, then, Of the steamer,
valued at $33 ,000--not $l20, 900, as alleged
involves no blame on any of the parties con-
cerned Lastly, in regard to Mr.. KING, Pre-
sldent FILLMORE is censured for withhold
ing the nomination OF that officer as Collector
Of San Francisco until after the 4th March
1851, to obvate constitutional objection to
the appointment. But, in fact the nomination
,cas sent TO the Senate before the adjournment,
and in due time Mr.. KING was confirmed, al
though majority Of the members were his po-
litical opponents. Mr.. GwlN was actually
amongst those who voted for Mr.. KING, on his
denomination, although believing-as it is now
stated-that that nomination was constitutions
ally wrong. So far as Mr.. KING is concerned,
then, we submit that MIR. GwlN, not the Ad-
ministration, suffers by the explanation he pro
voked.
The next allegation is that great expense
was incurred by General TAYLOR in sending
an escort with General WILSON, Indian Agent
to the Salt Lake. There was no novelty in
such course. MIR. Polk gave an escort to
Mr.. WELLER, Commissioner to settle the
Mexican boundary; and Governor LANE. of
Oregon-who also went out while Mr.. MARCY
was in office-had the same honor. There is
this difference, that General WILSON Is escort, of
which Mr.. GwIN complained, cost $l2,270;
GwIN said nothing, cost $40,577. But the de-
fence, as it applies to General WILSON, does
not rest only on precedent or comparative cheap
ness The military force in question must have
gone out, whether WILSON went or not; and
WILSON, in avaiing himself Of it, merely acted
on instructions given by Mr.. MEDrLL, a Demo
crat, appointed by Mr.. Polk to the Commits
sionership of Indian Affairs.
Mr.. GwN has other complaints growing out
of General Wilson's appointment and subse-
quent proceedings as Navy Agent at San Fran
cisco. WILSON was nominated to that office
by General TAYLOR just before his death, and
according to official usage. The nomination was
renewed by Mr.. FILLMORE, and was confirmed
by the Senate without murnur from Mr.
GwIN, then member elect. The accusation
goes on 10 say that WILSON acted as Navy
Agent without giving bond, and received CON
siderable emoluInents from the office. The
brief reply is that WILSON gave two bonds,
that he did not receive a cent Of emolumeni
and that Mr.. GwIN should have been familiar
with both facts, seeing that as chairman of the
Naval Committee Of the Senate he is presumed
to be thoroughly posted up on naval affairs.
An imputed want Of wisdom in the selection
Of Benicia as the chief military depot Of Cali
fornia is the ground Of another charge against
the Admin. ration. When the affair is in
quired into, it is found that the selection de-
volved upon General PERsrrER +. SMITH,
Democrat appointed by Mr.. Polk, whose opin-
ions as TO the advantages Of the place, compared
with San Francisco, have been confirmed by
competent parties. Not only is the site of the
depot unsatisfactory TO Mr.. GwIN-althourb
decided upon before the advent Of the existing
Administration--bu items Of expenditure are
pointed out as unreasonably large. For much
Of this General SMITH is again responsible. lie
caused barracks 10 be erected. cisterns con
structed. and other work TO be perfomed and
the fair presumption is, that he acted I'M
der directions given by Mr.. MACY, the then
Secretary. For these expenditures, incurred
by Democratic General, acting under Demo
cratic orders, Mr.. GwIN would make Wing
government responsible. Neither Mr.. Secre.
iary CRAWFORD nor the present SECRETARY
OF WAR could know any thing about the ex-
penses until after they had been incurred. In
stead Of sanctiOning extrayagance, Mr.. CRAw
FORD, in erecting other buildings, took mea-
sures which, according TO the report Of the Quar-
termaster General, saved 10 the Government
more than 100000; and Mr.. CONRAD, imme
diately on learning the extent Of the actual and
proposed expenditure at Benicia, issued an
order to suspend all further operations beyond
what were absolutely necessary for the imme-
date use Of the troops stationed there. III
blame attaches anywhere, then, Mr.. GwIN
should condemn General SnITn and Mr..
MARCY, political friends Of his own not the
Wing Secretary, who closed the expenditure
as soon as he became acquainted with its ex.
tent. MIR. Owns was singularly unfortunate
when tempted 10 touch Benicia.
The action Of the California Indian Commits
sioners forms another subject Of attack. Mr..
GwIN complains, in the first place. that the
Collector at San Francisco advanced To- them